Complete Guide to Home Canning and Preserving

Comment: This USDA publication has been updated in 2009 and the one for sale was published 1994. After the fact, I received UDSA, NIFA, Agriculture Information Bulletin No. 539 listing significant changes in every one of the seven sections pertaining to food safety &/or quality. This rendered the entire book unfit to use as a researched based reference. Knowing that the version I was purchasing was the 1994 version, and I did not realize the differences until after the book arrived, I ended up throwing out the book because I did not feel it was safe to even sell it at a yard sale. I have since acquired the 2009 version of the same book through my local County Extension Service Office.

Comment: Sorry to be picky, but the print quality of this book is horrible. I can't read the images or charts. The font size is also below average. I wear glasses, but even with them on, I find this difficult to read. Save your money on this one. There are plenty of other good guides to canning out there.

Comment: I have been canning for many years and this book goes into some details that have already helped me for the coming canning season. I compete in our local fairs and last year I came home with *8* Blue Ribbons and one specialty Premium award!
When it comes to canning and the smallest of detail matters, this book has it. A good example would be, the alloted amount of head space needed for specific items. You might be ever so close but I found out last year that the judges go by what is called for by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. My thoughts were, where on earth do they come up with this stuff?
Had I had this book, I probably would have won another blue but instead I came home with 3rd place (I'm not disappointed at all). So when I saw this book and read that it was indeed the U.S. Dept.of Agricultures, I wasted no time to purchase it.
I am already using some of the pointers and tips in it and sooo very glad I took the time to browse through it, on line.Complete Guide to Home Canning and Preserving

Comment: By the Publishing Date (2008), I assumed that this was a newer edition. I wasn't expecting a reprint of the 1994 USDA Bulletin #539 - 14 years older than the Publishing Date. This should be made clear in the book's information.

Comment: This book doesn't waste words, but tells you enough to safely put up Summer's bounty for the Winter ahead.