This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
Everyone who cans & preserves food does so for a myriad of reasons that are general and also deeply personal. Canning and preserving should be fun and simple. Preserving food helps us reconnect to what is important in our modern world, showing friends and family that you love and appreciate them.
Canning is preparation. It is care made visible and practical. It is self-reliance in a jar. When you begin canning you need a simple, practical and comprehensive water bath canning book.
“Canning your own food is truly a balance of art and science….”
— Ball® Canning Back to Basics
Getting Started Canning
Getting started with canning can be extremely overwhelming and a simple internet search will often give you hundreds, if not thousands of the same recipe. Some of them safe but not all of them are exactly what you need to begin. People often skim over steps or worse, they complicate the process. To begin, you need clear guidance with tested recipes. Tested recipes are known to be safe for you and your family.
When I teach a canning class, I am always asked the question, “what canning book should I purchase first?” As a teacher that emphasizes using only safe tested recipes as you begin your preserving journey, the one book I ALWAYS recommend for complete beginners is the Ball® Back to Basics Canning: A Foolproof Guide to Canning Jams, Jellies, Pickles & More (Oxmoor House, 2023).
The Ball® company has been publishing books on canning and preserving since 1909, just as long as the USDA. To say they know a thing or two about canning is an understatement. Ball® produces canning recipes that are usually thoroughly tested and are always updating their books, recipes, and information. The newest Ball® Blue Book was updated and published in 2024. Today many canners (seasoned and newbies) trust Ball® canning jars and recipes to fill their pantries.
Canning Book that is Easy to Use
A simple Google search can quickly overwhelm you. The modern canning beginner needs simple, to the point canning instructions that are concise, clear step-by-step that often includes pictures from a trusted source. Ball® Canning Back to Basics is that guide. There are clear photographs, clear, easy to read instructions, problem solving section and the option to have a lay-flat spiral bound version (the one I own). As you can see from the photo below, the book has beautiful photography that shows you step-by-step how to’s, with a description of each step along the way. It breaks down each method before you work through the recipes.
Pages from the Ball® Back to Basics Canning Book-How to Make Fruit Butter
Comprehensive Yet Accessible
All to often canning books are encyclopedic and dense; those have their place, but they often overwhelm beginners. This book covers ONLY water-bath canning, where everyone starts on their canning journey. Water bath canning is the best entry point into learning to can because it is the oldest and easiest to learn. The main tool you use to preserve this way, is essentially a large stockpot.
This book has beautiful photographs (though not every recipe has a photograph). The photography is beautifully executed and inspires you to branch out beyond jams & jellies.
The book covers:
- jams
- jellies
- canning fruit
- fruit butters & sauces
- tomatoes
- pickles
- pantry staples
Table of Contents
What makes this book unique is that it is written and designed with a beginner in mind. It includes ONLY tested recipes. Because of the newbie focus, it includes step-by-step photos of EACH of the canning procedures. It includes lots of charts and information boxes for easy reference later on.
Who is this Book for
This book is for all canners, especially anyone who wants to focus on water-bath canning. I have been canning for years, I teach canning, and I still use this book. It ONLY contains water bath canning recipes, there are no pressure canning techniques, no fermentation. All you need to know is how to boil water.
I love the clear writing style-one recipe per page, no crammed recipes with too-small print. Only clear, bold print for each recipe.
Since it is written by Ball®, it is safe and technically sound. The recipes are tested, safe, and adhere to up-to-date USDA canning guidelines.
It has lovely photos of the canning equipment you will use, a breakdown of canning jar sizes and how to use each size, and a simple altitude adjustment chart to help you know how long you need to process your jars at your altitude.
What You Will Find Inside
- Intro to canning basics
- Equipment needed
- Step-by-step methods for each technique
- Water-bath canning recipes
- Troubleshooting tips
- Charts & diagrams
Simple steps, clearly written recipes, beautiful photographs and recipes for more than just jams that include pantry staples like Sloppy Joe sauce, give this book longevity that you will not grow out of.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a great starter book for your canning journey than this is THE ONE. I own it myself, I use it regularly, and I appreciate the delicious recipes that keep me going back to it, year after year. I have made many of the recipes and will continue to make more. This is a book that will not dissapoint, even a seasoned canner.
Canning Safety Explainer
Canning is not just a creative kitchen practice-it is a food safety process rooted in science. Proper canning relies on tested recipes, correct acidity levels, accurate processing times, and methods designed to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. While the internet offers endless canning ideas, not all recipes are developed or tested using modern safety standards. Trusted resources-such as books published by long-standing canning authorities and guidelines aligned with the USDA-ensure that each recipe has been evaluated for safety, shelf stability, and reliability. For beginners especially, starting with tested, clearly written recipes removes guesswork and allows confidence to grow alongside skill.
