Canning is a very simple and straightforward way to preserve meat for a long time without the need for a refrigerator or a freezer. Canned pork can keep for up to 2-3 years or even longer in a cool, dark place. Though the taste qualities may begin to decrease after one year, the meat will still be safe to eat well past that point.
This recipe has been in the family for a very long time. It requires only a few simple spices, yet the flavors and the aromatics are vibrant and enticing.
I used to make this canned pork with just salt and spices, but some time ago, I added some caramelized onion in a few jars. The result was mind-blowing. Caramelized onion added a touch of sweetness and a load of savory flavor. It took my pork to a whole new level and improved the color better too. Needless to say, this variation stayed, and that's how I've been canning pork ever since.
In this recipe, I use Cure #1 and cure the meat for 24-48 hours. Curing salt makes the meat beautifully pink, it looks more appetizing. It enhances the flavor and also serves as a hurdle to any potential bacteria growth, before or after canning. It's not required, you can make canned pork without it, but it makes a big difference to how canned pork looks and tastes.
When raw-packing meat, don't pack the jars too tightly. This way, you can fill them up all the way to the top - the meat will shrink during processing and make headspace. I like leaving about a 1/2" of headspace, and it seems to work perfectly well for me.
Food safety when canning meat
Canning meat is fairly straightforward, but you must follow some basic rules to ensure that your canned meat will be safe to eat. Those include using a pressure canner, keeping the meat cold, using clean utensils, processing at the right pressure/temperature and for sufficient time, among other things.
If you are new to meat canning, please read my guide on how to can meat before attempting this recipe.
Homemade Canned Pork
Ingredients
- 2.2 lbs pork butt 1000 g; fat trimmed off
- 1/2 tsp cure #1 level; 2.5 g
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt one level, one heaping; 9 g
- 1/2 tsp allspice 1 g
- 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 g; ground; or a mix of pink, black, and white pepper
- 1 clove garlic pressed or minced
- 3 bay leaves 1 per jar
- 3 Tbsp caramelized onion one tablespoon per jar; you may also use raw onion slices
Instructions
- Cut the meat into 1-inch pieces. Mix the salt with Cure #1. Place the meat in a bowl, sprinkle with the kosher salt and cure #1 mix, and mix well. Cover and cure in a refrigerator for 24-48 hours.
- Take the meat out of the fridge, sprinkle with the ground allspice and black pepper, add the pressed garlic and mix well.
- Before proceeding, review the detailed guide on how to can meat.
- Pack the meat (not very tightly) into 16-oz (1 pint) mason jars, leaving 1/2" headspace, adding one bay leaf per jar, and topping with one tablespoon of caramelized onion.
- Wipe the rims, place the lids on top and screw on the bands finger-tight.
- Process at 250F (15 PSI) in a pressure canner for 70 minutes (see notes 1 and 2).
- Remove the canner from heat and let it depressurize naturally.
- Using a jar lifter, carefully remove the jars and place them on a towel or a cooling rack to cool down to room temperature for about 12 hours.
- Remove the bands. Wipe the jars with a damp towel or paper towels. Test the seals.
- Store in a cool, dark, and dry place for up to 2-3 years. The most optimal storage temperature is about 35F-59F (2C-15C).
Nancy
Do you use buter or oil to carmalize your onions for this recipe?
Thanks 🙂
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
How can I not? 🙂 I do. 50/50 butter and sunflower oil.
Erin
I have made this a few times now and have made a couple tweaks to it coming up with what I believe is a fabulous option. Original way is great too!
I leave out the bay leaf and I use whole allspice berries. I also add 1/2 teaspoon Colgin liquid pecan smoke and 1/2 teaspoon Colgin mesquite smoke. I mix it all together at once and cure for 24 hours before processing with the caramelized onions.
I process some in 1/2 pint wide mouth Kerr jars that can be packed in my husband's lunch. Just pop in microwave and instant one person meal
Erin
Correction to the amount of smoke that I used. It was 1/2 tablespoon each.
Dana
Just found this recipe today and went for it. I bought 2 pork butts and cut the meat off & the fat. Salted the pork I’m planning to cold pack in a day or two per the recipe. Will add a little spices and a dash of pink salt then can. Will write new post once successful!
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
Good luck! I am sure you will like it. I also highly recommend trying my canned luncheon meat. I like the texture that you get from part whole/part ground pork a lot.
Veronica
Easy to follow and quick. Canned pork a couple weeks ago. Excited to try some. Do you have any recipes that you use it for?
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
Veronica, I don't have any written down but I can give you a general idea of our favorite ways to use canned pork.
1. Saute some onions, mushrooms, carrots, celery, or any combination of those with some olive oil. Add the pork and cook until it warms up. Then mix with freshly cooked pasta. It's the bomb. My kids love it.
If you are pressed for time, just cook the pasta and drop a jar or pork right into the pot and mix well. Serve right away. This way it's also very good, though less 'gourmet';)
2. In a bowl, mix with 4-5Tbsp of mayo or sour cream for a lighter version, salt, pepper to taste, and hand blend until smooth and creamy. Adjust the seasonings if desired. Mix in finely chopped red onion and sliced green onions. Now, make sandwiches with it. Delish!
3. Make a soup and add the meat to it. It's great in soup. Do you have a favorite dry soup sold in packages? I rarely eat those, I cook my own but I have a thing for this spicy Carribean chicken soup sold at my local Asian grocery store. I love the flavor but the soup barely has anything in it, just some noodles and chicken flavored powder/bits. Add half a jar of canned pork to the bowl of this soup and it transforms to a really good meal.
4. Love this pork warmed up, with the fat/gelatin and served over freshly cooked rice or mashed potatoes. Delicious.
These are just a few ways that we use canned pork/beef/luncheon meat but you get the idea. Lot's of possibilities. Enjoy!
Ron
Can I do 10 lbs for 90 minutes in the pressure canner?
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
Ron, as of today, USDA recommends to process meat at sea level at 10 PSI minimum. For pints the processing time should be 75 minutes, and for quarts it's 90 minutes. When pressure canning above 1,000 feet, process at 15 pounds of pressure. Processing time is the same at all altitudes.
Many of Marianski's recipes call for processing meat at 250F (15 PSI) for 60 minutes for pint / 500ml jars or 50 minutes for half-pint / 250ml jars. I believe that was an older USDA recommendation. Personally, I process my meats at 15 PSI / 250F for 70 minutes even though I am located just above the sea level. This gives the meat a more delicate texture, which I happen to prefer.
Sherry
How long do I pressure can my raw pork? Pints.
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
It's in the recipe instructions - 70 min at 15 PSI.
Troy Colton
Looks like a great recipe, I have lots of pork left from last year and need to make room for this year's pigs in the freezer.
Can't wait to try it..
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
Good idea. Also look at my canned luncheon meat recipe, a mix of ground pork and chunks. I love it.
Dan
I’m new to canning meat or using canned pork. What do you use with it when you are ready to eat
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
Oh, where do I start 😉
Here are our favorite ones:
- Mix with some mayo, ground pepper, chopped onion, etc. and hand blend, then make sandwiches with it.
- Put it in soup.
- Cook spaghetti or macaroni then mix with a can of canned meat and serve right away. My daughter likes to sautee it first with some onions and mushrooms.
- Make stir frys with it.
- Heat it up on a pan and serve with eggs or hashbrowns for breakfast.
Ev
The caramelized onion put it over the top. Thank you, we had great success with this recipe and my husband said the pork was 10x better than store canned pork
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
Glad to hear that you guys liked it. Try the luncheon meat, I like the texture of the ground pork. I like using it in soups when in a hurry. So good!
Troy
How long does it have to sit in canning stage before you can eat it
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
It's ready for consumption as soon as you take it out of the canner and let it cool down. Wouldn't want to open a hot jar under pressure.
James
I made this 2 years ago. Just opened the last jar and it was as fresh and TASTY as the first Jar. I've received comments from family members that it tastes a lot like corned beef, and I agree. All things said, it is really very tasty and I am preparing for the next batch today! It will always be ready on the shelf from now on.
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
Same experience here. Stays fresh for years. A few weeks ago I made pork sandwiches with it - I processed it with a hand blender with some mayo, seasoned with black pepper, finely chopped red onion and thinly sliced green onions. It made a delicious spread... reminded me of tuna sandwiches only tastier;)
Melissa Tidwell
You had me at caramelized onions and garlic. This recipe is a keeper for sure! Much love and appreciation for sharing. Following your beef recipe next! <3 Mel
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
Glad to hear it, Melissa. Enjoy!
Lisa
I am so excited to try this. One question though, are you able to use the Insta pot? I don’t have the money to go out and get a pressure cooker but I do have that. I’m also excited to look at your beef recipe that other people are mentioning. Thank you so much for posting this, I can’t wait to make it!
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
Lisa, last time I checked, Insta Pot themselves said that their products are not recommended for pressure canning. For the final product to be safe to store unrefrigerated and eat, a certain pressure and temperature must be achieved and maintained at all times inside the pressure canner. Insta Pot could not guarantee that. That was 2-3 years ago, I don't know if that changed and if new models are certified for pressure canning. The bottom line is, if it says in the manual that your Insta Pot model is certified for pressure canning, use it. If not, you will be taking a huge risk. I would advise against it. Sorry for the bad news.
Deborah
I'm a beginner and your articles and recipes are easy to follow. I can't wait to share my experiences, thank you so much. Deb
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
Good luck.
Kathy
Do you add water before canning? I didn’t see it in the ingredients or instructions but wanted to be sure before trying! Also, just wanted to make sure that the recipe calls for pint sized jars. Can’t wait to try this!!
Thanks!
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
Kathy, I don't add water but I know some do and that's fine too. I don't feel like it's needed though. Yes, it's for pint jars... it's actually in step 4. Enjoy!
Kelly
Just wondering if I can I substitute pork loin for pork butt and if there is any adjustments that need to be made to your recipe if I do that? Thanks!
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
Kelly, yes, you can. No adjustments are needed, technically. But you may notice that pure lean meat will have a different texture/mouthfeel. You know, it's like making sausage with just lean meat vs 25% fat/75% lean meat, you need some fat to make it taste better. I've canned a lot of pork with just lean or mostly lean pieces of pork butt, it's always very good, but that cut has some fat in between fibers so it works well. I've never canned just pork loin though. I'd try one jar, let it cool down and taste, see how you like it. If it's too lean, you can always add some backfat, pork belly or fatty trimmings. I'd grind some lean meat with fat and mix and make luncheon meat, it's a really nice way to can pork, I like the texture a lot and it works well in soups. If you like gelatine, you can add more of it, or add ground pork skins, which will gelatinize the juices and will improve the mouthfeel. Hope this helps.
Debi
Can you can pork loin in one big chunk that will fill the jar, instead of 1inch chunks?
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
That's an interesting question. I don't know 100% but I don't really see why not. Safety-wise it should be fine. Taste/texture-wise, you'd need to try and see.
Erin
Debi, the National Center for Home Food Preservation gives no restrictions on the size of the meat however, they do advise against pressure canning cured meat because it can change the density and firmness of the meat, thereby potentially making the heat penetration slower. Cured meats were never tested by them and safety can not be guaranteed. BUT....
With that being said, I do can corned beef and have canned this pork butt recipe. (See my posted comments on some tweaks I made.) I err on the side of caution with my meat sizes in these cases and I keep them on the smaller side.
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
Erin, thanks for your input on this topic but I have to point out that we are not canning cured meat in this recipe, we are canning raw meat with the addition of curing salt. There is a huge difference between the two. Canning cured meat would be cannig salami, speck, or capicola, for example. Stanley Mariansky, one of the most prominent gurus on sausage making and especially on food safety as it relates to sausage making, wrote about the value of adding cure #1 to canned meat, though not as a substitute for the proper canning process, and many of his recipes include the addition of pink salt in his Home Canning Meat, Poultry, Fish and Vegetables book. I highly recommend reading this book.
William
After meat is cured 24 to 48 hours do you rinse the salt off before the next step.
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
No, there is no need to. I put just enough salt to make the meat salted just right. Now, if you cure in a salt box where there will be excess salt, yes, you want to rinse the excess off.
Petet
This is phantastic! I made it in the evening and the first glass was gone after breakfast! Only the clear "juice" part was quite liquid and we needed a spoon to drizzle it over the meat. Still extremely good but shouldn't it be a bit more like jelly? I'm thinking about adding some gelatine next time.
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
Good to hear it. I know, that stuff is amazing. You should try the luncheon meat too, it's really good. To make the juices gelatinize you can add more chopped pig skins or like you said, gelatin. More chopped skins or adding gelatin results in lips getting sticky when eating it, lol... Both ways are great though...
Thea Yegerlehner
Thanks for sharing! I have been canning meat for years now and love adding spices! My children request canned meat as part of their Christmas gift! 😊
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
You are very welcome. If that's the case, you have to make them some canned luncheon meat. I love its texture.
James
Tastes Great! My only problem was with liquid boiling from the jars . I think it is due to the high canning pressure. 15 pounds. Am going with 10 pounds the next batch for 75 minutes.
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
James, I've actually had that happen to me before as well. 15 PSI vs 10 PSI is not an issue. My issue was sometimes filling the jars too much, but the biggest issue was that I did not let the canner fully depressurize on its own. I know, it's hard to wait until it does but it made a huge difference for me.
Laura Shivers
I've been thinking of canning pork but was very nervous about it so was very glad to find your recipe and instructions. My mother used to can venison and I've canned beef years ago. Now I'm back at it. Thank you
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
You are very welcome. I too was quite nervous the first time I was making my own trying to replicate what my grandpa use to make back when I was a kid. But once you know the basics, it's very easy to make. Enjoy!
Amy
This was fantastic! The color...taste... All of it.. made a pork pot pie the other night and was so nice just to open a jar and make dinner...thank you, thank you!
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
You are very, very welcome, Amy. Those jars of pork can be worth their weight in gold sometimes... so handy and the meat is delicious. Try my luncheon meat recipe, it's very similar but the addition of ground pork makes the texture more interesting... I personally love it.
Vickie
How many jars do you get total?
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
Oh, I think it's about 3 one-pint jars per 2.2lbs/1 kilo. I always start with however much meat I want to can then scale the rest of the ingredients though.
Pam
Hello,
Thank you for sharing your passion of fine artisan preparation. I was searching for tips on canning pork when I came across your site.. Can you explain what Cure 1 is. Canned meat never looks that appetizing in the can but yours looks quite nice. Since you attribute it to the Cure1 I'd love to know more.Thank you, -Pam
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
Hi Pam, thank you for the kind words. Cure #1 is a curing salt or salt with about 6% of nitrite added. It's a preservative, it is used to prevent pathogenic bacteria growth when making canned, smoked or otherwise preserved meats. It also prevents botulism. It also makes the meat pink instead of great and it also improves the flavour of the meat. I don't want to get into the argument of why one should or should not use nitrites, or consume processed food for that matter, but I like canned meat and I use curing salt all the time because it makes the meat taste and look good and it makes the food safer by not letting bad bacteria to grow.
LYNN BABCOCK
Thinking about trying this one Sunday-Monday. Was thinking.. what if I smoked it after I put all the seasoning/curing salt on it? Do you think it would be good? Partially cook it. I guess I'd have to add some kind of broth to it then. I've canned some meat before, not much though. How do you normally serve your recipe after it's been canned?
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
Lynn, smoking meat before canning is a great idea, the smoke will add a lot of flavor. The meat should be smoked low and slow until it's rare (about 125F internal temperature). Then stuff in jars, add hot water or broth and make sure to leave 1-inch headspace. The rest is the same.
I serve canned meat mixed with macaroni, spaghetti or mashed potatoes. Buckwheat, rice, wild rice also work very well. Super simple and very tasty. You can add the meat straight from the jar to the hot pasta/potatoes and mix, or you can brown some onions, add the meat and warm it up, then mix with pasta. I also like making sandwiches with canned meat, sort of like tuna sandwiches but with canned meat instead.
Olya
I figured the part with cure salt, now I have a question, what if instead of pint jars, im using quart jars, does pressure time still stay at 70minutes? Do i add one bay leaf and 1 tb of onion mix per quart jar as well?
Victor @ Taste of Artisan
Olya, quart-size jars need to be canned at 10 psi minimum for 90 minutes. I do it at 15 psi as I like the softer texture I get from it.