Canning 101 with Chef Afton
Think you can’t can? Think again!
Learn the essentials of safe and successful home canning with Chef Afton. In this practical course, you’ll master boiling water bath canning while creating homemade raspberry jam and classic dill pickles—giving you the skills to preserve fresh flavors and enjoy them for months to come.
Total Course Runtime: 1 hour, 4 minutes
Lesson 1: Introduction & Canning Equipment
Get familiar with the essential tools and equipment used in home canning. Chef Afton walks through the purpose of each item and how to use them safely and effectively.
Runtime: 12 minutes
Lesson 2: Canning Science & Safety
Understand the key principles behind safe food preservation. This lesson explores the critical roles of acid, temperature, and oxygen in successful boiling water bath canning.
Runtime: 9 minutes
Lesson 3: Small Batch Raspberry Jam
Learn how to make and preserve a delicious small-batch raspberry jam so you can enjoy the flavor of fresh berries long after the season ends.
Runtime: 22 minutes
Lesson 4: Pickling – Dill Pickle Spears
Discover how to transform fresh cucumbers into crisp, tangy dill pickle spears using traditional pickling and canning techniques.
Runtime: 19 minutes
Lesson 5: Bonus – Quick Pickling & Course Review
Explore the simple technique of quick pickling and review the key concepts covered throughout the course.
Runtime: 2 minutes
Total Course Runtime: 1 hour, 4 minutes
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Chef Afton Cyrus joined the CSCA team as a recreational instructor in 2019, where she is glad to share her passion and expertise in canning and preserving with enthusiastic home cooks. After receiving degrees in education from Brandeis University and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Afton spent a decade as a teacher and program administrator in Boston before putting her passion for culinary arts at the center of her career. In addition, she joined the team at America’s Test Kitchen in 2015 to develop recipes for an array of award-winning cookbooks, including Foolproof Preserving: A Guide to Small Batch Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Condiments & More. “I love to help students of all ages explore new avenues of learning, and to discover and celebrate the world of food. Teaching others through the lens of culinary arts has brought together all of my skill sets and my passion for cooking, and is the true joy of my life.”