The 5 best recipes for canning ready-made meals or have a delicious lunch always at hand in a few moments!

Do you think canning “cash” is unnecessary?

But imagine a situation when you are running out of time and it would be good for you to have some ready-made food on hand that you just heat up in the microwave oven.

Try our recipes for canning ready-made meals and pack them, for example, even on vacation.

Enjoy it!

Storing ready meals in jars

The most well-known way to preserve a food is to preserve it using a canning pot in jars. If you have such a pot at home, let’s do it!

You will need

  • ready meal
  • pickle, juice (sauce) or boiled water
  • canning jars and lids
  • canning pot with a thermometer

Preparation process

  • First of all, prepare your mason jars and lids by sterilizing them properly.
  • The whole process depends on the nature of the ready-made food – put the ready-made food in a dry and clean canning jar.
  • If ready-made food needs marinade, water or juice – pour it over. (e.g. meat)
  • Wipe the rims of the glasses with a paper towel to get rid of the grease.
  • Close carefully with the lids and place the jars in the canning pot.
  • Stack them so that they are at least 1 centimeter apart.
  • Add water to the pot and cook as needed – usually around 98-100 degrees for 1 hour, reduce the time to 45 minutes the next day.
  • Allow the jars to cool and then store them in a cool place.
Pickled meat in canning jars with lids.
source: paleoleap.com

See also our recipes for canning salads or canning them efficiently!

Canning ready meals in the oven

You can also cook the finished products in the oven. Most of us have this at home. Plus, it’s incredibly simple!

You will need

  • ready meal
  • pickle, juice (sauce) or boiled water
  • canning jars and lids
  • deep baking tray
  • towel

Preparation process

  • First, prepare the canning jars and lids by sterilizing them properly.
  • Allow the glasses to dry freely – do not use a cloth.
  • The whole process depends on the nature of the ready-made food – put the ready-made food in a dry and clean canning jar.
  • If the finished food needs marinade, water or juice – pour it – but not to the brim. (e.g. meat)
  • Wipe the rims of the glasses with a paper towel to get rid of the grease.
  • Close carefully with the lids and place the jars in a deep baking tray, which you have previously lined with a tea towel.
  • Be careful not to touch the glasses, they may crack.
  • Cover them with water and put them in a preheated oven at 100 degrees.
  • Lower the flame to 90 degrees and bake for 2 hours.
  • Allow the jars to cool and then store them in a cool, dark place.
Canned foods in mason jars.
source: foodly.tn

Canning ready meals in a microwave oven

Yes, you can really preserve your favorite food using a regular microwave oven. With our instructions, it’s also a piece of cake!

You will need

  • ready-made food for canning
  • pickle, juice, water – as needed
  • jar
  • plastic bowl

Preparation process

  • Sterilize the canning jars and lids thoroughly.
  • Allow the glasses to air dry freely – do not use a cloth to avoid hairs remaining on the glasses.
  • The whole process depends on the nature of the ready-made food – put the ready-made food in a dry and clean canning jar.
  • If the finished food needs marinade, water or juice – pour it – but not to the brim. (e.g. meat)
  • Wipe the rims of the glasses with a paper towel to remove any grease.
  • Close the lid and place the jar in a plastic bowl that prevents any leakage.
  • Set the microwave oven to the highest power (700 Watts) and switch it on.
  • Once the food starts bubbling in the glass, switch off.
  • Remove the glass and cool. Repeat this process 3-4 times.
  • Store the finished food in a cool and dark place.
Pickled foods in canning jars.
source: survival-mastery.com

Storing ready meals in the dishwasher

Prepare your favorite dish and then simply put it in the dishwasher. Want to know how to do it? Then read on!

You will need

  • ready meal
  • pickle, juice or boiled water
  • jar
  • lids

Preparation process

  • First, sterilize all the necessary canning jars and lids.
  • Allow the glasses to dry freely – do not use a cloth because of bacteria.
  • The whole process depends on the nature of the ready-made food – put the ready-made food in a dry and clean canning jar.
  • If ready-made food needs marinade, water or juice – pour it – but not to the brim. (e.g. meat)
  • Wipe the rims of the glasses with a paper towel to get rid of the grease.
  • Close the glasses properly and put them in the dishwasher so that they stand straight.
  • Remember to leave enough space between the glasses.
  • Choose the longest program – usually on the pot – and switch on.
  • Let the program finish even.
  • Allow the jars to cool and then store them in a cellar or cold room.
Canned tomato sauce in mason jars with basil leaves, garlic and fresh tomatoes placed next to it.
source: wholefully.com

Canning ready meals in cans

You can also preserve your favorite ready-made food in cans. In addition to the cans, you will also need a can sealing machine.

You will need

  • ready meal
  • stock, pickle or water
  • cans
  • machine for closing cans

Preparation process

  • As with all types of canning, put ready-made food into pre-prepared clean cans.
  • Don’t skimp on the amount this time – fill them to the brim.
  • Fill the cans with cold broth, pickle or water – it depends on the nature of the food.
  • Make sure the cans are tightly closed.
  • Prepare a canning or ordinary pot with water at a temperature of 100 degrees.
  • Put the cans inside – they must be completely submerged and cook for 2-3 hours.
  • Meanwhile, prepare a large bowl or pot of lukewarm water – after cooking, put the hot cans in it and slowly add cold water to cool them down.
  • Check that all cans are tightly sealed – if juice is leaking or if they have a bulging lid, use the cans immediately.
  • Store in a cool cellar or pantry.
Rice, meat, eggs and vegetables with rice in a bowl.
source: menshealth.com

Tips on what you can keep for lunch or dinner

Meat and meat dishes

  • Always store meat in clean and dry jars – sterilize them thoroughly before each canning.
  • Never put onions in jars with meat – its negative property is that it spoils quickly.
  • Do not fill canning jars with meat to the brim , always leave at least the top third of the jar free.
  • Use specially designed lids with a red rubber band for canning meat.
  • Meat canning does not need any special marinade – ordinary boiled water or juice from baking is enough.
  • If you can the meat in cans , remember that the cans must be completely submerged in the water bath.
  • Do not turn the jars upside down if you want the fat to stay on top.
  • Pâtés and spreads can be preserved in two stages.

We have great pickled pork recipes for you. Get inspired!

Soups and sauces

  • The most ideal for canning are clear and strong broths .
  • Do not preserve soups with a preserver, put it in only when the preserved soup is heated.
  • Canning soups has two stages – on the first day, cook at 100 degrees for 60 minutes, on the second day, cook for only 45 minutes.
  • Do not preserve foods that contain flour or cream .

Sausages

  • You can cook, for example , sausages, bacon, sausages, etc.
  • A big advantage is that you don’t need a special pickle , ordinary boiled water will suffice.
  • When canning sausages, you only need to put a minimum of water in the canning jar.

And how did you like our recipes today? Don’t forget to write us in the comments!

Milan & Ondra

We are both fans of good food and enjoy cooking. On this website, we want to inspire you with traditional, but also less common recipes. We will be happy if you try our recipes and let us know how you liked them. Bon appetite! :)

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