Citric acid is a natural preservative that is used as a food additive. It is impossible to imagine home canning without citric acid; it is needed to maintain the desired pH value in canned vegetables and fruit.
Although many fruits contain a certain amount of citric acid, this is not enough to kill all harmful bacteria. Citric acid prevents the growth of bacteria and spores that can poison food and helps keep the fruit looking fresh by preventing brown spots from forming.
- Place the jars in boiling water for 5 minutes. Place the lids in the same place and leave to simmer for another 5 minutes. Boiling will sanitize cans with lids and reduce the likelihood of spoilage. Remove the lids and cans and set aside.
- Wash the fruit in cold water. Put them in boiling water for 20-45 seconds. Remove the fruit and place it in a bowl of very cold water. Now you can easily peel the fruit by hand.
- Slice the fruit, cut off any wrinkled and darkened areas. Sprinkle them with citric acid to prevent discoloration.
- Pour the preservative liquid ("brine") into a saucepan, and when it is almost boiling, put the fruit in it. You can use sugar syrup, fruit juice, and even plain water. Cook for 5 minutes. This way, there will be less air bubbles in your canned food.
- Place the fruit in the processed jars, leaving about 2.5 cm on top. Use a funnel to avoid spilling. Add the preservative liquid there, leaving 1 cm on top. The liquid should completely cover the fruit.
- Run a spatula or knife along the border between the fruit and the jar. Press in the fruit so that all excess air comes out.
- Add approximately ½ teaspoon per liter of citric acid. Put on the covers and screw them with a special device. Process the jars in a water bath. Cover them 2.5 cm with water and boil for 20 minutes. Use tongs to remove the cans from the water and set them aside in a safe place to cool.
- When the cans are cool, check the lids to see how tight they are. If the cover in the middle has lifted and clicks when pressed, it was not properly screwed on. You can process this jar again in a water bath to screw it up again.
