Food Preservation
Food Preservation
Information on home food safety, including canning and freezing sauerkraut, pickles, meat, poultry, vegetables, fruits, beans, fruit pie fillings, jellies, jams and spreads. Tips on harvesting and preserving herbs and spices and home cheesemaking.
Articles Preserving Your Tomato Harvest
Susan Marquesen
In late summer many gardeners enjoy a bountiful tomato harvest. This article explores the options for preserving this versatile vegetable. More
News Penn State Extension provides online and on-site education on home food preservation techniques. More
Articles Canning Terms: Packing and Processing
Martha Zepp
Canning terms can be confusing. Words that meant one thing many years ago may mean something totally different in today’s canning directions. Let’s take a look at some basic canning terms and procedures. More
Articles Wait to Preserve Sauerkraut
Martha Zepp
As cabbage begins to mature, sauerkraut containers begin to make their appearance. Wait! More
Articles Preserving Those Colorful Garden Peppers
Martha Zepp
The colorful medley of red, green, yellow—even purple and orange—peppers may be preserved by freezing, canning, drying, pickling or making into relishes, jams and jellies. More
Articles Canning Potatoes
Martha Zepp
Characteristics of special concern when canning potatoes are their low acidity and starchy nature. Potatoes must be canned in a pressure canner for safety. More
Articles Canning Salsa
Martha Zepp
Freshly cut-up tomatoes, onions, and peppers make delicious sauces to serve over meat and seafood or to eat with tortilla chips. More
Workshops Free
Learn about today's recommended methods for home food preservation while dispelling food preservation myths and unsafe practices of the past. More
Articles When certain fruits and vegetables are cut, the exposure of the flesh to oxygen results in enzymatic browning. There are a number of ways to prevent this from occurring. More
Articles Perfect Canned Peaches
Martha Zepp
When canning peaches select a variety of peach that will maintain its shape and flavor and at its ideal stage of ripeness in order to enjoy their delicate flavor year round. More
Articles Fruit Relishes
Martha Zepp
Relishes are a delicious combination of chopped vegetables and/or fruits cooked in vinegar with spices added for flavor. More
Articles Frequently Asked Preservation Question
Martha Zepp
What causes lids to buckle, warp or bulge upward? More
Articles Freezing Potatoes
Martha Zepp
If freezing potatoes, the quality of the thawed product depends upon the type of potato used, its age, and your standards of taste. More
Articles Acidifying Canned Products for Safety
Martha Zepp
When canning food, the acidity of a food product is a critical factor that determines the safety and quality of the product. More
Articles Preserving Sweet Corn Successfully
Martha Zepp
Nothing says summer like sweet corn! Enjoy corn year round by canning, freezing or drying this summertime vegetable. More
Articles What causes holes in jar lids that look like pinholes? More
Articles Best Practices for Canning and Freezing
Martha Zepp
Test your knowledge about home food preservation by taking our quiz. More
Articles Canning in Electric Multi-Cookers
Andy Hirneisen, MA
There has been no research by the USDA or a university to show that electric multi-cookers can safely process low-acid food. More
Articles Why is Liquid Lost During Canning?
Martha Zepp
A frequently asked food preservation question is what causes liquid to be lost from the jar during processing? More
Articles Selecting a Canning or Processing Method
Martha Zepp
The most important choice for a safe product is to choose the processing method that will destroy all harmful bacteria and prevent their growth during storage. More
Articles Use Tested Recipes to Preserve Foods
Martha Zepp
All reliable recommendations for canning include process directions that have been determined or based upon laboratory testing. More
Articles Pressure Canner Dial Gauge Testing
Martha Zepp
Testing gauges on dial gauge pressure canners should be a routine step in preparing for each new canning season. More
Articles Preserving Peas
Martha Zepp
With careful processing, peas can be preserved to be enjoyed throughout the year. More
Articles Freezing Strawberries
Martha Zepp
Freezing is by far the most popular method of preserving strawberries. More