Canning Can I use calcium chloride when canning green beans to help keep them "crisp"?

h_oder

Veteran Member
So, my plan is to purchase a bushel or two of green beans and can them this summer. DH and DD2 really prefer fresh veggies - they don't like how soft canned vegetables can get. Honestly, I prefer a fresh, crisp bean as well, but I will eat what I can.

I'm curious to know if I could use calcium chloride (Pickle Crisp or any other brand name) with the beans for crispness without having to pickle them? Obviously these would still be pressure canned - just don't know if it'll work? We don't have freezer space for a bushel of beans (and I don't want to be so reliant on electricity).

If not, I'm still going to can up the beans. I'll try some pickled dilly beans and pressure can the rest. If things get tight, they'll eat whatever I set in front of them...or they won't eat.
 

moldy

Veteran Member
You can try it. I don't know that it will keep them crisp, though. If you like them that way, it might be better to freeze them. Let m know how it turns out if you decide to use the pickle crisp.
 

WalknTrot

Veteran Member
I dunno. I never mess around with the science of canning. The stakes/potential blowback are too high for me.
Believe in following approved methods only as per an updated Ball Blue Book/USDA. If there was "a better way" they'd have tested and approved it.
 
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psychgirl

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I wonder what canneries use because certain brands, and I can’t remember which one I saw, have “extra green” canned green beans.

I never bought those just because it made me think a nasty dye was used.
But maybe it’s something else(?)
 

WalknTrot

Veteran Member
I wonder what canneries use because certain brands, and I can’t remember which one I saw, have “extra green” canned green beans.

I never bought those just because it made me think a nasty dye was used.
But maybe it’s something else(?)

Commercial canneries have more/different capabilities and resources available than the home kitchen does.
Heat, pressure, advanced container systems, etc.
 
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