As a Preserving Teacher these are the Canning Books that I recommend for beginners and advanced food preservers

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That are safe canning procedures.
This is both for pressure canning and water bath canning. Most also have other methods of preserving.

The UDDA has been creating preserving guides for over one hundred years. They have changed the game of canning because of the research they have conducted on creating more safe canning techniques over the decades.

This is 100% free. You can print this out; it is in pdf form on the internet! The book has seven sections, you can choose to print out the entire book, as I did, or just print out a section you would like to learn about. It is written more like a manual more than most of these other books, it is the USDA.

The book has more color in it, I just printed it out in black and white to save ink. I do reference this book a lot, especially when double checking if someone else’s recipe is written safely or has the correct times.

There are no photos of the recipes, again, more of a manual to be used alongside your canning journey.
You can purchase copies on Amazon, if you choose to, please read the reviews of the specific copy you purchase, there have been fraudulent copies as well as bad printing with some of the editions. I recommend printing directly from the USDA site, you can find that here. You also are assured you are getting the most up-to-date edition. It was last updated in 2015.

When I began working with my local county extension agent, she told me this is their canning bible. A plastic comb bound black and white book, some copies have red print. Simple, full of many different forms of preserving. This book looks more like your old church cookbooks; no fuss just written words, but this does not make it less than any other book on this list, it will give you more bang for your buck.

There are no color photographs, just a few line drawings. I use this book often, it is filled with preserving techniques, recipes and covers just about anything you can think of, it includes recipes to preserve rabbit and squirrel.

I would recommend purchasing this one through the University of Georgia Extension to get the most up-to-date edition and also the most reasonable price.

This was the first canning book I purchased; it is still my favorite. It is not my favorite because it is better than any other of these books on the list, just because it is the one I use the most. THIS is the book I have gifted more than any other on the list. The typeface is larger than other books on the list, the margins have room for me to write notes.

There are a few photos, but if you like a photo to accompany each and every recipe, this is not the book for you. It has both pressure canning and water bath canning. The book goes into great detail of each of the preserving techniques, has simple entry level recipes to begin with.

You can purchase the book here.

Last updated in 2024.

The Ball® Blue Book of Home Preserving This is the OG of canning books. If someone in your family preserved in the decades before, I am going to bet, they had a copy of this book. The first one printed in 1909. This book continues to be updated regularly and the 38th edition was updated in 2024 and had a lovely and very modern facelift. The photos are brighter, with modern photography.

You can always search for a local store that carries the book here on the Ball® mason Jar website.

The Ball® Blue Book has much smaller print compared the Ball® Complete Book, the pages are glossier, more like a magazine. I would recommend this book for younger canners because of the photography and brighter colors. It has most of the same recipes from the Ball® Complete Book, but it also includes dehydrating.

The Ball® company is constantly updating their information and the 38th edition was updated in 2024.

This book is for more of a modern palate. This book has bright color photography, includes photos with nearly each recipe. The recipes are updated for newer modern tastes. This book has water bath canning, pressure canning as well as recipes on how to use your preserved food.

I love this book. The recipes are delicious and I love the updated flavors, still proving, Ball® is a leader in food preserving.

As a canning and preserving educator I am always being asked, “what book should I get?” I share these books and let people decided what will be the best book for them. I believe the best book for you is the book that you will use.