Celebrity chef David Chang is famous for calling out culinary snobbery and tackling complex flavors around the globe. But when it comes to the traditional art of home canning, the culinary icon admits he didn't start out as an expert.In a candid conversation with Parade, the James Beard Award-winning chef and founder of the Momofuku restaurant group revealed a surprising truth: he didn't grow up canning food. Neither his mother nor his grandmother were home canners, and it wasn't a technique he practiced in restaurant kitchens."Everyone assumes I must know everything about canning,'" Chang confessed. "I want to be honest about the things I don't know. And I know a lot of things, but I know way less than I think people realize, and particularly when it comes to canning."Read on to discover how Chang overcame his hesitation around canning, plus his top advice and go-to project for beginners.Related: TV Chef Duff Goldman Just Baked a Giant, 2,000-Pound Cake—Find Out Why
So, how did a world-renowned chef end up partnering with the 140-year-old Ball canning brand? It all started during the early months of 2020.
Chang was staying in a home in New York with fresh produce right outside the door, a pantry stocked with classic Ball jars, and a toddler son who was nearly 2 years old at the time. Like millions of people staying home that year, Chang was looking for projects to keep his family busy.
He began watching instructional videos and decided to try canning peppers and jalapeños. Months later, he popped open a jar to see how they turned out. Those pickled peppers provided a pop of flavor for his Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. That experience sparked a passion for home preserving that eventually led to his collaboration with Ball to help create beginner-friendly canning kits.
David Chang's Collaboration With Ball
With his newfound passion for preserving food, Chang decided to team up with Ball to create a beginner-friendly starter kit that makes the process feel more approachable. Arriving just as canning season reaches its peak, the kit is designed for anyone who is ready to try hands-on food preservation at home.
The kit includes the core essentials needed to get started: four 16-oz. Ball mason jars, the Ball 3-Piece Utensil Set, the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving, alongside Chang’s exclusive ‘Korean Hot Pickle Mix’ recipe available only through the kit.Related: Gordon Ramsay’s Net Worth Makes Him a Truly ‘Next Level Chef’
While Chang's starter kit can help you get started, he also recognizes that the "idea" of canning is super intimidating for many people. Concerns over exploding jars, improper seals or food safety often stop them from taking the leap into food preservation.
To help nervous beginners overcome that hesitation, Chang offers a brilliant mental reframe, comparing home canning to everyday driving.
"There are a lot of things in your life that you might be scared of, like getting into a car is pretty scary, but you trust [it]," Chang explained. "There's literally an explosion that happens every time you start a gas engine, but you trust it."
Canning works the same way because it relies strictly on science. "If you follow the steps and you follow the things that you need to, it's very, very safe," he said. "It's easier to get into than people think...If you do everything by the letter of the law, you're going to look to yourself and be like, 'Oh, this is so much easier than I thought it was going to be'."Related: Bobby Flay’s Net Worth Proves He’s Cooking Up a Fortune
The Ultimate "Gateway" Canning Project for Beginners
If you are new to home preserving and want to build up your confidence, Chang recommends starting with the ultimate entry-level project: homemade cucumber pickles.
For the best results, he suggests tracking down fresh Kirby cucumbers. Whether you follow a traditional USDA recipe or experiment with custom spices to add extra heat or dill, pickling fresh cucumbers gives beginners an immediate sense of accomplishment.
Plus, keeping clear glass jars filled with colorful, home-preserved foods instantly elevates your kitchen decor. Chang, who recently planted citrus trees, is looking forward to preserving whole lemons in glass jars next.
"It adds a pop of color to your sometimes dull pantry, that's for sure," Chang said. "And it can look really cool."
Related: David Chang's Net Worth in 2026 Proves He's a Lucky Peach Indeed
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