This year could be a great growing season. What are you planning  – cucumbers, tomatoes, green beans? While you are planting your garden this spring, take note of each type of vegetable. Do you plan to preserve the extra? If so, do you have the correct tools and ingredients needed to prep and preserve these vegetables? What shape are they in?

Pull out your canning equipment and check it out. Do you need to replace anything? Will you need pectin, cheesecloth, or spices?

Don’t be caught with counters full of fresh produce waiting for a new canner or pectin to arrive. Get ready now.

Prepare your kitchen for the canning season – make sure all is ready with the newest and handiest tools.

Basic Equipment

• Water Bath Canner - Is the canner solid on the bottom, or is it chipped, rusted or completely coated in lime deposit? Make sure it is in good working condition.

• Pull out your canning rack and practice putting some jars in the sections. Is it sturdy? Will the added weight of canned produce be an issue when lifting out the rack? How rusty is it? Maybe it's time for a stainless steel replacement rack.

• Where is your jar lifter? When did you last use it? Don't be caught without one! This is a vital piece of equipment for lifting out heavy jars of produce. In fact, you might as well get out your funnel, tongs, wrench and magnetic lid lifter. Can't find them? You need a new canning tool set. Get one - you'll be happy you did.

• Will you be using your pressure canner? Check the gauges, gaskets and seals.

• Go down to the basement or storage room and check out all your empty canning jars. Feel around the rims - make sure there are no chips or cracks in the jars. Are you low on the quart or pint size?. Get some now. Clean out your jars with a new flexible jar brush.

• Order your lids and rings for this year's season. Green beans and tomatoes get ripe quickly and they may not stay fresh long enough for you to hunt down rings and lids. You might want to try handy one piece lids for pickles and jams.

Speaking of jams - do you have all you need for all those wonderful jellies you're making?

• Where is your jelly strainer - will the jelly strainer bags work for this year or do you need replacements? Do you use cheesecloth?

• Get your pectin now. Have it in the cupboard when you start picking strawberries, cherries, and raspberries. From garden to jam in a day makes the best preserves.

• Pitting cherries is a chore. Make sure your cherry pitter is working correctly. Check the blossoms on the tree this year, maybe you want to upgrade to a stainless steel pitter that pits 10 cherries at a time.

• Are you making freezer jam? Load up on freezer jars.

• How about a digital thermometer for cooking jelly this year - much easier to read, especially when you are tired.

Last year were you in a pickle because you couldn't find pickling lime when your cucumbers were ready? This year be prepared for the pickles. Order your pickling lime, pickling salt, pickling spices, pickle mixes and throw in a mandoline slicer to make slicing all those cucumber easier.

Tomatoes can cause the same issues. Order citric acid, salsa mixes and chili sauce spices now. Make sure you have a blancher for removing skins. Better yet, process all those tomatoes with an electric squeezer that removes the peel and seeds leaving only the pulp. You'll save a lot of time.

Both beginner and “well seasoned” canners may want to consider a few new handy tools for this canning season.

Deluxe Lid Sterilizer Rack (FP0179) – No longer will you scald your fingers while retrieving lids from the bottom of the pan. Simply insert lids into rack and lower into boiling water. Made of stainless steel, the rack is 9-1/2” high to keep handle out of pot for safety and widemouth or regular lids.

Over the Sink Collapsible Colander (FP2213) - We are told to wash all our fruits and vegetables This is the perfect answer for that task! This colander has expandable handles to fit over any sink - run the water right over the produce without loosing any down the drain (great idea for grapes and berries). Then when you're done, just push down to collapse the strainer - it stores flat! It will also fit flat into the dishwasher for easy clean-up!

Plastic Storage Jar Lids (PG0181) - These handy lids convert your canning jars to storage containers. After breaking the seal on your home preserves, reseal canned items for storage in the refrigerator with these plastic lids. Want to store dry products in your jars - these lids are perfect and won't rust! Remember - you can't use these for heat processing! Lids come in both regular and widemouth size!

Chinois Set (FP5292) - Removes skins and seeds from fruits and vetetables without peeling. Stainless steel sieve won't rust.

Electric Pea Sheller™ (FP0282) - Shell up to 3 bushels of peas in an hour! Can you imagine the time you might save?. This sheller works with Black-eyed, Purple Hull, Small Crowder, Cream Peas, English Peas, Sweet Peas, Lima and Butter Beans.

Stainless Steel Cabbage Shredder (FP3213) - Will last a lifetime and is more sanitary and easier to clean!

Ultimate Fruit Peeler (FP7010) - Fastest way to peel peaches, plums, apples, kiwi and any other soft or hard skinned fruit. Simply load the fruit, position the blade, and turn the crank!

Plum Pitter (FP1028) - Splits plum and removes stone in one operation!

For all of these wonderful timesaving tools and essentials for canning, check out the Kitchen Krafts website under the category of canning. You can be ready and prepared for this season!!!!

One last thing - Don't forget the labels!