Every Step in Canning: The Cold-Pack Method

"Every Step in Canning: The Cold-Pack Method" by Grace Viall Gray is a practical guide on home canning techniques, written in the early 20th century. The book serves as a comprehensive resource for busy housewives interested in efficient methods of preserving food, specifically using the cold-pack method that gained popularity during and after World War I. The opening of the book recounts the author's personal journey and enthusiasm for the cold-pack canning method, beginning with a demonstration she attended that sparked her interest in teaching others. She describes the shift in canning habits influenced by the war, as women adopted new methods to conserve food effectively and economically. Gray highlights the challenges faced by those accustomed to older techniques, emphasizing the importance of being open to learning the cold-pack method, which promises to simplify the canning process while producing better results. The excerpt lays the groundwork for understanding the need for modernization in food preservation practices and sets the stage for the practical advice and detailed instructions that follow in the book.