Unlike regular twist-off lids that you find on products from the grocery store, flat-top mason jar lids are the type most commonly used for home canned food. When processed correctly, they provide a firm vacuum seal that ensures the food inside remains fresh for as long as possible. Not everyone is familiar with canning jar…
Aluminum foil has been keeping food sealed and warm for over a hundred years. Since it can be molded to fit snuggly against food and prevents heat from escaping, it has proved invaluable as a strong yet lightweight food covering. Adding a layer of aluminum foil is an effective method to keep food warmer for…
Almost everyone has a thermos, and in most households, it is a greatly underutilized piece of equipment. A thermos can be used for much more than keeping coffee hot on fishing trips. It can also keep meals and sauces piping hot so you can enjoy them steaming and tasty no matter where you are. …
Did you know ancient Egyptians used that pepper as part of the embalming process? Although pepper was more commonly used as a food flavoring than a preservative, the anti-microbial chemicals in peppercorns were regarded as a precious ingredient in ritually preserving royalty. Pepper contains some anti-microbial and antioxidant properties, which slow down food spoilage. While…
If you have an abundance of jalapenos from your vegetable garden this year, it’s time to get excited. There are so many versatile ways to can your harvest without only resorting to the usual pickles. From plain jalapenos to cowboy candy and everything in between, there are loads of ways to can your jalapeno harvest…
Pink Himalayan salt has taken the world by storm with its gem-like pink color and claims of health benefits. Although Himalayan salt is significantly more expensive than table salt, the price difference does not indicate its suitability for canning. Since Himalayan salt contains an assortment of trace minerals, it is not recommended for canning. The…
Queso dip takes nacho cheese dip to the next level of deliciousness, so it is natural to want to keep a supply of this canned goodness in your pantry. Unfortunately, dairy products are not good candidates for home canning. Plenty of rebel canners disagree, and canning queso dip is a controversial topic amongst home canners….
Canning dairy is more intimidating than simpler foods, like vegetables or your favorite fruit jam. Just thinking about canning cheese sauce should instantly raise all our food safety red flags. Canning dairy products, including nacho cheese sauce, is not scientifically validated or recommended by the USDA. Canning dairy products like cheese is controversial and is…
Canned chickpeas are a protein-rich superfood. This versatile legume can add texture to stir-fries, be blended to create creamy dips and sauces, or tossed in salads. Chickpeas are also a popular vegan meat alternative, but are canned chickpeas pre-cooked before canning, or is further processing required? Canned chickpeas are completely cooked and ready to eat….
Whether it’s pistachio nuts, pasta, rice, or pretzels, your go-to to store them is probably a plastic container. However, not all plastic is the same, and the sturdy waterproof material also isn’t entirely air-tight. While your dry food may taste fresh for short periods, your trusty plastic containers will need some backup if you need…
Potatoes are a versatile staple food in many households. They are ideal for adding to stews, mash, roasts, or making French fries. Unless you have a root cellar, keeping a supply of potatoes can be challenging. Canned potatoes are the perfect way to have fresh, ready-to-use potatoes on hand throughout the year. Canned potatoes are…
The versatility and sheer goodness of French onion soup is hard to beat. It can be enjoyed as a hearty broth or used as a rich, caramelized base for casseroles, pasta dishes, or even onion rice. Canning your own homemade French onion soup will mean you always have a supply of this valuable ingredient at…
Getting your canned food safely sealed and stored in the pantry is a significant achievement. It can be quite a letdown to find that when you are ready to use your wholesome preserved food, the lids feel like they are welded on. Fortunately, some handy hacks are available, and you don’t need ninja skills to…
Once you start preserving food, you quickly realize how addictive it is and want to learn more. Although plenty of information is available online, few things beat a good print book to give you the feeling of authenticity that you want to carry through in your food. No matter how long you have been preserving…
What could be better than having delicious homemade meals available every day? Meal prepping has become a hot new trend that makes healthy eating convenient and fun. The only downside to preparing meals days in advance is that to remain tasty and not cause any foodborne illnesses they must be stored correctly. Cooked meal prep…
It may seem impossible to enjoy a hot meal hours after you have prepared it without keeping it on the stove. Even if there is no electricity available at your campsite, picnic, party, or work area, you don’t have to limit your menu to sandwiches. Plenty of tried and tested methods exist that will keep…
Summer is on the way, and soon most of us will be spending much more time enjoying the great outdoors. Since you won’t be near your trusty kitchen warming appliances, keeping food warm for a picnic requires a different approach. Adding hot food to your picnic menu makes a delightful change, and it is possible…
Combining oil and dried tomatoes or basil to create mouthwatering Mediterranean condiments has become commonplace. Herbs and garlic are also frequently mixed with olive oil to make herb-infused oils for cooking. It may be surprising to realize that while oil slows spoilage on some food, it should be used cautiously when preserving raw food. Oil…
Vinegar has been a reliable food preservative for centuries, and many varieties are available. Almost every pantry in the world contains at least one bottle of vinegar. This versatile natural substance can be used as an effective cleaning agent, an acidic flavoring for fish and chips, or even an organic weed killer. Vinegar preserves…
Preserving food is the best way to prevent food waste, reduce your monthly food budget, and ensure that your preserved food lasts as long as possible without spoiling. There are several methods for preserving food, but how well does vacuum sealing work? Does vacuum sealing preserve food? How long does vacuum-sealed food last? Vacuum sealing…
Many of us are guilty of collecting kitchen equipment and tools randomly. Before we know it, our cupboards become a collection of bits and pieces from different projects, but we still always seem to be missing something we need. This comprehensive list of essential food preservation tools and equipment will help you buy the correct…
Food security has become a hot topic in recent years. With the increased cost of living and possible disruptions in the formal food chain, the unsettling reality is that it is impossible to depend exclusively on food retailers. Savvy consumers need to plan, buy food wisely and store rations effectively to provide their own safety…
Preserving food is essential to keep food from spoiling and to prevent food waste, but most people use appliances such as refrigerators and freezers to preserve food. However, what if you do not have electricity or if the electricity goes out? How can you preserve food safely and effectively without electricity? Several effective methods to…
If you have an abundance of green beans, you can easily freeze them so that you have a constant supply during winter. If you use a FoodSaver to vacuum seal your beans as well before freezing them, you’ll find that you can keep them in the freezer for up to 3 years. Here’s everything you…
Chickpeas are an excellent source of protein, especially for people who follow vegetarian or vegan diets. Plus, they’re highly nutritious and can be used in so many different ways. A favorite is to blend them into a delicious hummus dip. It is possible to freeze chickpeas in order to store them for longer periods. In…
Butter beans are also commonly known as lima beans. They are kidney-shaped and have a buttery taste. If you happen to grow these in your garden and have an oversupply, you can freeze them for longer storage. Here’s how you can freeze butter beans with complete step-by-step instructions. Choose The Beans Carefully It’s important to…
Food that is correctly packed and sealed inside 5-gallon buckets can last more than 20 years. Storing food in sealed buckets effectively prevents spoilage caused by pests, light, and moisture. Eliminating oxygen inside the bucket is vital when using this method, so packing and sealing it correctly at the onset is essential to ensure the…
Canning jars should ideally be sealed using a pressure canner or hot water bath technique to remove air and create a vacuum seal. However, boiling is time-consuming and adds several steps to the canning process. This may leave you wishing there were alternative methods to seal canning jars that do not involve boiling. Canning jars…
Yellow squash, which is also known as summer squash, is highly nutritious and extremely versatile. Since it is easy to grow and bountiful during the warmer months, it is natural to want to preserve and store a supply to use throughout the year. However, yellow squash’s soft consistency and low acidity often make canning challenging….
Food preservation is one of the pillars of a homesteading lifestyle. Being able to preserve food safely makes it possible to stock up and create a personal safety net to counter variability in the food chain. We all know that preserving food is a good idea, but we may not be sure of the reasons…
Preserving foods has been done for much longer than we have had fridges. Fridges are a reasonably new concept, being around for just over a century, compared to food preservation methods. Food preservation is done in many ways, such as smoking, salting, canning, and pickling, to name a few. But how does sugar preserve food?…
If you are excited to start canning your harvest and stocking your pantry with homemade preserves but don’t have a water bath, we have some great news. You don’t need one. Like many things on a homestead, necessity is the mother of invention. We are here to show you how you can safely can food…
Recently, there has been a resurgence in preserving food at home, including canned meatloaf. Canning meatloaf at home is a helpful exercise for so many reasons. Not only are you dodging the additives and preservatives in commercially made products, but you’re also using recyclable containers and saving yourself money. When canning meatloaf, it is recommended…
Canned evaporated milk is a useful product to keep in the grocery cupboard. It can be mixed with water and used in place of fresh milk and has become a popular ingredient in many recipes. The real dilemma results from the old can of evaporated milk left in the back of the cupboard for years….
Dehydrating food is a great option for long-term storage, but once it is dehydrated, what is the best way to store it? Mason jars are an option for protecting and storing dehydrated food, but some aspects require consideration when using this method. The best way to store dehydrated food in mason jars is to cut…
Pickling apple cucumbers is one of the best ways to preserve them, and it means that you can enjoy them for many weeks or months to come. You can also freeze sliced apple cucumbers to preserve them, but these will need to be added blended into recipes as they won’t be crisp when they’re defrosted….
Crab apple trees are prolific croppers, and if you have one of these trees growing in your garden, you’re going to be looking for ways to preserve your harvest so that you don’t waste any of these small but sweet fruits. Common Methods Used To Preserve Crab Apples There are actually a few different ways…
Canning jars are specialized jars that can withstand the high temperatures and pressures of the canning process. They also have a flat lid that can be vacuum sealed in order to preserve the food inside. If you’re just starting to can your own produce, you might be wondering how much canning jars cost. Types Of…
Have you ever wondered why canned food lasts so long? You’ll even find that many canned foods don’t have a best-before date because the canning process ensures a long and stable shelf life. Here are some reasons why canned food lasts so long. Why Does Canned Food Last So Long? The Food Is Heated Inside…
Salt is a common ingredient used in preserving. However, there are a variety of different types of salt, so you need to ensure that you use the correct one for your method of preserving. You might be wondering whether canning salt or pickling salt is the same as curing salt. Canning salt is not the…
If you have an abundance of green chillies, there are various methods that you can use to preserve them. This stops your chillies from going to waste, and you can use them all throughout the year, even when it’s too cold to grow them. Green chillies can be preserved by drying them in the oven…
Having your fridge break down is one of those things that’s unavoidable but leaves you with a dilemma as to how you’re going to keep your food cold so that it doesn’t spoil and you have to throw it out. While hopefully, this doesn’t happen to you, here are some ways that you can keep…
If you have your own fig tree, you’ll know that all your figs will usually ripen at once, and you won’t be able to eat them fast enough before they go off. For this reason, you’ll want some easy preservation methods so that you can stop all those lovely figs from spoiling and be able…
If you have a bay tree growing in your backyard or a friend has given you bay leaves from their tree, you may want to dry them so that you can store them safely in the pantry for up to 1 year. Bay leaves should be harvested in mid-summer when the leaves have fully developed…
There’s nothing nicer than having lovely fresh warm bread straight out of the oven with your evening meal. But what about when the bread is ready, but your dinner guests are late? What can you do to keep your bread warm for longer without having it dry out in the oven? There are a few…
Wheat berries are entire grains of wheat that still have their outer layer of bran. This outer layer helps to protect the berries and means that they can be stored for quite a long time. But you have to know how to store them correctly. Most importantly, you want to keep your wheat berries dry…
Shredding carrots is one of those tasks that can take up a fair bit of time and energy, especially if you do it by hand. Therefore it would be convenient to be able to store them so that they’re ready to use when you get home after a busy day at work. So, how do…
When you have a bumper crop of juicy, ripe tomatoes, you want to know how to preserve them so that you can enjoy them all year round and stop them from going to waste. Even better, you won’t have to settle for store-bought tomatoes that have absolutely no taste because they’ve been picked too early,…
Dried fish can be used in many ways in the kitchen and is a high source of rich omega-3 oils or fatty acids. But, in order to ensure that your dried fish lasts for the longest possible time, you need to know how to store it correctly. Dried fish can be stored in a cool…
Lychees are delicious tropical fruits that only have a fairly short season. Therefore, when they come into season and are plentiful in stores, it’s tempting to buy them in larger quantities. However, fresh lychees will only keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, so how do you store them for longer? It’s actually…
If you grow your own raspberries, no doubt you’re likely to end up with a bumper crop sooner or later. So, if your family wants to enjoy raspberries all year round, why not consider freeze-drying them? You can eat freeze-dried raspberries just as a snack on the go or when you feel like a sweet…
Watermelon is a healthy and nutritious snack to enjoy all summer long. However, once a watermelon is cut, you have to know how to store it correctly to keep it as fresh as possible and to stop it from getting soggy and mushy. Most importantly, you want to store your cut watermelon in the fridge…
If you like to make your own fruit and vegetable juices, you’ll need to know how best to preserve them so that they stay fresh for as long as possible. Obviously, it’s best to consume fresh juices as soon as they’re prepared, but sometimes you need to save time and prepare your juices in advance….
As you are most likely aware, basil only grows outdoors during the warmer months. Therefore, if you want to enjoy basil in your cooking for the rest of the year, you’re going to have to preserve some from your summer harvest. Or, try growing it indoors over winter. One of the best ways to preserve…
If you like to make cakes at home, you should be aware that many homemade cakes don’t need refrigeration. As long as you keep your cake in a covered container, it should stay fresh and ready to eat for up to a week. Of course, this will depend on the type of cake and the…
The serrano is a long, thin pepper that originates from Mexico. If you are growing this variety of pepper in your own garden, you’ll want to know how to preserve it, especially if you have a bumper harvest. Serrano peppers only have a shelf life of around 3 to 5 days if you keep them…
If you’re after a healthy snack to take with you while hiking or just want to add some delicious flavor to your morning granola, why not consider freeze-drying some strawberries? Both fresh and frozen strawberries can be freeze-dried, and we show you how with these easy steps. 1. Prepare Your Strawberries To stop your strawberries…
Fresh turmeric can be preserved in a number of different ways, depending on how long you want to store it. It will keep for a couple of weeks in the refrigerator and around six months in the freezer, or you can dehydrate it and turn it into powder for much longer storage. You can also…
If you want to prepare your gingerbread house early, how do you preserve it so that it’s perfect for bringing out at Christmas time? And, can you preserve this year’s gingerbread house until next holiday season? Here’s a quick guide on the best ways to preserve your gingerbread house. How to Preserve Gingerbread House 1….
Did you know that you can keep fruit fresh by storing it in mason jars? This method is particularly useful for soft fruits such as berries and will keep your fruit fresher for much longer than if you were to just put it in the fridge in the plastic packaging that it comes in. Here…
Did you know that you can freeze garlic? This is a great way to preserve the garlic that you’ve grown in your garden so that you can use it all year round in your cooking. One of the best ways to freeze garlic is in ice cube trays because the garlic will be in usable…
Many people these days are learning about the appeal of using duck eggs in their cooking and baking. Duck eggs have a much richer flavor and texture than chicken eggs and they are also higher in nutrition. However, if you’ve never used duck eggs before, you might not be entirely familiar with how to store…
It’s become a common habit in our modern age, to buy our vegetables at the grocery store, bring them home, and put them straight into the refrigerator. But, this is not always the best practice because many vegetables lose their nutritional value when exposed to cold temperatures. To preserve your vegetables without a fridge, you…
Plantains are fruits that look very similar to bananas. However, they are generally used in many different ways in both sweet and savory dishes. The only problem with ripe plantains is that, like bananas, they can quickly go brown and get mushy. This means that they are past their usefulness. However, there are ways that…
Carrots are not only highly nutritious, but they’re also extremely versatile and are great for adding to any dishes that need a little more bulking out. If you grow your own and your soil temperature doesn’t drop below 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-4 degrees Celsius), you can just leave them in the ground until you need…
Poblano peppers are very popular and easy to grow. They almost reach the size of bell pepper, but they do have a touch of heat. They’re not as spicy as jalapenos and have some of the fruitiness that bell peppers have. If you’ve just discovered these peppers and are growing them, you might find that…
Having a bumper harvest of lovely, large pumpkins means that you can enjoy them all year round if you store your pumpkins correctly. Alternatively, you might have purchased a large pumpkin from a roadside stall and don’t want to use it all at once. In this case, you need to know how to store cut…
Who doesn’t love to munch on a handful of peanuts or use them in delicious home-baked cookies? That is unless you have a peanut allergy, of course. Peanuts are highly nutritious, but they also have a high oil content. This means that they have to be stored correctly, so that they don’t go rancid. It’s…
Did you know that chestnuts are high in vitamin C? They are also low in fat and highly nutritious, as well as high in fiber. But the chestnut growing season doesn’t last too long, so if you want to enjoy these tasty treats all year round, you’ll have to learn how to store them correctly….
With any type of shellfish that you purchase and that you’re not going to consume straight away, it’s really important that you store it correctly. This will ensure that the shellfish is safe to consume once the time comes. With oysters, it’s particularly important that you store them safely. Fresh oysters need to be stored…
Whether you make them yourself or purchase them at your favorite bakery, cinnamon rolls are loved by almost everyone. But, if you’ve made or purchased a few extra, how do you store them to keep them nice and moist, and fresh? It is best to store cinnamon rolls in an airtight container to prevent them…
Sliced ham is a popular staple that most people buy to have on sandwiches or for serving as cold cuts when they have friends over. But you have to ensure that the ham you’re serving is still good to eat and hasn’t started to deteriorate. So, how long does sliced ham last in the fridge?…
Having a selection of canned food in your pantry means that you can prepare a meal quickly when you don’t have time to cook from scratch. It’s also a good way to get a bit of variety in your diet when seasonal produce is out of season or you can’t get to the store. But…
The process of canning food used to be an extremely popular method of preserving produce. Nowadays, this process happens far more infrequently, so you may be wondering how hard is it to can your own food at home. Canning is an easy process that anyone can do if the recommended canning process is followed properly….
When opening a can of fruit, some of us might be wondering if the fruit has already been cooked. Do I need to prepare the fruit in any special way? Can it be consumed directly after opening? All canned fruit is cooked as part of the canning process. In fact, it’s a requirement by the…
If you have successfully grown a great crop of onions at home, the last thing you want is to lose some of your harvest due to improper storage. You might be wondering whether you can store your onions in an airtight container. Whole onions should definitely never be stored in an airtight container. You might…
If you want to preserve fruit in honey, there are a number of options. Honey can be a useful preservative. For longer-term preservation, the safest and most effective way to preserve fruit in honey is to use honey as a canning syrup and to process fruit covered with this canning syrup in the usual way,…
If you have made or want to make some homemade jam, you might be wondering whether you can preserve jam without a canner. If you don’t have a water bath canner, don’t be tempted not to process your jam. This is not safe. You can preserve jam by freezing it. But if you don’t have…
Lemon or lime can be used as a traditional preservative to improve the quality and shelf-life of a number of perishable goods. You can use lime or lemon juice as a preservative to prevent fruits like apples, bananas, avocados from turning brown. You can also soak fruits before dehydrating them, in lemon juice and water…
Those with a love of fruits know that there is a range of ways to enjoy them fresh or preserve them for later. But does alcohol preserve fruit? Alcohol preserves fruit. And not only that. Using alcohol to preserve fruit actually gives two excellent yields – alcohol-infused fruits that taste great on their own or…
One of the traditional ways to preserve meat is to use salt. Salting, otherwise known as curing, is an age-old technique for meat preservation. But in today’s health-conscious world, we know that too much salt is bad for us. So how do we preserve meat without salt? Can you really preserve meat without salt? Yes,…
As you delve into the world of food preservation, you will often read the term ‘process.’ But what does it mean to ‘process’ in canning? The word ‘process’ in canning refers to the steps that we take to safely preserve food for later use. The goal in this canning stage is to heat jars to…
Preserving eggs for a longer time might sound like a difficult task if you’ve never done it before. But in reality, there are many easy techniques that can help you to do just that. There are a lot of other methods that have historically been used to preserve fresh eggs. But they are not recommended…
Potatoes are a staple crop for many home growers. But many struggle when it comes to an understanding of how to store their potatoes over the winter months. Keeping potatoes in a traditional root cellar can be a great option. But the conditions required can be challenging to maintain. Home-canned potatoes are another preservation solution….
Canning is an essential part of sustainable home growing. It can allow you to have access to fresh and wholesome food from your garden year-round. But when it comes to home canning, safety is of paramount importance. You need to be sure you know how to tell if canned food is bad. Several tell-tail signs…