A pressure canner creates an artificially high air pressure level inside the pot, which allows it to exceed the boiling temperature of water. Pressure canners heat to 240 degrees Fahrenheit, high enough to kill the spores that cause botulism. To can foods in a pressure canner, fill sterilized jars with the food and seal them just finger tight with new sealer lids. Bring the canner to a boil with its vent open, then close the vent and wait for the correct pressure to build. Process your food as recommended by the USDA or other authoritative source.

Chicken can be safely canned either raw or par-cooked, so it really is a matter of personal choice. If you like to can your chicken in larger pieces, especially with the bone in, par-cooking ensures the chicken will be fully cooked at the end of the canning process. Roast or poach the chicken until it is approximately two-thirds cooked, then cut it up and pack it loosely into sterile canning jars. Cover the chicken with hot broth, leaving 1 1/4 inches of headspace at the top. Cover finger tight with a sterile lid, and process according to USDA guidelines.

Raw chicken can be canned without any prior processing, a technique known as cold packing. To cold pack your chicken, cut it into small pieces that will fit easily in your canning jars. Fill the sterile jars loosely with chicken pieces, leaving 1 1/4 inches of headspace at the top. Don't pack them in, or the pieces in the middle might not cook properly. Sprinkle the chicken with 1/2 tsp. of salt per pint, or with seasonings such as dried ranch dressing if you wish. Do not cover the chicken with broth, just screw the lids on finger tight and process the jars as directed.

Once you've processed the jars of chicken for the recommended time, remove your pressure canner from the heat and allow it to cool, as directed by the manufacturer. When the canner has depressurized and is safe to open, lift out your jars with a heatproof glove or jar lifter. Let the jars cool. The lids of the jars should be visibly concave, and when you press them with your finger they should feel solid, rather than buckling and springing back. This means the jars have sealed successfully and can be stored in a cool, dark place until needed.