Food preservation has always been an important part of life.  The storage of excess foods to be used at a later time has allowed us to sustain ourselves during lean times. Indeed, modern preserving equipment is a key part of most household kitchens.  

Food preservation is certainly not a new practice, and there are many traditional ways of preserving food. However, the modern era has offered many updates to food preserving equipment that is not only effective but safe and easy to use.

From large stock pots and pressure canners to dehydrators and vacuum sealers, food can be preserved, and enhanced, with different equipment. It is possible that you are a newbie to using home preserving equipment?  If so, this guide will give you the basic food preserving equipment to get you started on your journey.  

Read on to see what our experts feel are the essential pieces of home preserving equipment for any modern kitchen.

The Right Food Preserving Equipment

When preserving food, the right tools and utensils are essential to do a proper job. Basic food preservation tools such as a lid wand and a jar are useful in canning foods. Other tools or utensils include kitchen regulars like pots, knives, and pans. We use one or more of them every day.

When you use a proper tool for the job, you decrease the risk of having a jar that does not seal.  A canning jar that does not seal properly could host bacteria and air which will cause the contents to spoil. 

Making use of the right equipment also decreases the risks of injuries, such as burns. 

Our experts have compiled the basic essential food preservation equipment for anybody wanting to preserve food at home.

Mason Jars

These look great as toothbrush holders, flower vases, and even cocktail glasses. However, they were created specifically for home food canning and are essential home-preserving equipment. 

The jars and lid bands can be used many times making these pieces very cost-effective. Nonetheless, the need to replace the rubber gasket could arise more often than you think.

They typically come in regular-mouth and wide-mouth versions.  Use different ones depending on the food you are canning or storing.

There are certain brands known to have stood the test of time.  These include:

Ball Mason Jars
Paksh Mason Jars
KAMOTA Mason Jars
Anchor Hocking Mason Jars
WILLDAN Mason Jars
Ball Mason 8oz Quilted Jelly Jars with Lids and Bands, Set of 12
Paksh Novelty 1-Gallon Glass Jar Wide Mouth with Airtight Plastic Lid - USDA Approved BPA-Free Dishwasher Safe Mason Jar for Fermenting, Kombucha, Kefir, Storing and Canning Uses, Clear (4 Pack)
KAMOTA Mason Jars 16 OZ With Regular Lids and Bands, Ideal for Meal Prep, Jam, Honey, Wedding Favors, Shower Favors, Baby Foods, DIY Spice Jars, 12 PACK, 20 Whiteboard Labels Included
Anchor Hocking 96 Ounce Mini Montana Glass Jar with Lid (4 piece, black metal, dishwasher safe)
WILLDAN Set of 6-8.5oz Swing Top Glass Bottles - Flip Top Brewing Bottles For Kombucha, Kefir, Vanilla Extract, Beer - Airtight Caps and Leak Proof Lids, Bonus Gaskets and Funnel
Ball Mason Jars
Ball Mason 8oz Quilted Jelly Jars with Lids and Bands, Set of 12
Paksh Mason Jars
Paksh Novelty 1-Gallon Glass Jar Wide Mouth with Airtight Plastic Lid - USDA Approved BPA-Free Dishwasher Safe Mason Jar for Fermenting, Kombucha, Kefir, Storing and Canning Uses, Clear (4 Pack)
KAMOTA Mason Jars
KAMOTA Mason Jars 16 OZ With Regular Lids and Bands, Ideal for Meal Prep, Jam, Honey, Wedding Favors, Shower Favors, Baby Foods, DIY Spice Jars, 12 PACK, 20 Whiteboard Labels Included
Anchor Hocking Mason Jars
Anchor Hocking 96 Ounce Mini Montana Glass Jar with Lid (4 piece, black metal, dishwasher safe)
WILLDAN Mason Jars
WILLDAN Set of 6-8.5oz Swing Top Glass Bottles - Flip Top Brewing Bottles For Kombucha, Kefir, Vanilla Extract, Beer - Airtight Caps and Leak Proof Lids, Bonus Gaskets and Funnel

A Canner/ Cooker

A dedicated canner is a vital piece of home preserving equipment.  They preserve food by using steam or boiling water to create an airtight seal within your canning jars.

There are two types of canners used in food preservation:

The Canning Recipe Book

As trivial as this one may sound, it is essential for achieving your canning goals. Nothing is better than having a source of inspiration for your preserving equipment.

A canning recipe book helps you with a substantial amount of advice. It comes with the guidelines and required measurements that you need to preserve your food properly. There’s a wealth of canning recipe books you can obtain online.

A Food Processor

If you are dealing with large quantities of fruits and vegetables, then you need a food processor. It can help you with all the dicing and shredding. You don’t want to tire your hands out. So, make use of this excellent equipment to reach your food preservation goals a lot faster. Food processors are popular and quite affordable, perfect for you preserving equipment list. So, why are you still waiting? It’s time to get one!

Juicer

The world’s first juicer was invented by Hurom. They used patented slow squeeze technology which is ideal for an excellent juicer performance. 

A juicer is ideal for fruits and veggies. This preserving equipment allows to blend fresh fruits and vegetables with and store them in the fridge for about one week. However, after a week, it loses its nutrients and could even spoil. So, preserve your juice in a can if you want to last longer. Acidic juices derived from fruits like tomatoes must be processed in a boiling water canner.  

Pressure canners are ideal for vegetable juices. Another advantage is that canned juices can last up to one year. 

Dehydrators

A dehydrator prolongs the useful life of your foods by a complete reduction of the moisture content. You can use it to make anything ranging from chips and dried mushrooms to apple crumbles for your morning oatmeal.

Food dehydration is a preservative technique that serves as a creative alternative to the canning method. Foraged varieties like porcini work excellently to enhance risotto, soup, and pasta. Therefore, a food dehydrator is a piece of preserving equipment you must have.

Canning Jars and Lids

Canning jars are preserving equipment that comes in different kinds of shapes and sizes for your home and commercial needs. So, you need to select the ones that are suitable for the items that you are canning. Choose functional, economic, and well-made jars if you plan on storing your canned goods in the pantry by yourself. 

And maybe you are planning to gift your produce to someone. Then, pick jars that are more expressive and decorative. Some canning jars have a two-piece band solution. While others come with a one-piece lid solution. You can also get reusable canning lids. And you should ensure to use the right-sized lid for your canning jars. 

Knives

For your food preserving needs, you will need three types of knives. The knives include a multipurpose knife, a chef knife, and a paring knife. Prices could vary, however, none should fall below six inches in the blade. You can look out for stamped and forged knife blades. Or settle with the ones made of high carbon and stainless steel for your preserving equipment. 

Spoons

Look out for spoons made up of nonreactive materials. You will need lots of these. Nonreactive metals do not change the taste of acidic foods when they come in contact with them. Examples of spoons to look out for are those made of anodized aluminum, wood, glass, stainless steel, and enameled cast iron. 

A Candy Thermometer

When canning, candy thermometers are used to measure the temperature of cooked items. Some also candy thermometers come with marks that show the gel point for jelly. Get a candy thermometer that is easy to read. The thermometer should also come with base support. The support helps to stop the bulb portion from touching the bottom of your pan. Hence, it prevents false reading, therefore, perfect to include in your preserving equipment list.

Food Strainer/Food Mill

A convenient method of grinding food is making use of a food strainer and mill. This preserving equipment serves as an alternative to food processors in the event of a power outage. While they may not be necessary for canning, they are excellent for homemade applesauce. Hence, you will find this item very useful.

Wrap Up

Finally, you have gained in-depth information about the best preserving equipment for beginners. Preserving food is a great skill to learn. What is the equipment needed to get started? They are all here in this guide.

We have put together the list of our favorite home food preservation supplies just for you. The different pieces of equipment for preserving foods are very effective and are also safe and easy to operate. So, make sure to use them.

For more informative preserving tips, you can also check our article, Vacuum Sealing Liquids Is Quick & Easy With These Sealers.