How to Can Chicken with Recipes

If you are learning how to can chicken, you first must understand a few things about selecting and preparing the chickens. When canning chicken, one or two year old fowls are better than younger ones.

If you are raising your own chickens then I will assume you will be canning those; if not then you will save a lot of work by purchasing suitable chickens. The same goes for canning vegetables or making preserves or knowing how to can chicken if you are raising your own it is added work but vegetables and produces can be purchased as well. Either way, it is worth the effort.

If you are learning how to can chicken and they are ones you have raised, you must learn how to dress them. Dressing poultry is not as complicated as you might think. There are many days in my distant memories when Dad would set up the operation in our backyard to dress chickens. He would build a hot fire in our large fireplace; then he placed a huge kettle of water on the fire. The main thing to stress in this matter is to keep everything clean and sterilized. Dad would set up a large metal table next to the fireplace and scrub it down. Next he got all the utensils ready and placed on the table with a large cutting board. A clean galvanized tub would provide a place to put the chickens after cleaning. He pulled the hose up to the table to have plenty of fresh clean cold running water handy to run over the chickens for quick cooling.

Now it was time to get the chickens which had already been conveniently penned. It is best to do only a few at a time because it is important that they are processed as quickly as possible. After tying the chickens by the feet to the clothesline, Dad would cut the head off and let all the blood drain from them. By now the water on the fire was steaming hot. A quick dip in the hot water holding the chicken by the feet, would loosen the feathers. Dad quickly plucked all the feathers from the chickens. By quickly flipping the chicken over the blazing fire took care of any pinfeathers left in the chicken. I must stress “quickly” (few seconds) on these instructions because you do not want the chickens to begin to cook from the hot water or hot flames.

If you are just learning how to can chicken, the hearts, livers and gizzards can also be canned. They are all good to eat but should be canned separately from the other chicken meat. After cutting off the neck reach inside the cavity and pull out the inner parts; reach in and do the same at the bottom end. Clean the heart, liver and chicken gizzard. The gizzard needs to be sliced open and cleaned of sand; there is a lining which needs to be peeled off. Now it is important to quickly cool down the chickens (do not freeze); a constant running of very cold water will work and ice works very well. Chickens need to be chilled to 40F degrees before finishing processing but sudden change in the temperature lowers the quality of meat.

Unless Dad was cleaning older stewing chickens or roasting chickens, he would (cut the chickens) in pieces. We never cooked chicken right after butchering them; Dad usually cleaned them on Saturday and we had them for Sunday dinner. Poultry should be allowed to age for at least 6 hours after killing. If you are canning chicken, you will want to cut them in pieces. If you are learning how to can chicken, split the breast in half and then cut along the backbone so the bone can be removed; the breast can then be cut to fit inside the jars. Separate the legs from the thighs; both of these can be boned for easy packing. There is not enough meat on the wings to can but they make great hot wings or barbequed wings. You can also freeze them uncooked or cooked.

How to can chicken is very important; as well as any meat. It is recommended and I agree that chicken should be hot packed (not raw packed). The extra cooking assures that any live spoilage organisms will be destroyed; this is very important with all meats. Sort pieces by size and cook pieces of equal size together until they are medium cooked; to 170F degrees. Pack chicken in hot sterilized (pint or quart) canning jars. Pour boiling hot water or boiling broth over the chicken, leaving 1 inch headspace. If you want added salt, add a little table salt to each jar, wipe the rims clean and adjust lids. Process jars under 10 pounds of pressure 65 minutes for pints; 75 minutes for quarts.

HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN BROTH (and can it)

Place 3 chickens (3 to 3 ½ pounds each) in a large stock pot. Cover with 1 ½ Gallons of fresh water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer about 2 hours or until chicken is falling from the bones. Drain the chicken from the broth. Let the broth cool so the fat rises to the top; when it does, skim off the top. Strain the broth through a fine strainer.

Bring broth to a boil; if you want added salt season it now. Pour hot broth into hot sterilized canning jars leaving 1 inch headspace. Wipe jar rims with clean towel and adjust lids. Process with 10 pounds pressure; 20 minutes for pints and 25 minutes for quarts.

CHICKEN CRANBERRY SALAD RECIPE

This chicken cranberry salad recipe makes an elegant presentation for parties when you learn how to can chicken.

Layer 1:

• 1 Envelope unflavored gelatin
• ¼ Cup cold water
• 1 Can (16 ounces) jellied cranberry sauce
• ½ Cup orange juice
• ½ Cup diced celery
• ½ Cup chopped walnuts

Sprinkle e gelatin over cold water to soften.

Mash cranberry sauce; add orange juice and gelatin.

Place over low heat and stir until gelatin is dissolved.

Remove from heat and chill until texture of unbeaten egg whites.

Fold in celery and walnuts; pour into an 8 inch square dish and chill until firm.

Layer 2:

• 1 Envelope unflavored gelatin
• ¼ Cup cold water
• 1 Cup hot chicken broth
• 2/3 Cup mayonnaise
• ½ Cup half and half
• 2 Cups canned or cooked diced chicken
• 2 Tablespoons chopped parsley
• 1 Teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/8 Teaspoon salt
• 1/8 Teaspoon black pepper

Soften gelatin over cold water and stir into hot broth; chill until partially set.

Fold in remaining ingredients for layer 2; pour on top of layer 1 and chill until firm.

To serve cut in squares and serve on top of lettuce leaves with a dab of mayonnaise.

CHEESY CHICKEN RECIPE

When you learn how to can chicken, recipes like this cheesy chicken recipe become easy to make.

• 2 Cups drained canned chicken, in pieces or cubed
• 1 Cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 Can (8 ounces) crescent dinner rolls
• 1 Can (10 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 Cup milk

Preheat oven to 375F degrees.

Combine chicken and ½ cup cheese.

Separate crescent dough into 8 triangles.

Place 2 tablespoons of chicken mixture on wide end of triangle.

Roll up starting at wide end and rolling to opposite point.

Combine ¼ cup cheese, milk and soup in medium saucepan; heat until cheese melts.

Pour half of soup mixture in 9 inch square baking pan; arrange filled crescents on top of soup mixture.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Sprinkle with remaining cheese and return to oven until cheese melts.

Serve with remaining sauce.

More Great Canning Tips and Techniques

Go to Painless Cooking Home Page from How to Can Chicken