Canning whole turkeys

[problemchild]

Fresh N Easy has whole turkeys on sale for .59c per pound, no purchase necessary. I figured I would can up 6-12 turkeys in the next few weeks. Yesterday I baked a 17lb turkey and canned it up as a practice run. I was surprised a 17lb turkey fit into 8 pints.

I have seen videos on youtube boiling the turkeys first but Im thinking that would give you mushy meat. The baking and canning seems to yield a firmer meat.

The process is: (use this time/temp/elevation/recipe)

Wash jars
Boil jars 10 minutes to sterilize
boil lids
debone turkey meat
boil broth ( I used chicken broth and water 50-50)
pack jars 1-1/4inch headspace
add salt
add boiling broth 1-1/4inch headspace
can meat (use above link for times, pressure)
cool jars 24 hours

[MFortie]

Did you try it after canning to see how the meat turned out?

[redrex]

Yeah, I'd be interested to see what the texture was like after canning.

[h0use]

thats looks good!

[Got Stuff?]

I've had a number of meats canned this way and its pretty good. I especially like smoked salmon canned like this!

[problemchild]

OK I popped one jar open and ate the turkey for lunch. It feeds two hungry people with rice as a side dish. The meat is firm in texture just like you cut it off a baked bird, no mushiness at all. The taste even reflects the baked taste flavor. This is a winner. GTG!

I used swanson chicken broth (50-50 water added) with extra onion powder, garlic powder and kosier salt added to pack the jars.

[Steve1968LS2]

What would the shelf life be? I assume it wouldn't need refrigeration.. hmmm

[SMOKEYMOUNTAIN]

that looks great. good job!

[problemchild]

What would the shelf life be? I assume it wouldn't need refrigeration.. hmmm

Probably figure 1-4 years declining. But you eat and rotate and reuse the jars. Its about 1-2 hours work per 2 birds. Screw the dehydrated meats.

[scarville]

Good information. I want to start canning meats when they are cheap and turkeys go on sale every year about this time.

[problemchild]

Good information. I want to start canning meats when they are cheap and turkeys go on sale every year about this time.

Only two canners I would look at. All American 921/930. 921 does single stack qts or dual stack pints. 930 does dual stack qts and 3 stack pints. 930 is huge! Pints feed two to three people and quarts fee 3+ people.

[gatesbox]

So I just saw online that they jar raw (cold) bird as well.....this is simply an ignorant question, but when you jar raw bird do you cook it when it comes out? Or is it somehow cured in the jarring process like

Sorry I'm just uninformed and had not thought about jarring meat yet...

[Got Stuff?]

Only two canners I would look at. All American 921/930. 921 does single stack qts or dual stack pints. 930 does dual stack qts and 3 stack pints. 930 is huge! Pints feed two to three people and quarts fee 3+ people.

I like using wide mouth quart jars myself for this type of stuff. Smaller jars for spices and such.

[Kid Stanislaus]

I try to avoid salt due to high blood pressure. Is there a way to can it without salt?

[chewy352]

PC

You should really start your own blog so all your adventures are in one place. The wife and I are going to start canning and basic self sufficient living and your post make it all seem less scary. Thanks for sharing.