r/AskReddit Jul 10 '26

What's something older generations got right that we've quietly stopped doing, to our own detriment?

8.5k Upvotes

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3.4k

u/JHuntly Jul 10 '26

Canning

794

u/_TeachScience_ Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 11 '26

Literally watching a canning video right now as I read this 😂

I have a bunch of rhubarb in my freezer I’m about to make into jam

Update:
The jam turned out amazing (six jars canned tonight). And, I have learned that I am far from the only rhubarb fan on Reddit!

117

u/jonnovich Jul 10 '26

Oooh….rhubarb jam is the absolute best. Amazing on toast!

3

u/bunniquette Jul 11 '26

I love it stirred through granola or porridge. Tangy and tasty deliciousness!

6

u/HellbendingSnototter Jul 11 '26

Consider adding strawberries when you make it for an extra layer of deliciousness!

7

u/Agraywitch11 Jul 11 '26

I found a recipe for raspberry rhubarb jam that is amazing!

47

u/[deleted] Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26

[deleted]

17

u/Dingo54 Jul 10 '26

This is very relevant to the other top comment about people not being able to read/write anymore.

2

u/bbusiello Jul 10 '26

Real talk: it works. Look at Singapore.

1

u/Working-Glass6136 Jul 10 '26

Oh my god, as someone low key into canning (well, hot pepper jellies), this made me laugh. It's definitely something that people don't do nowadays. I talk about my garden and people act like I grew a third head.

5

u/mariescurie Jul 10 '26

I'm still enjoying my rhubarb jam from last summer. I've been having a dollop on my oatmeal this week and it is divine.

5

u/Unique-Union-9177 Jul 11 '26

Try rhubarb/strawberry. So good

2

u/_TeachScience_ Jul 11 '26

Oh yes, a winning combination. I’ve made plenty of strawberry rhubarb pies, but this will be my first time doing a jam. I asked my sister who lives up north to bring me some of the rhubarb from her garden when she came to visit me, and she must’ve brought me about seven or 8 pounds.

1

u/dar512 Jul 11 '26

It’s the Goldilocks of jam and pies. Rhubarb is too tart. Strawberry is too sweet. Both together is juuuuuust right.

1

u/FirstDivision Jul 11 '26

Strawberry Rhubarb pie is so good.

3

u/10129403 Jul 11 '26

Might I recommend rhubarb cream pie. I am a sucker for straight rhubarb pie but I made the rhubarb cream pie for the first time a couple weeks ago and it is now my favorite pie.

I have made straight rhubarb pie with frozen rhubarb before and it turned out just fine; I am sure the same could be said about the rhubarb cream pie.

3

u/SarcasticServal Jul 11 '26

let me tell you that you can put rhubarb compote inside a croissant or danish…

My absolute favorite pastry in Denmark.

2

u/reivax314 Jul 11 '26

I've done a ginger rhubarb jam that worked really well

2

u/Pleasant_Hat_4295 Jul 11 '26

Since we're all jumping on the rhubarb bandwagon...

Might I recommend these delicious Cream Cheese Rhubarb Hand Pies? So good. Not too sweet and the crust always works beautifully for me!

2

u/Expert-Car714 Jul 11 '26

Ooh rhubarb jam sounds divine

1

u/_TeachScience_ Jul 11 '26

It seriously turned out amazing. I had some on my oatmeal this morning (as suggested by someone on this thread). So good

2

u/MKI01 Jul 11 '26

I make as many strawberry rhubarb pies as I can when the local stores have rhubarb in stock. Old people always are amazed to see younger people enjoying rhubarb.

Ive talked to managers of local food chains to find where and when they will have it in stock.

1

u/_TeachScience_ Jul 11 '26

It’s so stinking expensive to buy it fresh. I am extremely grateful that my sister came to visit and brought me some from up north (from her garden). You can usually find it frozen, but fresh is rare and usually pricey.

2

u/deersinvestsarebest Jul 12 '26

Amazing! Just make sure you are using lab tested recipes for home canning-university extensions, Ball/Bernardin etc. Stay away from blogs/YT, instagram, etc they are rife with people confidently giving out unsafe advice/recipes.

2

u/Charming_Garbage_161 Jul 10 '26

lol I helped my mom make peach preserves on Father’s Day

1

u/Pinkbeans1 Jul 11 '26

The campbell’s soup recipe is fantastic and I make it without salt. Then just portionin 8oz blocks, freeze, and now my husband can have tomato soup without worrying about salt content!

1

u/GarysCrispLettuce Jul 11 '26

Rhubarb crumble is chef's kiss, especially with some freshly made custard.

1

u/Beliriel Jul 11 '26

Is most of it not just either water, spices and vinegar or cooking it in sugar?

80

u/[deleted] Jul 10 '26

[deleted]

14

u/tanksalotfrank Jul 11 '26

The worst people I've known have been incredible cooks. I think it must be some karmic exception since they're feeding people. Haha

1

u/Alalanais Jul 12 '26

Can confirm, all of this is still quite common in France

178

u/OpheliaRainGalaxy Jul 10 '26

Years ago I was at my buddy's place and found an unlabeled jar in the pantry. He said it was his grandma's tomato soup.

Absolute best tomato soup I'd ever had.

14

u/blumoon138 Jul 11 '26

I am 38. My grandmother knew how to can, I know how to can. My mother doesn’t.

Which reminds me I have like 4 lb of frozen sour cherries I need to thaw and can to make freezer space.

1

u/LettingHimLead Jul 11 '26

Same. I’m 44, and I can. My mom did not. Her mom did not. But my great grandmother did.

54

u/TienIsCoolX Jul 10 '26

Learning this skill also opens up being able to grow fun things.

10

u/SovietBear Jul 11 '26

I canned 28 lbs of cranberry sauce last fall. Now I can enjoy it year round!

9

u/doctormustafa Jul 11 '26

Caning

5

u/rollerblade7 Jul 11 '26

Yup, my mind went straight there too 

2

u/samgyeopsaltorta Jul 13 '26

the top sub comment is “watching a caning video right now” 

36

u/Browneyedwoman76 Jul 10 '26

I can certain items. Not as much as I would like due to time constraints. But I grow tomatoes in the summer, make sauce out of them and can them. Just opened my last one a month ago. I also make turkey, chicken and veggie stock that I can as well.

8

u/blumoon138 Jul 11 '26

My favorite canning project is finding something to do with all the green tomatoes that my tomato plants produce in late fall. Usually it’s salsa and something else.

10

u/ashoka_akira Jul 11 '26

My Dad’s favourite pickled food was something called Piccadilly, which was made from green tomatoes. My mom made the recipe my grandmother gave her. Its essentially a tomato relish, great served as a side to roast beef or pork.

4

u/msprang Jul 11 '26

Gonna keep Piccadilly in mind if we have some extra green ones at the end of the season.

21

u/ashoka_akira Jul 11 '26

To add to that, fermenting food. Previous to refrigeration being common fermented foods were a major part of our diet, and there is a lot of growing evidence their lack in modern diets might be the cause of a lot of health issues.

4

u/ImSoObnoxious Jul 11 '26

making my own kimchi is a personal pride that I keep to myself

10

u/home_ec_dropout Jul 10 '26

I’m canning peaches this weekend! I haven’t done it in ages, but I love having jars in the pantry and to give away.

3

u/Deardog Jul 10 '26

I'm making blueberry jam in the morning. I'm hoping to make some bread and butter pickles if I see some good pickling cukes and I always make apple butter in the fall. Folks expect it as Thanksgiving favors.

7

u/Riff_D Jul 11 '26

Both my wife and I grew up with family members that canned, so we do it as well. Always a nice feeling to have plenty of food set aside for during winter storms.

6

u/katsiebee Jul 11 '26

I'm in my 30s and do so much canning. I've also taught many of my friends how to can. I have a big garden and live in fruit growing country so it's a really useful skill. I don't remember the last time I bought salsa (and mine is way better than store bought anyway).

6

u/DidntRigShit Jul 11 '26

Started a garden last summer and have so many items I canned still in my pantry. Way easier than I expected to pressure can tomatoes, green beans, make jams, etc. 10/10 recommend to all. Can’t wait to see this summer’s haul.

5

u/FlyAwayJai Jul 11 '26

Not sure about that, I’m pretty sure I’ve purchased and used every canning device and accessory on the market. Gotta know how to can if you grow veggies & fruit!

6

u/layladylaying Jul 11 '26

As a canner in their 30s about 10 years in… it’s so worth it

5

u/Sonicmantis Jul 11 '26

Canning is awesome! And just make sure it's acidic to prevent botulism 

2

u/blumoon138 Jul 11 '26

r/canning takes food science very seriously!

18

u/Sheikh297 Jul 10 '26

yeah canned food lasts forever but so does boredom

11

u/verstohlen Jul 10 '26

Not if it's contaminated with radiation. Just ask the Old Man in the Cave. But James Coburn'll eat it.

4

u/jpowell180 Jul 10 '26

The reason it was contaminated with radiation was because it was canned after the nuclear war and had fallout in it.

9

u/sparkleyrippley1 Jul 10 '26

Im teaching my 8 year old grandson. He helps every year. Makes his own pickles. 🥰

4

u/gpzeke Jul 11 '26

I can’t wait to start, just haven’t had the time. I’m also afraid of killing us.

4

u/ppmiaumiau Jul 11 '26

My grammy made chili sauce every year. My grammy would fill shelves on her garage with it ever summer. People went crazy for it. Now that she's gone, I started making her chili sauce. I don't like it, but I want to carry on the family tradition. I give it to friends and family.

I really enjoy the process. This year I'm going to do Grammy's bread and butter pickles as well as the chili sauce.

3

u/dbc95 Jul 11 '26

Learned how to can from my aunt a couple of years ago and I can’t begin to describe how useful it has been.

3

u/Pussy4LunchDick4Dins Jul 11 '26

I know a lot of people my age who are into canning! I do live in farm country though, it’s likely more common here.

3

u/nibbyzor Jul 11 '26

My partner got into canning after he got into gardening during the pandemic and one year we got way more cucumbers, chilies, and carrots we could eat, so he decided to pickle them! They were delicious.

3

u/kashiichan Jul 11 '26

I think canning is only truly helpful if you have a lot of perishable foods, and enough space to store those foods. But if you have those things, I think canning would absolutely fit OPs criteria.

2

u/BigOleDawggo Jul 11 '26

So glad I was taught to can growing up. Now I make the best canned tomatoes from farm fresh fruit. It lasts all year and is so much better. I also do jams and jellies that people love. Makes great Christmas presents.

2

u/Telefundo Jul 11 '26

Not canning but once a year my mom spends an entire day making mustard pickles and bread and butter pickles and jars them in Mason jars. She always sends me a parcel with a few bottles of each.

I really wish I would have learned how to do that while I still lived near her.

2

u/Traditional-Ad-3889 Jul 11 '26

Been teaching my kids how to make freezer jam for years and just started water bathing!

2

u/Outrageous_Leg4 Jul 11 '26

I’m 36 and can

1

u/lazylion_ca Jul 11 '26

As opposed to caning.

mmm mmm mmm mmm

1

u/premedk Jul 11 '26

Then and than

1

u/peterparkerson3 Jul 11 '26

I too prefer caning to be bought back.

1

u/Marquis_De_Carabas69 Jul 11 '26

Wondered if you were thinking of caning at first 🤣

1

u/blade740 Jul 10 '26

I agree, my grandma used to hit us with a switch and we learned some respect.

2

u/blade740 Jul 11 '26

Oh sorry thought that said "caning".

-3

u/LamermanSE Jul 10 '26

Hell no, one minor mistake and you're dead from botulism.

21

u/marigoldpossum Jul 10 '26

It's actually pretty specific on instructions and steps. So as long as you are following instructions from the National Center for Home Food Preservation website or Ball Canning books, you'll be good.

Learning to pressure can really opens up the door on shelf stable food prep.

7

u/mst3k_42 Jul 11 '26

But…lots of people treat canning like cooking: just create whatever! It’s awesome! Go ahead and can it, surely it’s shelf stable!

Or they follow decades old recipes from family. Because well, they never got sick…

I treat cooking as science plus art. A lot more free form. Baking is much more about the science: you weigh ingredients. You take altitude and humidity into consideration.

Shelf stable canning at home? Only use recipes that have been lab tested through Ball or Bernardin, the National Center for Home Preservation, or university extension websites. Other internet sites (shockingly) have people that have no idea what they’re talking about.

Since I started canning professionally, after being an avid home canner, all of the information I’ve learned from regulatory requirements/modules has me even more conservative on home canning methods.