Why You Really Do Need To Leave Extra Room When Canning Food – Tasting Table

It's easy to feel like you're wasting perfectly good space when you don't fill up your container to the very top, but when canning, it is important to strike a delicate balance. According to Utah State University, maintaining the space between the food and can lid is necessary to create the vacuum seal essential for preservation. If the food is too low or too high in the can, things could go wrong. It is especially important not to overfill the can and to leave sufficient space to create the vacuum seal; if not, the food could expand out of the can and allow bacteria to enter, which could cause those who consume it serious health problems (via CDC).

Another, more well-known, side effect of not properly sealing canned goods is the risk of explosion. If you've seen the classic 1942 film "Holiday Inn," you'll remember the scene where the protagonist, Jim, played by Bing Crosby, brings a friend some peach preserves. But, because of his bad canning job, they explode, and Jim and his friend are forced to duck for cover (via NY Times). This is a real canning problem. If there is not enough space left in the can, the lid will not seal and, yes, your canned goods might very well explode (via Shelf Life Advice)

Canning is a great way to preserve your foods and have a pantry full of delicious fruits and veggies all year long, but for the sake of your health and safety leave the recommended amount of space in the can. We don't want you to have explosive results.

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Why You Really Do Need To Leave Extra Room When Canning Food - Tasting Table