This month's notes: May 2013: The cool weather has delayed blooms and slowed growth by a couple of weeks, but don't miss strawberries: they started in most Southern areas in late April, and in late May up north. Click here for strawberry facts and picking tips, and this page for easy strawberry jam making directions. Blueberries will come in June in most areas. Of course, Florida, southern Texas, and other very warm areas are already picking both crops! See this page for hundreds of easy canning and freezing instructions/recipes, canning equipment guide! Also make your own ice cream - see How to make ice cream and ice cream making equipment and manuals. Then see each state's crop availability calendar for more specific dates of upcoming crops. Organic farms are identified in green! See our guide to local fruit and vegetable festivals!. Please tell the farms you found them here - and ask them to update their information!!

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Strainers and juicers for home canning: Great prices, wide selection, fast delivery, reliable service on home food strainers and canning equipment

Ordering Strainers, Juicers and Other Canning Supplies

Want to make applesauce, apple butter, pumpkin pie, seedless jam or jelly, tomato sauce, salsa or spaghetti sauce? Then you need a strainer - and we have all makes, model s and prices here. Whether you are canning for your first time or in your 50th year of canning; all the supplies you need are here, and at the best prices you'll find anywhere! Scroll down this page for photos, descriptions, prices and ordering information. See this page for Canners (all types).

Everything All can be shipped by a variety of methods, including overnight, if you have a canning emergency!

For more information, and NO obligation to buy, just click on the links in the Amazon boxes on the left!

Juicers

Juicers can act as a food processor/blender and a sieve; all in one: Perfect for making jellies and juices. Here are some of the top rated juicers, from low to modestly high prices (you can always go higher in price... but the reviews don't show them to be substantially better)

Strainers for Canning and Cooking

And for accessories (other screens):

Victorio V250
-29 4-Piece Attachment Set for Fruit and Vegetable Strainer #200

Victorio V250 Food Strainer (the same as the comparable Villaware and Roma models)

With this Food and Vegetable Strainer, you'll be able to prepare more healthy foods, make natural sauces, soups and jams - even your own baby food! The tedious job of peeling and coring is eliminated as the strainer continuously separates the seeds and skins from the juices and pulp with just a turn of the handle. The highly polished body contains no paint or coatings that can chip or peel off, is easy to clean, and stands 19-in. high with the attached hopper. Click at left for more information, images accessories or to order.

Features:

Stainless-steel construction
Manual crank system
Replaces peeling and coring
Assembly required
Wash all parts in hot, soapy water
Optional additional screens for berries, pumpkin, salsa, tomato/applesauce (see below)

Additional screens pack:

Features:

Strain berries, pumpkins, and grapes--or make fresh salsa with ease
Pack of four screens; screens are companion parts to Villaware's strainer
Stainless-steel construction won't peel or rust
Attach screens to strainer with one simple twist
Made in Italy

With the Deluxe Food Strainer/Sauce Maker, you can make creamy apple sauce and smooth tomato sauce without having to peel and core! This multi-use strainer forces food through a stainless steel screen, automatically separating the juice and pulp from the seeds, shins, and stems. Perfect for purees, creamed soups, baby foods, pie filling, juices, jams, and more. Save time, effort, and money by preparing your own tasty sauces to be used immediately or boiled for future use. Do bushels with ease and in a fraction of the time. Includes the tomato/apple screen with easy twist on design and instruction/recipe booklet.

The Deluxe model comes with the standard Tomato/Apple Screen; as well as the Berry Screen, Pumpkin Screen, and Grape Spiral. Note: this one includes the screens, which are sold separately with the Villaware model (but the Villaware model and the accessory pack of screens together is still less expensive)

Victorio Food Strainer & Sauce Maker Features

This New Model 250 Victorio Food Strainer is the best design of any food strainer on the market
It features: Stainless Steel Screens and a One Piece Hopper and Extended Waste Funnel
Improved Handle Design For Easy Cranking
Clamp On Base For Secure Mounting to Table or Counter
Includes: Stainless Steel Apple / Tomato Screen and Instruction / Recipe Booklet
Can use Roma / Villaware screens

Additional and Different Screens for Strainers above

Features

Accessory Kit

1 Berry Screen (3/64 inch holes) great for blackberries and raspberries
1 Grape Spiral (5-1/2 inch length)
1 Pumpkin/Squash Screen (1/8 inch holes)
1 Salsa Making Screen (1/4 inch holes)
Instructions for changing screens included

Foley Food Mill (strainer)

Foley Food mills have been around for generations. My grandmother had one. It is a hand cranked strainer that looks like a sauce pan with a screened bottom. It is excellent for applesauce and to remove seeds from blackberries.

Other food strainers

There are other types, too. The Roma / Vilaware models are very good and have electric motor options, in addition to the standard hand crank. (you can add the motors later).

Pragotrade #07-0801 Roma Food/Veg Strainer

This looks very similar to the Victorio V250.

Product Description
"Roma" Food and Vegetable Strainer from Pragotrade.
If you enjoy making your own tomato sauces or other delicious recipes this is the gadget that will save you time and much frustration.

Continuously separates seeds and skins from the juices and pulp with easily with the turn of the handle

Purees tomatoes and apples

19" high with hopper attached

Screen is 5 1/2" x 3 1/4" diameter

Stainless steel

Twist-on screen

Improved, new design, longer waste funnel

Simple to assemble

Attaches to a table or counter

Includes plunger

Note: Board not included, for illustration only

Pragotrade 67-0101-W Roma Le Petit Food Strainer

Click here for a larger photo, more information, pricing, ordering, etc.

There are some nice stainless steel hand cranked models, too. Click on the link at left for more information.

Click here for a larger photo, more information, pricing, ordering, etc.

Cherry Pitters / Stoners

If you have fresh cherries and you want to do anything with them, you will definitely need a cherry pitter or cherry stoner. There are two basic types the hand held one-at a-time design sold in grocery stores, and the much more practical table model shown at left.

A visitor writes on June 09, 2012: "I have one of these cherry pitting "machines" and it works great! much faster than doing each cherry by the hand pitter...but sometimes the cherries get pitted on the side instead of straight down the middle. it doesn't make a difference in the apperance of your canned jars, though."

Leifheit Cherry Pitter

Features

White plastic cherry stoner with clear plastic catch container
Steel plunger punches stones out cleanly leaving fruit intact
Can process up to 25 pounds of cherries per hour
Non-skid pad on the bottom grips the surface
Dishwasher safe

Norpro Deluxe Cherry Stoner/Pitter

Features

Great for the home baker
Clamps to any 3/4-inch thick counter
Comes with a catch hopper
Speeds up a tedious task
Measures 7-1/2 by 6 by 14 inches

Blake, 2012: I got one of these and it does very, very well!

A visitor writes on July 1, 2010: "I wanted to let you know about the Norpro Deluxe Cherry Stoner/Pitter. These things are GREAT!!! They pit cherries reliably and remarkably fast! Just tell your readers to NOT lose the orange inserts (they may be other colors now) that come with the cherry pitter. They’re definitely necessary to actually pit the cherries."

Oxo Good Grips Cherry Pitter

Features

Splatter Shield protects work area from juices and removes for cleaning
Sturdy, die-cast zinc construction removes pits with ease
Soft, comfortable non-slip handles absorb pressure
Generous cherry holder accommodates large cherries like Bing and Rainier, and is recessed to secure smaller varieties
Locks closed for convenient storage

Old-Fashioned Food Colander / Strainer

This is just like the colander that my grandmother (and probably yours) used. So many people have asked me where to get one of these, that I finally found one. It looks very well made. On the other hand, I usually prefer the hand-crank or motorized strainers for anything but a small batch.

Product Description
Chinois Food Mill is made of stainless steel fine mesh and includes wood pestle for easy grinding. This tool is great for sauces, soups, vegetables and fruits.

Product Description
The convenience of a stand allows you to walk away and let gravity and the chinois do the work of straining. Use it for straining stock or in conjunction with the tapered wooden pestle as a food press to squeeze juice from raspberries or pulp from pumpkin while leaving undesirable fibers seeds and particles behind. The funnel shape traps the food so you can have at it with a pestle and it also directs the flow to bowl or pot. Note: Also called a a strainer or misspelled as "collander"

GOOD: KitchenAid K45WSSWH Classic Series 4-1/2-Quart Stand Mixer with Spatula, White

Features:

Measures 13-8/9 by 8-2/3 by 14 inches; 1-year warranty
250-watt, 10-speed mixer with tilt-up head
4-1/2-quart bowl holds dough for 2 loaves of bread
3 handy accessories: flat beater, wire whip, and dough hook
Includes bonus spatula and guide with instructions, mixing tips, and 67 recipes

BETTER: KitchenAid K5SSWH Heavy Duty 5-Quart Mixer, White

Features:

Measures 16-2/5 by 10-2/5 by 13-2/7 inches; 1-year warranty
325-watt, heavy-duty motor with the capacity for kneading 3 loaves of bread
10-speed, solid-state control for various mixing needs
5-quart, stainless steel bowl with convenient, easy-to-use, bowl-lift handle
Includes flat beater, dough hook, and wire whip; power hub for additional attachments

BEST VALUE: Factory-Reconditioned KitchenAid RRK150ER Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, Empire Red (or other colors)

Features:

Reconditioned by the manufacturer to "like new" condition; includes 1-year warranty
325-watt mixer with 10 speeds; 5-quart stainless steel bowl
Tilt-back head for easy access to mixture
Includes flat beater, dough hook, and wire whip; pouring shield not included
Measures 14 by 8-2/3 inches by 14 inches

BEST: KitchenAid KP2671XWH Professional 6-Quart Stand Mixer, White

Features:

Measures 16-1/2 by 11-2/7 by 14-3/5 inches; 1-year warranty
Professional-grade stand mixer, with 525-watt motor and 10 speeds
6-quart, polished stainless-steel bowl with ergonomic handle
2-piece pouring shield with large chute for adding ingredients
Includes burnished flat beater, burnished dough hook, and wire whip
LOOK FOR THE GREAT DEAL ON THE REMANUFACTURED ONES - click on the links at left

KitchenAid Attachments: Food Strainer

Add these to any of the KitchenAid's above, and in addition to the mixer dough maker and other attachments included you can make applesauce with ease, strain seeds from blackberries, make seedless/skinless tomato sauce and ketchup, make sausage grind and strain all kinds of fruits, vegetables and meats.

If you make more than a dozen jars of applesauce per year, it's worth it for that alone!

I've had mine for 20 years and make about 120 quarts of applesauce every year with it, so I know it works and holds up!

To use the strainer you will ALSO need the grinder, to which the strainer attaches. See the next item below:

The food grinder alone

The food grinder plus the sieve

Kitchen Aid Attachments: Food Grinder

You can buy the food grinder by itself, or bundled with the food strainer / sieve. If you have neither, obviously, the bundled package is the best value!

I've had mine for 20 years and make about 120 quarts of applesauce every year with it, so I know it works and holds up!

Kitchen Aid Attachments: Mixer Attachment Pack for Stand Mixers

Features

Includes food grinder, slicer and shredder, and fruit and vegetable strainer
Grinder has fine and coarse grinding blades
Two slicing and two shredding cones included
Can be used with any KitchenAid stand mixer
Most parts are dishwasher-safe

Kitchen Aid Attachments: Ice Cream Maker Attachment

No need to buy a separate ice cream maker when you can just get this attachment for your KitchenAid.

Kitchen Aid Attachments: Pasta Roller

And with this attachment, you can make your own fresh pasta.

Features

Stainless-steel set includes pasta roller, fettuccine cutter, and linguine fine cutter
Fit all KitchenAid stand mixers
Clean with included wooden cleaning brush and toothpicks
Attachments measure approximately 9 by 3 inches
1-year warranty; made in Italy

Kitchen Aid Attachments: SNFGA Pasta Maker

Features

Makes five different kinds of pasta
Use with any KitchenAid household stand mixer
Includes storage case, cleaning tool, and food grinder attachment
Dishwasher-safe
One-year full warranty

Mirro Stainless Steel Foley Food Mill 2Qt.

Features:

Heavy tin-plated steel
Rice potatoes
Has supports for resting on top of bowl or pot
About $20 - click on the links at left for current pricing

Mirro Stainless Steel Foley Food Mill 3 1/2Qt.

Features:

Heavy tin-plated steel
Rice potatoes
Has supports for resting on top of bowl or pot

Jelly Strainer

Features:

Stainless steel
7" Diameter x 9" Deep
Includes one filter bag
Legs bend to fit pot

5-Piece Canning Accessories Kit

Comes with canning rack, jar wrench, jar lifter, lid lifter, funnel, ladle, bubble freer, and cookbook
Designed for use with 10-quart Fagor pressure cookers
Stainless-steel funnel and ladle are durable and attractive
Bilingual cookbook (English and Spanish) includes more than 100 pages

Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours

Canning Jars

Canning jars delivered to your doorstep and guaranteed! Any size you need. Click on the links below

Canning jars: quart (32 oz) jars

Canning jars: pint (16 oz) jars

Canning jars: 8 oz jars

Quilted Canning jars: 4 oz glass jars

8 oz canning jars shown below:

Quilted 4 oz jars below:

Books

Canning books

Canning & Preserving for Dummies
by Karen Ward
Average Customer Review:
Usually ships in 24 hours

Click here for more information, reviews, prices on Amazon.com for Canning and Preserving For Dummies

The Ball Blue Book of Preserving

This is THE book on canning! My grandmother used this book when I was a child. It tells you in simple instructions how to can almost anything; complete with recipes for jam, jellies, pickles, sauces, canning vegetables, meats, etc. If it can be canned, this book likely tells you how! Click on the link below for more information and / or to buy (no obligation to buy)

Click here for more information from Amazon.com about the
Ball Blue Book of Preserving

Complete Guide to Home Canning and Preserving

by United States Dept. of Agriculture

Practical, easy-to-follow guide contains virtually everything consumers need to know about home canning: how to select, prepare, and can fruits, vegetables, poultry, red meats and seafoods; how to preserve fruit spreads, fermented foods and pickled vegetables; how to prepare foods for special diets, and much more. Also includes scores of simply written recipes that even beginners can handle (smoked fish, turkey-tamale pie, chicken croquettes, more. It's the second book to get, after the Ball Guide. Click on the link below for more information and / or to buy (no obligation to buy)

Food Preparation Equipment

Make the job faster and easier with these great tools!

Bean "frenchers"

It is tiring and laborious to prepare green beans for canning; there are so many of them and you do them all by hand. But wait there's a new device that makes it easy. Hmmm, actually, these devices have been around since our great-grandfather's day! Here are several different types and makes, some hand fed, some cranked: choose the one that meets your need and budget!

For photos and features of the bean frenchers, click here!

More Canning Supplies

Lids, Rings and Jars

Need lids, rings and replacement jars?

Get them all here, delivered direct to your home, at the best prices on the internet!

Pectin, Pickle Mixes and Sauce/Salsa Mixes

Making Jam? Need Pectin, but the local store is out?
Is your jam too runny? Pectin enables you to turn out perfectly set jam every time. Made from natural apples, there are also low-sugar pectins that allow you to reduce the sugar you add by almost half!

Get them all here at the best prices on the internet!

Pickling Mixes and Pickling Supplies

Pickles
Whether you want dills or sweet pickles; canning them or straight into the refrigerator; there is a mix for every taste and need here!Get them all here, delivered direct to your home, at the best prices on the internet! Get everything you need to make pickles: mixes, salt, brine, etc. here!

Sauce and Salsa Mixes

Get ready season mixes for tomato sauces and salsas here. They make it simple to get it right every time!

Remember to ALWAYS call the farm or orchard BEFORE you go - weather, heavy picking and business conditions can always affect their hours and crops!

PYO Farms in Other Countries: [ Australia ] [ Canada ] [ South Africa ] [ New Zealand ] [ United Kingdom ]

Our other free, informative sites you may like:

EHSO.com - Environmental health and safety information and guidance for the home
ConsumerFraudReporting.org - Information about identity theft, frauds and scams; how to report them and how to protect your identity.
FitnessAndHealthScience.org - Practical fitness, health and diet information that works.
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