Canning Can I re-can store bought stuff!

parsonswife

Veteran Member
Was wondering if I could re-can stuff like salsa, veggies, beans that I have bought in commercial sizes into smaller jars?
 

summerthyme

Administrator
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Well.... yes, but you aren't likely to like the results. You still have to use the same processing times as you would for fresh stuff, and the results are seriously over processed.

About the only thing I've done and been happy with was pizza sauce... recanned sauce from commercial #10 cans into 1/2 pint jars, which work well for a single pizza.

Summerthyme
 
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Grouchy Granny

Deceased
Thanks guys/gals, you just answered my question as well. Walmart has #10 cans of diced tomatoes and I was contemplating buying a couple and re-doing them in pint jars.

Do you think if I only processed them for 5 minutes or so that would work? Just enough to get the jars and contents hot enough to seal.

So, if ya all say no, I'll just buy a couple of 20 lb boxes of Romas (cause I won't have enough out of the garden) and do it the old fashioned way.

My son was pretty skeptical about doing that as well.
 

summerthyme

Administrator
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See... that's one of those "it PROBABLY could be done safely"... but all it would take is a single botulism spore to somehow contaminate a jar, and you could be in trouble.

I *know* my kitchen isn't sterile enough for me to be certain that there is absolutely no chance of a bit of something contaminating a jar. Even the act of opening the can or pouring the contents has a chance of introducing contamination.

But then, diced tomatoes might be one food you could do right, and still get an acceptable product. Water bath pints for 35 minutes. I'd probably try doing one can, and see whether you like the results...

Summerthyme
 
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