Canning cheese is an easy recipe and one of the most best survival skills to learn. Cheese is one of the best survival foods to stockpile for an emergency scenario. It’s packed with fat and calories that are best for keeping you from going hungry for the longest period of time. Which is why we’re making this post on canning cheese.
Learning how to can cheese at home is one of the best survival skills you can learn mainly due to it’s extensive shelf life. From all of the research i’ve gone through, canned cheese can last up to 2 years, making it one of the foods with the longest shelf life. Preppers take note.
Note: You can also use this method for canning cream cheese if you’d like to can a cream cheese with your canned cheese. Canning nacho cheese is also possible.
How To Can Cheese
Overview
- Clean Jars
- Heat Jars
- Clean Cheese Packages
- Cut Cheese
- Prepare Pan
- Fill Jars
- Put Jars in Oven
- Prepare Large Pot
- Pack Jars Further
- Close Jars
- Put Jars In Pot
- Boiling Water Bath
- Remove Jars and Store
Supplies
- Health Grade Vinyl Gloves
- Canning jars with lids
- Aluminum Pan
- Large Pot
- Jar Lifter
- Cutting Board
- Dish Cloth
- Cheese
Supplies Recommendations
Health Grade Vinyl Gloves
Health grade and food grade vinyl gloves are recommended. These will ensure that neither the cheese or any of the parts will get contaminants from your hands.
Canning jars with lids
Ball mason jars with rim and ring tops are the standard for canning.
Aluminum Pan
A pan like this one is ideal. It doesn’t need to be a large one. A couple inches deep would work.
Large Pot
A larger pot will be needed for the boiling water bath. It has to be large enough for the jars to fit inside and be submerged with water.
Jar Lifter
A proper jar lifter is needed for moving the jars in and out of the pot.
Or this set that includes the jar lifter and the plastic instrument needed for packing the cheese is a good option.
Cheese
Mild cheddar cheese is recommended over sharp cheddar cheese. This is due to sharp cheddar cheese containing less moisture in the cheese making it more difficult to melt. Mild cheddar cheese is much better overall.
Step 1. Clean Jars
First, put on a pair of your health grade vinyl gloves. Then take your jars and thoroughly clean them.
Step 2. Heat Jars
Warm the jars in the oven at no more than 200 degrees. These jars are designed to withstand heat up to that level.
Step 3. Clean Cheese Packages
If you’re buying the small 8 oz packages of cheese, it’s important to clean the packages of cheese before opening them. Those packages are notorious for getting contaminated on the outside and we don’t want to get any contaminants in the jars. Clean them and let them dry.
Step 4. Cut Cheese
Cut the cheese into small blocks. This make it easy to take and pack into the jars.
Step 5. Prepare Pan
Place the jars in the pan and pour warm water in the pan about half way. This will help the cheese melt as they are being filled.
Step 6. Fill Jars
These jars will be able to contain an 8 oz block of cheese. The cheese at the bottom of the jars will soften due to the heat so you’ll be able to pack the cheese down every couple of minutes as you’re adding the small blocks of cheese in.
Step 7. Pack Jars Further
Use the plastic instrument to further pack the cheese so you can add as much cheese as the jar will contain.
Note: It’s not recommended to use a spatula or wooden instrument to push down the cheese. Reason being is the potential for contamination is increased when using these other types of instruments. Use the plastic knife like tool that comes with the ball canning kit. That ensures the likelihood of contamination to be as low as possible during the process.
Step 8. Put Jars in Oven
Prepare Large Pot – Prepare the large pot for when the jars are finished in the oven. Bring the water in the pot to just below a boil.
Step 9. Close Jars
When the jars are done. Clean the rim with a clean napkin or dish towel. Close the jars by adding the warm rim on top, followed by the warm ring to twist the jar shut.
Step 10. Put Jars In Pot
Once the jars are closed, take your sterilized prongs to grab the finished jars and place them into the large pot. A pressure canner can be used for this if the pot is large enough.
Step 11. Boiling Water Bath
Add in more water so that the jars are completely submerged under water. A boiling water kettle is helpful for this. Take the lid and cover the pan. Let the jars simmer for about 20 minutes.
Step 12. Remove Jars and Store
Take the jars out with the jar lifter and place them on a towel. Don’t place the jars on top of a cold counter, a towel is recommended.
That concludes the recipe for canning cheese. Now that you know how to can cheese at home, you know one of the best foods to can and store for emergencies or simply to have it for the future.
If you liked this recipe, you might also be interested in canning ravioli and canning hamburgers.
