The Homestead Way of Life

Canning Pumpkin and Yams

Every year about this time I like to re-visit the instructions for canning pumpkin and/or yams, since it is a question that tends to come up in the fall season when these items are plentiful. 

The latest research by Dept. of Ag experts has determined that it is not safe to puree pumpkin and/or yams for canning.  Being vegetables, both yams and pumpkins must be pressure canned.  The temperature of the food in the jar must get hot enough all the way through.  Since pureed pumpkin and yams are so dense, research has shown that even after a very long processing time, the internal temperatures do not reach safe levels for a long enough period to insure that all bacterias, molds, etc. have been killed or neutralized.  The food toward the outside of the jar would be woefully overprocessed by the time the food at the core was properly done.

But, don't despair - you can still safely can pumpkins and yams.  You just need to pack them in chunks instead of pureeing them. 

Pumpkin

Wash, cut in half and remove seeds. Cut pumpkin up into hunks that will fit in your jar.  Remove the skin, cover with water and boil for two minutes.  Drain, reserving hot liquid, and pack cubes into hot jars (wide mouth pint or quart), leaving 1/2" headspace.  Bring cooking water back to a boil and fill jars, leaving 1/2" headspace.  Apply the lids and rims.  Process at 10 lbs. pressure - 55 minutes for pints, 90 minutes for quarts.

Yams

Boil yams just long enough to get skins to slip off (about 20 minutes).  Remove skins, cut away bad spots and cut into manageable hunks lengthwise.  Pack hot into hot jars (reheat them if necessary after handling) leaving 1" of headspace.  Add boiling water, leaving 1" of headspace.  Apply lids and rims.  Process at 10 lbs. pressure - 65 minutes for pints, 90 minutes for quarts.

You are welcome to write to me with any questions.  Be sure to check out my website and request your free introductory issue of my newsletter - New Harvest Homestead!

Lisa

Untitled Comment

08:34, 2007-Oct-30 .. Posted by blessedmomof10

Lisa,
We love pumpkin around here and I was wondering about canning methods....too bad that it can't be canned pureed ... when you say in chunks are you saying raw or cooked? ( blanched)

Thanks!
gloria

Untitled Comment

08:51, 2007-Oct-30 .. Posted by NewHarvestHomestead

Hi Gloria - thanks for visiting my blog!

You're going to want to boil those pumpkin chunks for about two minutes and then put them hot into your hot jars.

Lisa