Preservation | Home & Garden Information Center

Canning Tools

Apr 14, 2023 | Canning Basics, Canning Tips, Food, Preservation, Tasty Bites

Lid Lifter/Lid Wand The canning lid lifter/lid wand is a magnet attached to a short plastic stick and is a useful tool for lifting metal lids from hot water. Lid wand brands include Back to Basics,...

Say “No” to Old Pickle Recipes

Apr 14, 2023 | Canning Basics, Canning Tips, Food, Preservation, Tasty Bites

The Question “I recently made homemade dill pickles by my grandmother’s recipe; I have made pickles by this recipe for a very long time. This year the pickles were bubbling when I opened...

Pressure Canning Revisited

Apr 14, 2023 | Canning Basics, Canning Tips, Food, Preservation, Tasty Bites

A frequent question to the Home & Garden Information Center: “I canned my green beans in a water bath canner. Are they safe?” Often this question is prefaced by “My mother and...

Why Mason-type Canning Jars

Apr 14, 2023 | Canning Basics, Canning Tips, Food, Preservation, Tasty Bites

The major reason we recommend Mason-type canning jars is our experience with them and their decreased rate of breakage compared to mayonnaise jars, salad dressing jars, spaghetti sauce jars, or...

Watch the Headspace

Apr 14, 2023 | Canning Basics, Canning Tips, Food, Preservation, Tasty Bites

Headspace is the unfilled space between the food in a jar and the lid of a jar. General canning headspace recommendations from the United States Department of Agriculture are as follows: Leave ¼...

Preserving Freshness: The Basics of Food Preservation

Apr 10, 2023 | Food, Preservation, Tasty Bites

Food preservation is an age-old practice that has allowed us to enjoy fresh food throughout the year. From refrigeration to freezing or pickling to drying, there are countless ways to keep your food...