This post may contain affiliate links.
If you’re new to canning, figuring out what supplies you actually need can feel overwhelming. The good news is—you don’t need a lot to get started.
This guide walks you through the essential canning supplies for beginners, plus helpful tools for both water bath canning and pressure canning so you can build your collection over time.
If you’re just getting started, be sure to read my Water Bath Canning for Beginners guide and Pressure Canning 101: What New Canners Need to Know for the full step-by-step process.
Essential Canning Supplies
To get started with canning, you only need a few basic supplies:
A basic set of canning jars, a jar lifter, and a funnel will make the process much easier and safer—especially when working with hot jars and liquids.
Want to try making your own jelly at home?
Get my free guide with 8 easy, beginner-friendly jelly recipes you can confidently make.
These are the exact tools I use when canning at home, and they’re all beginner-friendly and easy to find online.
Basic Canning Tools (Recommended)
These tools aren’t required, but they make canning much easier:
- Ladle – for transferring hot liquids
- Bubble remover / headspace tool
- Magnetic lid lifter
- Fine mesh strainer (great for jelly and syrup)
If you plan to do a lot of canning, these tools are worth having and will save you time.
If you’re just getting started, you can also find beginner canning kits that include most of these tools in one set.
Pressure Canning Supplies
If you plan to preserve vegetables, meats, soups, or beans, you’ll also need:
Pressure canning is required for low-acid foods like green beans, potatoes, stock, soups, and meats.
If you’re interested in that method, read my Pressure Canning 101 guide first.
Optional Canning Tools (Nice to Have)
Once you get more comfortable with canning, you may want to add:
- Immersion blender (for sauces and syrups)
- Food mill (for sauces and purees)
- Mandolin slicer (for julienne slicing)
- Vegetable chopper (for salsas)
- Large stockpot (for bigger batches)
- Labels for organizing your jars
Jam & Jelly Supplies
- Jelly strainer bag (for clear jelly)
- Pectin
What You Don’t Need
When you’re starting out, you don’t need to buy everything at once.
You can skip:
- Expensive specialty gadgets
- Oversized kits with tools you won’t use
- Duplicate utensils
- Advanced equipment before you know what you enjoy canning
Start simple—you can always add more later.
Where to Buy Canning Supplies
You can find canning supplies at grocery stores, hardware stores, and farm supply stores.
I often buy my supplies on Amazon because it’s easier to find everything in one place, especially when buying jars, pectin, and tools in bulk.
Getting Started
Once you have your supplies, you’re ready to start canning.
You’ll also want to properly prepare your jars before using them (see how to sterilize canning jars here).
Try one of these beginner-friendly recipes:
- Easy Strawberry Jelly Recipe
- Strawberry Syrup Recipe for canning
- Dandelion Jelly Recipe (tastes like honey)
- Canning Green Beans: Simple Steps for Long-Lasting Freshness!
You don’t need a huge investment to start preserving food at home. Begin with the basics, add tools as you go, and choose the type of canning that matches the foods you want to preserve.
You can also browse all of my canning recipes here for more beginner-friendly ideas.
Follow my canning and preserving board on Pinterest.
