Step 1

Prepare the carrots by peeling and chopping. Peeling is optional but highly recommended because it dramatically improves the quality of home-canned carrots. The size of the sliced/diced carrots is flexible, so choose a size that will work in future meals for your family.

Step 2

Prepare a pressure canner by warming 2-3 inches of water in the bottom of the canner, with the bottom trivet in place.

Step 3

Bring a pot of water to boil on the stove next to the canner.

Step 4

For Hot Pack, blanch the carrots in the boiling water for 5 minutes before packing them hot into canning jars (1-inch headspace). For raw pack, just pack the carrots into the jars without blanching, still with a 1in headspace. Be sure the pressure canner is warm, but below a simmer if using a raw pack to avoid thermal shock. For hot pack, use a simmering to fully boiling canner.

Step 5

Regardless of the packing method, pour boiling water over the top of the carrots in the jars, maintaining 1-inch headspace. Add salt if using, at a suggested rate of 1 tsp per quart (or 1/2 tsp per pint).

Step 6

Seal the jars with 2 part canning lids and load them into the pressure canner.

Step 7

Place the lid on the canner, bring the canner to a full boil and allow steam to vent for 10 minutes before adding the canning weight and allowing the canner to come up to pressure.

Step 8

Process the jars for 25 minutes (pints) or 30 minutes (quarts). Use 10 pounds of pressure below 1000 feet, but adjust for altitude at higher elevations. (See table within the article for higher elevation canning pressures.)

Step 9

After processing is complete, allow the canner to cool to room temperature before opening and unloading the jars.

Step 10

Check seals, and store any unsealed jars in the refrigerator for immediate consumption.

Step 11

Properly processed, sealed jars should maintain quality in the pantry for 12-18 months.