The Complete Guide to Canning Green Beans with Bacon

Canning green beans is a classic way to preserve the bounty from your garden or local farm stand. But why stop at plain old green beans when you can kick things up a notch and can green beans with bacon for added flavor? Infusing savory, smoky bacon into your canned green beans takes them from boring side dish to amazing anytime meal helper.

Follow this easy guide to learn how to safely can green beans with bacon using a pressure canner I’ll provide tips for amounts, prep, processing times and more so you can stock your pantry with this downhome delicious combo Grab your canning gear and let’s get started!

Benefits of Canning Green Beans with Bacon

Here are some of the benefits of canning green beans with bacon:

• Adds tons of flavor – Bacon infuses the beans with smoky, salty, umami deliciousness

• Convenient protein – Excellent source of meaty bacon in ready to go jars

• Saves garden green beans – Preserves your harvest so none go to waste

• Economical meal starter – Use jars for soups, casseroles, side dishes

• Makes great gifts – Share unique flavored canned goods with family and friends

Now let’s go over step-by-step instructions for canning your own green beans with bacon

Ingredients Needed

To can about 7 quart jars of green beans with bacon, you will need:

• 10-12 lbs fresh green beans
• 3 lbs bacon or 9 cups pre-cooked bacon crumbles
• 6 cups water
• 7 quart-sized canning jars with lids and rings

Adjust amounts as needed to make more or less. Always use current season fresh green beans for best results.

Step-by-Step Canning Process

Here is the complete process for canning crisp tender green beans infused with smoky bacon flavor:

Step 1. Prepare the bacon

You can fry your own bacon or use store bought pre-cooked bacon bits. Fry until crispy and crumble into small bits when cool.

Step 2. Wash and trim green beans

Rinse beans and remove ends and stems. Leave whole or cut into 1-2 inch pieces.

Step 3. Pack jars tightly

Fill sterilized quart jars with raw green beans, leaving 1 inch headspace. Pack down tightly.

Step 4. Add bacon and water

Put 1-2 tbsp bacon bits in each jar and add boiling water, leaving 1 inch headspace.

Step 5. Remove air bubbles

Slide a butter knife down the sides to release any trapped air bubbles. Add more beans and water if needed to maintain headspace.

Step 6. Wipe rims, apply lids and rings

Wipe jar rims with a damp cloth, center lids and screw bands on fingertip tight.

Step 7. Pressure can

Place jars in pressure canner with 2-3 inches of warm water. Process quart jars at 10 lbs pressure for 25 mins.

When done, allow canner to depressurize naturally. Carefully remove jars and let cool completely undisturbed for 24 hours. Check seals, label and store. Enjoy your delicious bacon-infused green beans within a year!

Helpful Tips for Successful Results

Follow these tips for best results when canning green beans with bacon:

• Use tender young green beans – Avoid old, tough beans that can turn mushy

• Pack beans tightly – This prevents floating and retains crisp texture

• Raw pack beans only – Don’t pre-cook or blanch beans before canning

• Add just enough bacon – 2 tbsp per quart provides good flavor

• Process fully – Never reduce recommended pressure canner processing time

• Cool jars completely – Allows beans to set up properly and lids to seal

Add Extra Flavor with Onions and Garlic

For an extra flavor punch, add diced onions and minced garlic to each jar before adding water:

• Diced onions – 1 tbsp per quart jar

• Minced garlic – 1/2 tsp per quart jar

Sautéing the onions and garlic before adding to the jars enhances their flavor contribution.

How to Can Bacon Green Beans Step-by-Step

Here’s a quick visual step-by-step guide to canning green beans with bacon:

Step 1: Fry bacon and crumble when cool

[Photo of frying bacon in skillet]

Fry bacon until crispy, then drain on paper towels and crumble into small bits when cool.

Step 2: Wash and trim green beans

[Photo of green beans being rinsed in colander]

Rinse beans, remove stems and tip ends. Leave whole or cut into 1-2 inch pieces.

Step 3: Pack jars tightly with raw beans

[Photo of green beans tightly packed into a jar]

Fill sterilized jars with raw green beans, packing down tightly and leaving 1 inch headspace.

Step 4: Add bacon bits and hot water

[Photo of water being poured over bacon bits in jars]

Put 1-2 tbsp bacon bits in each jar then add boiling water, maintaining 1 inch headspace.

Step 5: Remove air bubbles

[Photo of using bubble tool to release trapped air]

Use a plastic knife or bubble tool to release any trapped air pockets after adding water.

Step 6: Apply lids and rings

[Photo of wiping jar rims and placing on lids]

Wipe jar rims clean, center lids and screw bands on fingertip tight.

Step 7: Pressure can

[Photo of filled jars in pressure canner]

Process quart jars at 10 lbs pressure for 25 mins. Cool and check seals. Store and enjoy!

Safety Tips for Canning Green Beans with Bacon

Because you are pressure canning a low-acid recipe with meat, follow these safety guidelines:

• Use a pressure canner, not a water bath – Only a pressure canner gets hot enough to safely preserve bacon beans

• Carefully follow processing times – Do not make up your own time or pressure guidelines

• Allow pressure to drop naturally – Never rush depressurization as this can lead to siphoning

• Check seals after cooling – Jars with unsealed lids must be refrigerated for quick use

• Look for signs of spoilage before eating – Do not consume from bulging, leaking or mushy jars

Follow the trusted guidelines and your canned bacon green beans will be shelf-stable and safe to enjoy for 1+ years!

Troubleshooting Problems with Canning Bacon Beans

If you run into any issues when canning green beans with bacon, here are some likely causes and solutions:

Bacon floated to the top – Beans not packed tightly enough in jars before adding water

Pale beans and bacon – Not enough processing time or pressure reached

Jar seals failed – Rim not cleaned properly before lids applied or delayed cooling

Beans are very soft – Older green beans used. Always use young tender beans. Blanching before packing also leads to mushiness.

Green beans are turning brown – Packed beans too tightly. Leave proper headspace so water can circulate during processing.

Cloudy canning liquid – Water used wasn’t brought to a full rolling boil before adding to jars.

Following the proper technique will give you delicious jars of perfectly canned green beans and bacon every time!

Enjoy Your Bacon-Infused Green Beans

I love opening a jar of these savory bacon green beans to quickly add protein and flavor to soups and stews, salads, casseroles and more. Try tossing them with pasta or rice for an easy weeknight meal. They also pair great with potatoes, chicken or fish.

Feel free to spice your jars up even more by adding onion, garlic, peppers or other seasonings along with the bacon. Get creative with different types of bacon too like peppered or turkey bacon.

Now that you know the ins and outs of canning green beans with everyone’s favorite pork product, stock up your pantry so you can enjoy smoky bacon flavor all year long! Always use safe canning practices and follow the guidelines carefully. Before you know it, you’ll be a pro at canning bacon green beans.