Easy Step-by-Step Instructions for Canning Chicken and Turkey

Beginning canners, don't be scared of canning chicken and turkey. It's easy and economical. You can do this. I will take you step by step. Deep breath, here we go.

Sources for fresh chicken:

1.You may be on a farm and have "meat" chickens or turkeys to butcher. Or your farming neighbors may have some for sale.

2.Your grocery store may have a good sale on them. This is a way to put that cheaper chicken/turkey to good use.

The first step is to clean off all of your working surface areas in your kitchen. I like to keep hot and soapy water in the sink at all times. If your water cools off, drain it and refill. The chicken and turkey fat are very greasy.

For all intents and purposes canning chicken is like canning turkey. The following is how to can a chicken. Use the same method to can a turkey.

I preface by saying that I use a Mirro canner. The instructions for canning are according to my Mirro canner. Check your canner instruction book for times, etc.

Also, you can use quarts or pints to can the chicken and turkey. I use pints and this is written with that in mind.

Either put your jars in the dishwasher, or wash them by hand. Set dishwasher on sterilizer if it has one. If washing by hand, wash in hot soapy water. Rinse. Let the jars stand in a sink of very hot water.

Put big pot of water on to boil. Make sure you clean your chicken/turkey very well. Put your chicken/turkey carcass in the pot. I like to boil mine until it starts to come away from the bone. Make sure you have plenty of liquid in the pot.

Put a pan of hot water on to boil. You will use this if you run short of liquid in the boiling pot of chicken/turkey.

When your chicken/turkey is done, CAREFULLY remove it from the pot. I like to use a big platter or bowl for this. Set the carcass/carcasses aside to let them cool. Leave your big pot of water and broth on so it keeps hot.

When you can safely and comfortably handle the meat, start to de-bone the chicken/turkey. Take your time doing this. Make sure you get all of the bones out of the meat. As you de-bone, put the meat in a different bowl or platter and put the bones in a container that you will discard.