Canning green beans with bacon
I have 2 questions concerning canning green beans. I just finished putting up 2 qts. and 4 pint and half jars. I processed them per Blue Book instructions for qts. of green beans. BUT I also had added 1/2 slice of pre-cooked, crumbled bacon for flavor to each. Should I have timed this according to the bit of meat — which would have been 90 min.?
Secondly, if I add beef, chicken broth to veggies for flavor do I then have to process at the “meat” timetable? My goodness, the devil is in the little details.
Judith Almand
Brandon, Florida
It’s really not a good idea to put bacon bits in jars of canned green beans. I know it’s been done for generations but there’s a possibility that botulism could be introduced and not killed by sufficient processing. I wouldn’t worry about it at this point but I would be sure to boil those beans for 10-15 minutes before serving them — just to be safe. In the future, I’d suggest leaving out the bacon and substituting a few bacon-flavored TVPs instead. They’ll give the flavor but not the possible danger.
If you add beef or chicken broth (broth only!) to veggies, you will need to process for the broth time, which is 20 minutes for pints of either beef or chicken broth so you won’t have to process for the “meat” time of 75 minutes for pints or 90 minutes for quarts.
You’re right! It’s all in the details! And you’re not afraid to ask questions. Good for you! — Jackie
Pig eating dirt, etc.
Does it mean anything that my pig is eating dirt, sticks, pine cones, and eating bark off the trees. He is two and a half months old. If so, does he need a salt or mineral block?
Zac Mitchell
Grand Island, Florida
Pigs eat just about everything, including dirt, sticks, tree bark, worms, roots, grass, snakes, and much more. Pigs do need salt, but if you’re feeding a mixed pig feed, it contains salt. My guess is that he is just being a normal pig, experimenting by tasting everything around him. If he is growing well and fat, I wouldn’t worry a bit. — Jackie
