Category: Canning Tips

From the recent conversation about bacon jam, we understood that the prepared product was stored at room temperature. Please do not store bacon jam at room temperature. Storing bacon jam at room temperature poses the risk of botulism, a serious foodborne illness caused by the nerve toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum, a spore forming bacteria. How could this happen? Our search identified...

We do not recommend canning summer squash or zucchini. We recommend preserving summer squash or zucchini by pickling or freezing. USDA has withdrawn recommendations for canning summer squash, including zucchini, that appeared in former editions of So Easy to Preserve or USDA bulletins. The reason for withdrawal is uncertainty about the determination of adequate processing times. Squash are...

Greens are excellent sources of vitamin A, calcium, folic acid and fiber. Preserve extra spinach, collards, kale and other spring greens by freezing, pressure canning, or drying them. Freezing Greens: Greens may be canned for long term storage; however, freezing results in a better product. Select young, tender green leaves. Wash leaves thoroughly and cut off woody stems. Water blanch collards...

Onions and garlic are relatives; both are in the genus Allium. Both are root vegetables whose bulbs grow underground. Both garlic and onion are very low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. Garlic is a good source of calcium, phosphorus and selenium, and a very good source of vitamin C, vitamin B6 and manganese. Onion is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin B6, folate, potassium and...

MAKING STRAWBERRY JAM: When strawberries are in season, make jams that you can enjoy throughout the year. Make an old-fashioned strawberry jam with just strawberries and sugar, a freezer jam using powdered pectin, or a jam with no added sugar. Choose the recipe that suits your tastes and enjoy! Old Fashioned Strawberry Jam Ingredients: 2 quarts crushed strawberries,  6 cups sugar Combine berries...

Drying Legumes: Legumes include many beans (navy, kidney, butter, great northern, lima) lentils and soybeans. Beans are a good source of protein, fiber, calcium, potassium, and other nutrients. Dry beans by leaving pods on the vine in the garden until the beans inside rattle. When the vines and pods are dry and shriveled, pick the beans and shell them. No pretreatment is necessary. If beans are...

Meats and poultry are low acid foods (pH above 4.6) that provide a good environment for the growth of Clostridium botulinum, the cause of deadly foodborne botulism. Please remind your friends and neighbors that no safe way to use a boiling water canner for these foods exists; meats and poultry must be pressure canned for safety. Canning Meat (Strips, Cubes or Chunks of Bear, Beef, Lamb, Pork,...

“So what can I safely preserve to give my friends and family for Christmas?” Jams, jellies and soft spreads prepared according to recipes from credible sources make excellent Christmas gifts; so do pickles, chutneys, and relishes. Seasonal cranberries are a good source of vitamin C and of health-promoting antioxidants.  They can be used to make colorful products that spice up your holiday table...

Despite what is found on the internet, there are no science-based methods for home canning of cheeses, milk, butter or other dairy products. Clemson Extension and the National Center for Home Food Preservation do not recommend any process for canning these products. Two examples are discussed in the following paragraphs. Cheese: A Youtube video indicates that all kinds of cheeses including cream...

Meats, poultry and seafood are low acid foods (pH above 4.6) that provide a good environment for the growth of Clostridium botulinum, the bacterial cause of botulism. These foods must be pressure canned for safety. A story recently shared on the Carolina Canning Facebook page and the Cooperative Extension Los Angeles Facebook page details the medical calamity (botulism) that can result when a...