Canning timer & checklist 4+

I really wish this would find a way to stay open in the background with timers as I’m often using my phone to double check the recipes I’ve bookmarked from safe/reputable canning websites. Otherwise I think this is a great addition for the new and experienced canner! Thanks- from a fellow master food preserver!

I LOVE this app, with one detrimental exception (see next paragraph for the exception). The app walks you through every step of the canning process, helping to ensure that you don’t forget anything. First, you choose what you’re canning, size of jars, hot/raw pack, even your elevation. Then once you’ve completed all the preparatory steps (fill jars, wipe rims, etc.), it moves on to the timed portions of the process. This is an invaluable tool.

HOWEVER. Whenever I switch to another app partway through the process, it jumps back to the very beginning, and I have to go through all the steps again. This wouldn’t be too bad either, but there is no way to skip the parts I’ve already done, like say, the 10 minute timer for venting steam. I simply have to restart the timer and wait for it to run through before I can go on to the next step(s). This seems to happen whether I switch out of the app for 5 minutes or 5 seconds, or even when I get a phone call. Again, this is a great app (which is why I gave it 3 stars despite this issue), but it’s only usable if you can dedicate your phone to the canning process and nothing else for the entire time. I’m going to keep it in the hopes that it can be fixed (in which case it will definitely earn 5 stars), but for now I’ll have to stick with my book and self-timing.

This app may be useful for new canners. I like the step-by-step checklist to help complete the canning process. There are just a couple of reasons why the app doesn’t work for me. 1. I can’t preview the whole process from start to finish. I won’t know how long it takes to can a specific food until I’ve begun the canning process, including waiting through the venting timer. 2. Every time I leave the app (to check a recipe or answer a phone call, for instance) the app resets and I have to repeat all the steps I’ve already done, including waiting through another timer. There is no way to skip past completed parts. These issues make the app more frustrating than useful for me.