Canning can also be a family activity involving several generations, preserving both the foods themselves and the knowledge and skills involved in preparing them. Many people can foods because they prefer the way the home-produced food tastes. Canning also frees up space in the refrigerator and freezer. The most popular items to be canned are jams and jellies, vegetables, pickles, fruits, and tomato sauces. Jams and jellies are most common for beginners and veterans.
Salsa is one of the latest trends in canning.
There are two methods of canning. The boiling water method is used for acidic foods. The temperature reached by the boiling water method is sufficient to destroy the molds, yeasts, and bacteria that can be found in acidic foods. Low acid foods, however, require a higher temperature than boiling water to destroy the bacterial spores and toxins that can thrive in a low acid environment. A pressure canner provides a sufficiently high temperature to safely preserve these low acid foods.