If you’re wondering whether steam canning is a good place to start, the answer is a resounding yes! For approved high-acid foods like jams, jellies, fruits, pickles, and many tomato products made with tested recipes, using an atmospheric steam canner is a safe, beginner-friendly method recognized by university extension programs, including Utah State University Extension. It uses less water, heats up faster, and makes home food preservation feel much more approachable.
We know you’ve stood in the doorway of someone’s pantry and admired the array of canned goodies. And you’ve probably thought, “That looks so amazing…but I could never do that.”
Friend, can we let you in on a little secret? You absolutely can!
Almost every experienced canner has had that exact same thought at some point. Absolutely no one is born knowing exactly how to preserve peaches or make the perfect batch of raspberry jam. Every confident home canner started exactly where you are now—with curiosity, a few questions, and maybe just a tiny bit of nervousness.
The good news? Getting started is much easier than you might think.
Why Do So Many People Feel Intimidated by Canning?
If you've been putting off learning to can, you’re in good company.
We hear the same concerns in the store all the time:
"The equipment looks so heavy."
"What if I do something wrong?"
"There are so many different opinions online."
"I don't even know where to begin."
“I think it’s too complicated for me.”
Any of those sound familiar?
Traditional water bath canning can feel like a big production, especially when you're filling a large pot with gallons of water and waiting forever for it to come to a boil. And pressure canning? Even more so.
Honestly, that's one reason so many beginners are discovering and using steam canning.
Why Steam Canning Feels So Much More Manageable
Think of steam canning as the "less intimidating cousin" of traditional boiling water canning.
Instead of using a huge pot of boiling water, a steam canner uses a small amount of water to create steam that still safely processes jars of approved high-acid foods.
That means:
- Less water to fill
- Faster heat-up time
- A lighter canner that's easier to move
- Less heat and humidity in your kitchen
- Quicker cleanup when you're finished
Yes, it still requires careful attention to safe canning practices, but many people find the entire process feels simpler and much less overwhelming.
Sometimes removing just one small obstacle is all it takes to finally get started.
Start Small—and Keep It Fun
Here's something we love to tell first-time canners: You don't have to preserve your entire food storage in day one. In fact, don't!
Start with one easy recipe. Maybe it's a batch of strawberry jam after a trip to the farmers market. Maybe it's homemade applesauce in the fall. Maybe it's a few jars of dill pickles because your neighbor shared their overflowing cucumber harvest. We usually like to start with bottling peaches so we can get back into the rhythm.
One recipe.
One afternoon.
One small victory.
Before long, you'll be looking around your kitchen thinking, "What else can I preserve?"
What Can You Steam Can?
Steam canning is a wonderful option for many favorite recipes, including:
- Fruit jams and jellies
- Fruit preserves
- Applesauce
- Pickles and relishes
- Many tomato products prepared with tested recipes
- Fruit syrups
These are exactly the kinds of recipes that make home preserving so rewarding—and they're often the ones people are most excited to share with family and friends. Neighborhood gifts anyone?
What Shouldn't Go in a Steam Canner?
This is one of the most important things to remember.
Steam canning is only for foods that are approved for boiling water processing.
Foods like:
- Vegetables
- Meats
- Poultry
- Seafood
- Soups
- Broths
These must be pressure canned to be processed safely.
When you're using a tested recipe, the recipe will tell you exactly which canning method to use. No guessing required. Phew!
Don't Chase Perfect
Can we offer one more piece of advice? Don't wait until you feel like an expert. The first loaf of bread you baked probably wasn't bakery-worthy. The first pie crust you rolled out probably wasn't magazine perfect. Canning is no different.
Your first batch might have bubbles in the jars. Your peach slices may not all line up perfectly. Your labels might be a little crooked. Guess what? The jars will still make you smile every time you see them on the shelf. Home preserving isn't about perfection. It's about learning something new, making memories in the kitchen, and enjoying the satisfaction of opening a jar in the middle of winter that tastes like summer.
We'd Love to Help You Get Started
Whether you're buying your very first steam canner, stocking up on jars, or looking for a beginner-friendly recipe, we're here to help.
We love answering questions, sharing tips, and helping new canners discover that preserving food is much more enjoyable than intimidating.
Because once you hear those lids begin to pop and seal, something wonderful happens.
You stop thinking of yourself as someone who wants to learn how to can...and start thinking of yourself as a canner.
And trust us—it’s a pretty fun club to be part of.
