How To Store Canned Food In Pantry?
Canning is a time-consuming food preservation technique. The time it takes to process the food for preservation might go in vain if they are not stored properly. While the pantry is the best place for food storage, you need to know the correct way to store the food jars.
Canned food products are pantry essentials when it comes to storing food for later use, therefore it needs to be done correctly. Hence, you need to be very careful with the cans, otherwise, they might tamper and the food might spoil.
Check out the following sections in this article, for more details on storing canned food in a pantry.
Storage Process
Once you have successfully canned the food item in a pressure canner, it becomes important to know how you are storing the cans. This is because improper storage can spoil the food and tamper the cans. Check out the following process for proper storage of canned foods:
- Once you have canned the foods in the canner, remove them, and set them aside to cool. Put them on a paper towel as it will absorb all the water.
- After the cans have cooled fully, give their exteriors a gentle wipe to remove any remaining moisture before you label them for storage.
- To verify the sealing, gently tap the can lids. The cans are properly sealed if the lids are not bowed. Sealing is essential to keep the food safe, therefore double-check.
- Then, tidy up the pantry space where you will keep the jars. To prevent contamination, it is essential to store the cans in hygienic places.
- Arrange the filled canning jars on the pantry shelves carefully. Make sure that the jars are dent-free and clean for storage.
Storage Guidelines
You should check out the following storage recommendations for canning food in the pantry.
- Make sure the pantry for food storage is clean and dry, as well as away from sunlight.
- Avoid pantry areas that are in front of the furnace or hot pipes.
- Ensure the temperature range in and around your pantry is between 70-80 F.
The conditions mentioned above are necessary for the food to retain its quality and flavor. If you are not careful enough, the food will likely rot and degrade its quality. Also, double-check that your pantry is completely moisture free, otherwise the metal lids might corrode, the seals might rupture, and hence the food might spoil.
Ways To Store Canned Food
Now that you know the process and guidelines for storing cans, check out the following ways for better results. By better results, I mean an appropriately organized kitchen pantry, where it is not only easier to locate the cans, but also to protect the cans from unnecessary damage.
Stadium Seating Method
The stadium seating method for storing food cans in the pantry is an excellent idea for organizing the cans. This is basically the tiered method of organizing the cans in an arranged manner, specifically one over the other.
The stadium seating method contains dividers and comes in a variety of materials. This way the cans will be clearly visible, and there will be no disorganization. They are also customizable, so you can fit them according to your available kitchen space.
Lazy Susan
Lazy Susans are circular storage spaces and work best for maximizing the available pantry storage in your kitchen. You can easily place the cans in a Lazy Susan, they will be easily visible and reachable by just a rotation.
They come in a variety of sizes, so you really need not worry about installing one in your kitchen. Your jar storage pantry will function better with an organized Lazy Susan. This way, your food jars can also be arranged in a specific manner.
Division With Drawers
Dividing the storage space with drawers is the easiest way to organize a pantry. If you store a large number of cans at a time, and you think your pantry has extra weight, dividing it with drawers is the best idea.
With drawers, you can sort the cans systematically in a row. The drawers will also prevent the cans from sliding. And what could be better, isn’t it? Install drawers in your pantry and you will not regret it.
