Canning Raw Chicken
You might be thinking if you can store raw chicken for later. Well yes, there are two options for storing the chicken for later use- freezing and canning. While you might be familiar with the steps of freezing raw chicken, canning is slightly different.
Canning raw chicken takes more time than freezing the chicken, but you can also store canned chicken for longer. In this article, I have specified all the important dos and don’ts of canning raw chicken. Read till the end and you will not regret it.
How To Can Raw Chicken?
Canning raw chicken can be a little tricky because chicken is a low-acid food. And for this, you will specifically need a pressure canner. For preserving the chicken you will need specific equipment. I have a detailed list of all the necessary equipment and a step-by-step process for canning. Check them out below.
Equipment You Need To Can Raw Chicken
You will need some specific equipment to can raw chicken. Check out the detailed list below:
- Wide-mouth mason jars: wide-mouth mason jars are preferable because they are easier to fill. And since you are canning chicken, wide-mouth jars are the best option. I would suggest avoiding quart jars because they take more pressure canning time.
- Canning lids and bands: Make sure you use new canning lids, even if you are reusing old canning jars. Otherwise, they will not seal properly. You will easily get the lids and bands in any store.
- Pressure canner: Since chicken is a low-acid food, you will particularly need a pressure canner to can chicken. A water bath canner will not work in this case. Make sure you have a fully functioning pressure canner to preserve the chicken.
Other important equipment that you will need for canning chicken are as follows:
- Bubble remover
- Tongs
- Wide funnel
- Jar lifter
- Paper towels
Steps To Can Raw Chicken
Now that you know the equipment you need for canning raw chicken, here is the step-by-step guide to can the food. Check them out in the below-mentioned points:
- The very first thing to do is to sterilize the jars. To do this, you will have to fill the pressure canner with water and bring it to a boil. Then, place the jars on the canning rack inside.
- The jars will be sterilized in about 20 minutes. Next, remove them and set them aside for cooling. Leave them on a paper towel as this will absorb all the water. Leave them undisturbed until the jars are completely dry.
- In the meantime, cut the chicken into tiny cubes, ideally one-inch cubes. And once the jars are dry fill the raw chicken into the jars with a clean spatula.
- As you fill each jar, leave a 2-inch headspace. This will be useful while processing the jars in the canner at a later stage of the process.
- Add half a teaspoon of salt and the preserving liquid to all the jars. Next, use a bubble remover or straw to carefully remove air bubbles from the jars. Close the lids.
- Put the packed jars inside the pressure canner to process them. Make sure they are not slanted. The jars should be upright and sit straight in the canner.
- Processing the filled jars in the pressure canner will take about 20-30 minutes. Make sure you keep the heat on medium to low and wait until the pressure turns to zero.
- Once all these steps are fulfilled, you can carefully remove the pressure canner lid. Use the jar lifter to remove the cans from the canner and place them securely on the counter.
That was all about canning raw chicken in a pressure canner. Now, it is time to let the jars cool completely before you store them in your kitchen cabinet.
How Long Does Canned Chicken Last?
Chicken canned raw can last for as long as 2-10 years. This is true only if the chicken has been sealed tightly and there is no air contamination. The chicken will be kept safe on your pantry shelf if it is unopened.
However, keeping chicken canned for such a long time can cause flavor and texture alterations. The nutritional value of chicken might also diminish. Therefore, it is best if you consume your canned chicken within the first years for the best results.
Does Canned Chicken Taste Normal?
Raw chicken has a fresh and juicy flavor that is enhanced when cooked. So, we can say that raw chicken has a certain flavor. However, when you go for canning the raw chicken, it is preserved in brine, which alters its taste.
If the chicken is canned for a long time, it will probably lose its flavor and become dry. This happens because the chicken loses its natural fat to some extent when preserved in brine. The brine causes the chicken to lose its flavor though it will still be safe for consumption.
Summing it up, that was all about canning raw chicken at home. The process is quite simple but needs to be done carefully to avoid any alteration in the flavor of the food. Yes, it takes time, but this way you can store your raw chicken for a long time.
