canning rabbit

[coffeenutdesigns]

after seeing a few youtube videos, I'm almost convinced I could can rabbit and maybe even eat it after, lol. But, naturally, youtube videos aren't all the same.

So, if you guys can rabbits, do you put water in it or just meat? Do you use seasonings or veggies, or just meat?

What kind of things do you do with canned rabbit meat?

 

[ek.blair]

I've never canned rabbit before, or any meat for that matter BUT I do have friends who can moose meat up here in AK and Moose is similar in that it is best cooked low and slow. My friends usually cook the meat first (sometimes ground, or stew type) in whatever spices they like or want, i.e. taco seasoning, teryaki... and then can the meat which cooks it a little longer and they LOVE it! I am hoping to try this if we shoot a moose this year, and I also hope to can some of our rabbit meat.

 

[Zass]

Meat has to go in a pressure canner. I usually can my rabbit with the bunny stock I make from their bones. The usual ingredients are added when I make stock, celery, carrot, onions, a bay leaf, etc. Those are all strained out before I can.

Overcooked fryer meat will totally fall apart, so maybe canning would be good choice for older, tougher buns.
Well, I pressure can old laying hens, because the meat is tough enough to handle all that processing.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Here is my thread on canning rabbit:

post104995.html

It turned out to be delicious! We used it as a tuna substitute, in pasta alfredo dishes, in soups, added to salads...

I need to go cull a couple older rabbits (really, I do!) and can them!!! :twisted:

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

see, I knew there was a thread somewhere. I couldn't remember where or who, though. Thx. I have about 4 roaster rabbits I should process so I really want to try canning them.

 

[michaels4gardens]

can a lot of rabbit, I pressure cook fryers for 20 min at 10 lbs , roasters for 30 min, [larger rabbits a little longer]with about an inch of water in the pressure cooker, , then let it cool, -then I debone it, and pack meat and a little broth into jars, I add 1 tsp of salt to each quart [optional] and fill jar to 1 inch from top and pressure can for 90 min at 15 lbs [I am at 5800 ft elevation] - don't forget to can [or use ] the broth it is very good.
- I do it this way so the meat can be used for anything ,- [I add spice to whatever I am making later]

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

I was planning on canning raw with bones, just pack it all in there. I've heard it comes out fall off the bone tender. If I were to have to go to all the trouble of deboning I would never do it. (lazy) Since y'all are all experts, can you teach me how to use my pressure canner? I've only hot water bath canned before, never pressure canned. What exactly is the process. I figure I gotta put the little weight thingies on it but not real clear on the whens and wheres and how much water to use or what all.

 

[Miss M]

[I am at 5800 ft elevation]

I wonder what effect elevation has on pressure cooking/canning. I'll have to look that up.

 

[michaels4gardens]

You can raw-pack, no problem , just put it in the jar, [you don't have to add water] and pressure can it as above, if you are below 2000 ft elevation 10 lbs for 90 min is fine ,
pressure cookers-- .. put about 1 1/2 to 2 inches of water in the canner, put the bottom spacer in [to keep jars from touching the bottom of the cooker], put your jars in the canner with the lids just finger tip tight, fasten the lid on the cooker [make sure it is on right], --put the weight on top with the 10 pointing down, [if you are below 2000 ft] turn the stove on hi then when the weight starts to rock, turn the stove down some-- you want the weight to rock a little but not to blow steam out a lot. if your model has a gauge then just watch the gauge to keep the pressure about right [turn the stove up or down to adjust pressure / temperature ]
Dayna does a good job explaining also-- I am off to work till 6 -- good luck...

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

That is very helpful. I was not sure how much water and I have weights but couldn't figure out how they were supposed to tell me the right pressure...so they will rock a little but not spewing steam everywhere, I think I can handle that.