Nutrition & Health

Internet practice is not a recommended preservation method. Another preservation process making the internet rounds recently is so-called “dry canning,” in which dried foods such as beans, grains, pasta, nuts, flour, etc. are put into canning jars and then the jars are heated in a low oven. Some…

Dry canning vegetables doesn't ensure even heating. Another “homemade” canning method (in other words, someone made it up themselves) has been making the internet rounds recently, which involves pressure canning vegetables without any added liquids. The food, either cooked or raw, is simply put in a jar…

Make eggnog only from pasteurized eggs.Eggnog is a seasonal/holiday tradition in many households, and while it can be purchased commercially, some people prefer to make their own at home. Can you do so safely?  For sure, but use only pasteurized eggs when making eggnog. Raw eggs can be contaminated with…

 I learned how to can fruits and vegetables from my grandmother while growing up mostly in the Midwest. I loved the cool, earthy smell of a root cellar and took delight in perusing the many rows of colorful jars, especially when it was 95°F outside with 90% humidity.  Wherever the family moved, we…

Four valuable lessons that will take the stress out of canning pickled asparagus.My first time making pickled asparagus at home, by myself, with a borrowed steam canner, was a lot of fun, a fair amount of work, and produced what I would call mixed results, but I have no regrets.   The recipe I…

Flat sour is a result of improper cooling procedures. Flat sour is a type of food spoilage that results in food having an unappealing tasteless or off-flavor and a sour-like vinegar aroma.  It is caused by thermophilic bacteria surviving the canning process because the jars of food were kept hot…

Blanching is an important step for vegetable quality. Blanching is a heat process in which vegetables are scalded in boiling water or steam for a brief (but specific) amount of time. It is a very important step in the freezing procedures for most (but not all) vegetables. Blanching stops enzymatic…

Hard cheese freezes best, others less so. Cheese is best stored in the refrigerator, but there are some cheeses that freeze fairly well, especially hard or semi-hard cheeses. Good choices for freezing include Cheddar, Edam, Muenster, Parmesan, Provolone, Romano, and Swiss.  Some softer cheeses such…

Tricks for preserving the highest quality of fresh cranberries. Cranberries are a wonderful fall fruit that are easy to preserve for use throughout the year. The very easiest preservation method is to simply store them in the fridge (refrigeration is preserving!), where they will keep for about 4 weeks…

Freezing eggs is a great way to ensure you always have eggs on hand. If you’re tempted by the better pricing of a 24-pack of eggs but are worried that you can’t consume them before they go bad, or if you raise …