Canning Asparagus (Spears or Pieces)

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Title: Canning Asparagus (Spears or Pieces)
Categories: Vegetables, Canning
Yield: 1 text


Quantity: An average of 24-1/2 pounds is needed per canner load of 7
quarts; an average of 16 pounds is needed per canner load of 9 pints. A
crate weighs 31 pounds and yields 7 to 12 quarts--an average of 3-1/2
pounds per quart.

Quality: Use tender, tight-tipped spears, 4 to 6 inches long.

Procedure: Wash asparagus and trim off tough scales. Break off tough
stems and wash again. Cut into 1-inch pieces or can whole.

Hot pack--Cover asparagus with boiling water. Boil 2 or 3 minutes.
Loosely fill jars with hot asparagus, leaving 1-inch headspace.

Raw pack--Fill jars with raw asparagus, packing as tightly as possible
without crushing, leaving 1-inch headspace.

Add 1 teaspoon of salt per quart to the jars, if desired. Add boiling
water, leaving 1-inch headspace.

Adjust lids and process as recommended in Table 1 or Table 2 according
to the method of canning used.

Table 1. Recommended process time for Asparagus in a dial-gauge pressure
canner.

Style of Pack: Hot and Raw. Jar Size: Pints, Quarts.
Process Time: 30 minutes for Pints, 40 minutes for Quarts.
Canner Pressure (PSI) at Altitudes of 0 - 2,000 ft: 11 lb.
2,001 - 4,000 ft: 12 lb.
4,001 - 6,000 ft: 13 lb.
6,001 - 8,000 ft: 14 lb.

Table 2. Recommended process time for Asparagus in a weighted-gauge
pressure canner.

Style of Pack: Hot and Raw. Jar Size: Pints, Quarts.
Process Time: 30 minutes for Pints, 40 minutes for Quarts.
Canner Pressure (PSI) at Altitudes of 0 - 1,000 ft: 10 lb.
Above 1,000 ft: 15 lb.

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* USDA Agriculture Information Bulletin No. 539 (rev. 1994)
* Meal-Master format courtesy of Karen Mintzias

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