How lucky you bought a canner that you can use. GOOD FOR YOU that you are learning how to use it and that you also enjoy the 'plinking'.
I do too.
A few tips to the general public- make sure your rubber gasket inside the canner is good. It would be good to have an extra on hand. They can crack and fail at the worst times.
Also, I was told by several different people that you should use a jar separator (like in a regular canner) for pressure canning, since the jars tend to knock together a bit more than in regular canning. I've done it both ways and 'feel safer' using the canning rack/ jar separator.
With regard to keeping things for YEARS, as always, use caution. I've had somethings do really well and others miserably....anything pickled though, is great.
My soapbox - canning jars, lids, and rings. A few years ago, Ball/Kerr changed ownership to become Jarden Home Brands. They also began to repackage their canning jars from regular boxes with regular fold-over tops and bottoms to the half-box with plastic wrap.
A few summers ago, I was running low on pints and needed to buy more. I went and bought 4 boxes of pints in the new packaging. I had a failure rate of 1:4. After cussing like a sailor and throwing out the equivalent of a third of a box of green beans in the trash (can you say Bought-u-liz-im?!)
Come to find out, the 'new' and more 'environmentally friendly' packaging allows the rings to be dented so a seal was unable to occur. These dents were along the screws and dents along the top. I called the company. They informed me that my old pressure cooker and the water bath is no longer the 'BEST' method for canning. They wanted me to buy a NEW pressure canner (from their site, $170) and NEW Ball Blue Book, basically, new everything. What a crock.
My response was to send them the visibly dented rings (wrapped in a small cardboard tray and plastic), add a nice letter, and wait. Their response was to send me coupons for three dozen jars, but these expired 3 months from the date of reciept (September) and who buys, let alone which store carries a good selection of canning jars in DECEMBER?!
So, now I scour thrift stores, estate sales, etc for canning jars. As long as there are no nicks and a ring fits, they are good for use.
End of soap box. Now, I buy the lids and rings together. End of complaint.
Moral: Inspect all jars, lids, and rings before you use them.
Aside from the above soap box, I can most veggies (tomatoes, beans, corn, etc.) and even fruit (apples, berries, etc.) I've got a friend who cans fish, game and other meats. Since I've solved the ring issue, no problems.
