Canning, as a gift

[Anonymous]

Am I the only person that is sketched out by other people's jars of preserves, tomatoes, etc.? I never eat them. Maybe this stems from me getting a call saying not to eat a gift of salsa. Luckily I hadn't eaten it or I would have been sick. I have received so many of these as gifts over the years and haven't eaten one of them.

[Anonymous]

I grew up country and still willingly accept salsa, pickles, beans, etc. I do only get them from people who are reasonably educated in how to can though.

[Anonymous]

I can and do so in a hygienic, safe manner. I would only gift my jams to really, close friends and family because I know people feel like you do. I would only eat canned gifts from really, really, close friends and would not eat it from someone I don't know well because it skeeves me out too!.

[Anonymous]

I'm meticulous about safety when I can--I'm pretty Type A, and if I'm using the jam (or whatever) for my own family, I want to make sure it's safe. I've had friends and family ask for my jams, and I gladly gift to them. I would never gift to someone who hadn't specifically expressed interest, though.

Similarly, if I know a friend is safe with his/;her canning, I'll ask for some. I don't take homemade jam that I'm not sure about. (And lots of my friends have given us store-bought jams, apple sauces, etc. I love them.)

[Anonymous]

I've pickled some things and even I won't eat the stuff I make myself. I always think I will, but then I just can't do it.

[Anonymous]

I've never heard of people being "sketched" out by canning. Canning is an amazing, historical way to preserve food. I receive a ton of requests for my jams and pickled veggies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of people being "sketched" out by canning. Canning is an amazing, historical way to preserve food. I receive a ton of requests for my jams and pickled veggies.

Except when it's done incorrectly and it makes people horribly, horribly sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of people being "sketched" out by canning. Canning is an amazing, historical way to preserve food. I receive a ton of requests for my jams and pickled veggies.

Except when it's done incorrectly and it makes people horribly, horribly sick.

From what I've read that is very rare occurance and you can look at warning signs.

Even more strange is the PP who won't eat her own food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of people being "sketched" out by canning. Canning is an amazing, historical way to preserve food. I receive a ton of requests for my jams and pickled veggies.

Except when it's done incorrectly and it makes people horribly, horribly sick.

Ok, I admit I know nothing about this topic, but if someone opened a jar of jam that had spoiled, wouldn't it be obvious in the first bite, if not even by smell?

[Anonymous]

Our sweet old receptionist always gifts canned items in beautifully decorated baskets for Christmas. I don't doubt that she's clean and knows what she's doing, but I've had too many bad experiences with canned items and allergies that I just pass them along. My local food bank always gladly accepts them. I know others do not, though. With gifts like that, it really is the thought that counts for me, and like I said, her basket arrangements are fantastic (she's a retired florist and just an overall crafty lady).

[Anonymous]

What kills me is when I receive something and they want the jar back when I'm done. The whole time, I'm thinking that this thing is going to sit in my fridge for years before I finally toss it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What kills me is when I receive something and they want the jar back when I'm done. The whole time, I'm thinking that this thing is going to sit in my fridge for years before I finally toss it out.

I'm a canning PP.

Yeah, that's ridiculous. 12 Ball jars will run you $7-25, depending on the size. I always buy new ones after I give my jams as gifts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've pickled some things and even I won't eat the stuff I make myself. I always think I will, but then I just can't do it.

Dude. I had a garden one year and thought it was the best! idea! ever! I was going to save so much on produce and be healthy af, but when the items started getting ripe and it was time to eat them, they tasted... off. The lettuce tasted like soil to me and the tomatoes had too many bug bites and the cucumbers didn't feel firm enough and, and, and... disaster. There was just something in my brain preventing me from enjoying the fruits of my labor. I liken it to the same phenomenon that prevents my dad from eating dairy because he grew up working on his aunt's hog farm and much of the slop came from spoiled items from the local dairy. My uncle (dad's brother) had the unfortunate job of working on their aunt's farm one slaughter time and gets physically ill if he smells raw meat even to this day. He'll eat meat if someone else touches it and cooks it.

[Anonymous]

I wish you'd be upfront about your phobias so I can avoid gifting to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish you'd be upfront about your phobias so I can avoid gifting to you.

Chances are, a gift is completely unnecessary among adults.