Food Preparation

Vinegar powder is a versatile condiment, but it is not for canning Vinegar powder is dehydrated vinegar to which carrying or bulking ingredients are added (such as maltodextrin, which is a modified corn starch). Available in white, apple cider, malt, and other vinegar types, these powders are used by…

Safe food handling helps prevent illness  All fruits and vegetables should be washed prior to consuming. But raw meat, poultry or fish should NOT be washed. This may seem counter-intuitive or contrary to what you’ve previously been taught, but times change and so do food handling recommendations. …

Quick tips for handling fresh fruits and vegetables All fruits and vegetables should be washed prior to consuming, even if the skins or rinds won’t be eaten. Washing produce helps to remove dirt and bacteria not only from surfaces, but also prevents bacteria from being carried into the food when cut…

Button mushrooms yes; wild mushrooms no. Mushrooms are a low-acid food. To be safely canned, they must be properly acidified (pickled) or processed in a pressure canner.There are other safety considerations as well: Only domestic button mushrooms may be safely canned. Wild mushrooms (whether wild…

Preserve it! Time for a Review  Before planning this year’s garden or trips to the farmers market, let’s look at your pantry and freezer with a keen eye. Take stock of what you preserved last season and what you have consumed up to this point.  If, by this time of the year, you have an abundance of…

Monica Gross, Los Angeles Co., Online Delivery Program VolunteerDehydration is one of the earliest preservation methods developed by humankind. There is evidence from Middle Eastern and Asian cultures that dehydration was used as a method of preservation as far back as 12,000 BCE. The hot sun was harnessed…

 Chocolate paired with cherries is a match made in heaven.  With the California cherry season approaching, consider making this delicious and decadent jam. Use it as an ice-cream topping, stir it into yogurt, use it to frost brownies, or top a cheesecake! The possibilities are endless.  …

Kirsten Hansen, UC Master Food Preserver Online Delivery Program Volunteer  The Master Food Preserve Online Delivery Program volunteers loved making preserved lemons this winter! Our Citrus 1: Citrus Without Canning class and Garden to Glass: Winter Mocktails classes featured two different…

Preserve It! Chicken Wing Season! The Super Bowl always means there is a grand feast of snack foods to plan and prepare. While the textures and flavors abound at this annual gathering (whether you watch the game or not), it seems a quintessential ingredient on the menu is the spicy-vinegary buffalo…

Preserve It! For a Lofty Dessert!  Seckel pears are crisp, juicy, and quite sweet with a slightly spicy flavor profile when ripe. They are very small in size (about one-inch diameter and three-inches in height – about the size of a small lemon), making them perfect for canning beautiful halves of…