Preserving method: Pressure canning

Makes about 8 (16 oz) pints or 4 (32 oz) quarts

Use this chicken stock instead of water when preparing your favorite recipes to add depth of flavor. It's great to always have a few jars handy.

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You will need

Full recipe

• 1 3- to 4-lb chicken, cut into pieces
• 16 cups water
• 2 stalks celery
• 2 medium onions, quartered
• 1 Tbsp salt
• 10 peppercorns
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 Ball® (32 oz) quart or 8 (16 oz) pint glass preserving jars with lids and bands  
   

Half recipe 

• 1/2 3- to 4-lb chicken, cut into pieces
• 8 cups water
• 1 stalks celery
• 1 medium onions, quartered
• 1-1/2 Tbsp salt
• 5 peppercorns
• 1 bay leaves
• 2 Ball® (32 oz) quart or 4 (16 oz) pint glass preserving jars with lids and bands   

*You must process at least 2 quart jars or 4 pint jars in the pressure canner at one time to ensure safe processing.
 

Directions

1. Prepare pressure canner. Heat jars in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil.  Wash lids in warm soapy water and set bands aside
2. Combine chicken and water in a large sauce-pot. Bring to a boil. Add remaining ingredients. Return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 2 hours or until chicken is tender. Remove from heat. Skim off foam.
3. Remove chicken from stock, reserving chicken for another use. Strain stock through a sieve or several layers of cheesecloth. Allow stock to cool until fat solidifies. Skim off fat.
4. Heat stock to a boil.
5. Ladle hot chicken stock into hot jars leaving 1 inch headspace. Wipe rim. Center hot lid on jar. Apply band and adjust until fit is fingertip tight.
6. Process filled jars in a pressure canner at 10 pounds pressure 20 minutes for pints and 25 minutes for quarts, adjusting for altitude, according to your pressure canners directions. Turn off heat: cool canner to zero pressure. Let stand 5 more minutes before removing the lid. Cool jars in canner 10 minutes. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed.