How to Can Green Beans

If you have never canned before, this is a great first-time canning project.  It's quick, easy, and delicious.  I have to say a special "thank you" to my friend Janice for the hands-on lesson.  Canning is always more fun when you are doing it with a friend.  Canning rookies should read this post before continuing on.

Here's what you'll need:
Green beans
Pickling/canning salt
Pressure canner
Jars (pint or quart)
Lids and bands

If you are picking beans from the garden, pick them when the pods are just getting bumpy.  They should be firm and not hollow-feeling between the beans.

Instructions
Wash the beans and remove the ends.  Green beans may be canned whole or in pieces.  If you want pieces, snap or cut beans into 1 1/2" long pieces (about 2-3 pieces per pod).  Discard any tough, hollow, or bug-bitten pieces.

Snap beans by bending downward so that the "seam" faces up.

Prepare jars, lids, and bands according to your preferred method.  Jars must be hot.

Using a canning funnel, fill jars with beans, leaving a 1" headspace.  Add canning salt on top of beans (1/2 tsp per pint; 1 tsp per quart).

Pour hot water into jars, covering beans.  The water should just be hot water from the tap.  Remove the air bubbles that may have formed.

Wipe the rims of the jars clean and place the lids onto the jars.  Twist on the bands to "fingertip tightness."  Do not over-tighten or the lids may not seal.

Follow the instructions for your pressure canner.  I use 1 quart of water (about 1" deep) for seven quart jars.  For green beans, can at 10 pounds of pressure, 20 minutes for pints and 25 minutes for quarts.  Make sure all of the pressure has been released from the canner before removing jars (the inert vent will be down).

Set jars on a dry towel with some space between the jars, and cover them with another towel to keep the temperature from dropping too quickly.

After the jars have cooled, make sure they all sealed.  If a lid doesn't seal, put that jar in the refrigerator and eat within a couple of days.  Otherwise, you can enjoy your beans right away, or store them for winter.  Let me know if you give it a try by commenting below.  Good luck!