Getting Started with Home Food Preservation

Take a minute to consider… Why do we preserve foods?

Canning, Freezing & Drying Which method will you choose? Our aim: safe, high quality food. 3

Methods in Food Preservation Refrigeration & Freezing Fermentation or Acidification Control of Moisture: –Drying –Adding sugar or salt Heat Processing: –Blanching, pasteurization, canning

Two Types of Canning Boiling Water Canning (212°F) – fruits and acidified foods Pressure Canning (240°F or above) – meats and vegetables Remember…adjust for elevation! 5

Getting Started…Equipment Boiling Water Canner with rack Inspect jars, rims & lids Supplies – measuring cups/spoons, spatula, jar/lid lifter, funnel, other “nice to haves” 6

Don’t Forget Process at the correct temperature Follow an up-to-date, research tested recipe Adjust for elevation 7

Making Jams, Jellies and Fruit Preserves

Jams and Jellies As Easy As 1, 2, 3, 4…. 1. Fruit – adds flavor! 2. Pectin – natural carbohydrate that causes fruit to gel 3. Acid – needed for gel formation 4. Sugar – preserves jellied fruit, helps form a gel & adds flavor

Fruit Fresh, Canned, Frozen, Dried Use just-ripe fruit for best flavor and quality Mix ripe and unripe fruit if you don’t use added pectin Overly ripe fruit will taste great, but may fail to set

Freezing Fruits Freeze unsweetened for greatest flexibility Individually quick-freeze on trays Thaw almost completely before making jam Or freeze juice for making jelly

Preparing Fruit Jam: Rinse – don’t soak Remove stems, pits, or cores Prepare fruit according to recipe: crush or chop (with skin on) Pack tightly into measuring cup

Preparing Fruit Jelly: Juicy berries – Crush without heating Firm fruit – Crush, boil, then simmer –Apples: add water only to cover, cook until soft (20-25 minutes) –Grapes: only enough water to prevent scorching, until soft (10-minutes) Strain in jelly bag or cheesecloth

Pectin Can use natural pectin in apples, plums, grapes, currants Add pectin to other fruits (plus canned & frozen) to ensure a good gel Add pectin to fully ripe fruit

More about Gels Liquid and powered pectin are not interchangeable Low-methoxyl pectins for low- or no sugar products Powdered gelatin for refrigerator products

Acid and Sugar Added acid for gelling Measure sugar carefully Use honey or corn syrup sparingly Sugar substitutes can be used only in special recipes (refrigerator jelly– OR

Water Bath Canning… A Must for jams and jellies Helps form a seal Destroys yeast and mold Is required for the Fair!

Basic Steps Wash ½ pint jars in warm, soapy water; then boil for 10 minutes (until filled) Prepare jam/jelly and pour into jars leaving ¼ inch headspace Remove bubbles between jam/jelly and jar Wipe jar rims and put on lids/bands

Basic Steps Place jars in canner – boiling water 1-2 inches above jar lid Start counting processing time when water returns to a boil Process in boiling water 5+ minutes Cool jars for hours then check for seal, remove bands, wipe jars

Mold – imperfect seal, too large jar Failure to set – too large a batch, incorrect proportions of ingredients Fading – storage place too warm or too light; stored too long Fruit floats – Stir fruit mixture for 5 min. before ladling into hot jars When things just don’t work…

Use for syrup Refrigerate up to 3 weeks Freeze – ½ inch headspace Re-process- darker, cooked

When things just don’t work… Re-make Instructions Work in small batches Carefully measure all ingredients Add pectin to product while re-cooking

For Goodness Sake Jams and jellies are shelf stable for at least 1 year Store opened jars in the refrigerator Don’t consume product that has molded or that appears spoiled

Resources USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning (1994 or later), National Center for Home Food Preservation: Wisconsin First: (see Making Jams and Jellies) So Easy to Preserve – University of Georgia (1999 or later) Ball Blue Book (1997 or later)