Freeze Drying: Essential and Nice-to-have Tools and Supplies

Freeze-dried foods are extremely popular among backpackers and culinary masters, and now freeze-dryers are available for home use. But is a home freeze-dryer the appliance for you? Here is some information designed to cut through the advertising hype and

Since 2000, Extension has been warning consumers about canning cakes and breads. While this process has much appeal, it does not destroy the organism that causes botulism.

Learn how to the traditional British dessert of lemon curd. Canned, it has a shelf life of 3 to 4 months. If you don't mind the darkening that occurs, it can last up to 1 year.

Follow specific proper canning guidelines for chicken, beef, seafood, and others. These guidelines will ensure your food is safe to eat.

Canning salsa is a great way to use your tomatoes. Learn how to correctly and safely can salsa with this approved recipe.

Pieces of food taken from the drying trays are not always uniformly dry. To condition, place cooled dried fruit loosely in large plastic or glass containers, about two-thirds full.

Some essentials are needed to cook with the main food staples in long term food storage. These mostly are used to make breads from stored grains. The cooking essentials include salt, baking powder, baking soda, and yeast.

Making jerky safely requires either the use of curing salts (containing nitrite) or enough heat in an oven or dehydrator so that the heat will kill organisms before they multiply.

Moisture and temperature are the two critical factors in optimal food storage. Moisture - the humidity in the storage environment should be low. If dried foods pick up moisture from the storage area, molds and bacteria can grow. This can lead to spoilage

A few packaging methods for your food storage and food that is being preserved. Methods including foil pouches, glass canning, and plastic bottles are discussed.

Congratulations! You are now the owner of a new freeze-dryer; or you are ready to make the purchase! While the freeze dryer itself is a major investment in food preservation equipment, you will want to make certain you are prepared with a few other items

Freezing is a simple, quick way to preserve foods. Fruits freeze well and retain their distinct fruit flavor. Texture is usually softened somewhat by freezing, but serving partially frozen fruit with ice crystals will compensate for texture changes.

Crispness is a hallmark of a good pickled vegetable. That crispness comes from the vegetable’s natural pectin.

Lately, some people have been advocating some very potentially hazardous food preservation and storage practices on foods meant for room temperature storage.

The proper methods of drying are one of these four methods: Air drying, sun drying, oven drying, or dehydration. Learn how to properly do each of these methods.

Learn the value of drying foods at home, the nutrition that you will have from dried foods, and how to set yourself up for success while drying.

The proper methods of drying are one of these four methods: Air drying, sun drying, oven drying, or dehydration. Learn how to properly do each of these methods.

Apples are a favorite fruit of many people for eating out of hand, in fresh salads, or in a wide variety of cooked products. Here's how to preserve Apples

Instructions on preserving apricots from USU Extension.

Learn how to safely preserve berries through a variety of methods, such as canning, freezing and other methods.

Learn how to preserve cherries through a variety of methods such as freezing, canning, and drying. Also find recipes for cherry pie filling, cherry raisins, jam, and more.

Did you know that there are many ways to preserve your chiles? This resource offers the resources you need to learn how to freeze, can, dry, and store your chiles!

How to dry, bottle and freeze corn by Utah State University Extension faculty.

Learning how to select, can, freeze, dry, and store grapes doesn't need to be complex! USU Extension has all of the resources that you need to preserve your grapes in the way that you prefer to do so.

The process of selection, preparation, freezing, canning, drying, and storage of peaches to enhance preservation and storage.

The most popular variety is Bartlett pears available the first two weeks in September in Utah. If they are to be transported or not processed immediately, pick while slightly green and allow them to ripen in a cool, dark place.

There are many good bean varieties for sale in local gardening outlets and through seed catalogs. Most grow well in Utah. Pod shape, size, and color vary among varieties. Here is a list of some potential varieties and plant types that have performed well

Pomegranates are great for canning, freezing, storing, and more! USU Extension has the resources to guide you through the process, as well as teach you how to make syrup and jelly.

Most varieties of summer squash do well throughout Utah. All squash prefer organic, rich, well-drained, sandy soils for best growth.

Learn how to safely preserve tomatoes through a variety of methods, such as canning, freezing and other methods. Also find recipes to use while preserving tomatoes, such as tomato juice or tomato sauces.

Preparing and handling venison comes in a variety of important steps! This resource offers instructions and information on canning, handling, drying, recipes, storage, and more!

USU Extension has the resources for you to prepare, freeze, steam, can, pickle, dry, and store your zucchini!

Understanding when hydrated wheat is ready to use is very important. This resource offers insight into safe instructions to do so.

This article discusses the basic principles of pressure canning.

Only in recent years has the amount of sugar consumed in the American diet been questioned. About half of the total energy consumed in the average U.S. diet is from carbohydrates.

Canned foods can either be purchased commercially or home canned. Home canned foods should be canned using research-tested recipes and processes like those found in the USDA Complete Guide to Canning or in Extension publications.

Non-fat dried milk (NFDM) is suitable for short and long term emergency food storage. It is made from non-fat, grade A, milk that has been dried by spraying into hot air or heated on a drum. The process removes nearly all of the water prohibiting the grow

Legume (Bean) varieties such as: Adzuki, Black, Black-eyed, Black Turtle, Garbanzo, Great Northern, Kidney, Lentils, Lima, Mung, Navy, Pink, Pinto, Small Red, Soy, and Split-pea can all be dried and stored.

Storing eggs safely is important for your health and that of your family.

Sugars are simple carbohydrates that provide an excellent source of calories for energy. Sugars also add the sweet taste to many of our most delicious foods. Sugar can be stored in dry form (crystals) or in a liquid form (syrup –including maple syrup).

If the supply of safe water is cut off during an emergency, it is important to have water stored. Learn how to store water safely and where you can find an emergency source if needed.

Article on storing wheat from Utah State University Extension.

White rice, more commonly known as polished rice is a main food source for over half of the world’s population. Rice is an excellent addition to home food storage because it’s versatile, high caloric value, and long shelf life. Families should store about

You can determine when the product is dry by feel or by calculation of the amount of water remaining in the product.

Fermenting foods is perhaps the oldest food preservation method and has grown in popularity in recent years due to their touted “gut”, probiotic, and other additional health benefits. Fermenting at home is an inexpensive way to control what goes inside yo

Due to the lack of definitive research into the safety of steam canning the Utah State University Extension program currently agrees with the present USDA and National Center for Home Food Preservation recommendation against usin

Canning never improves the quality of the food you are preserving. Come learn the general guidelines for best results when canning vegetables.

Choose fresh, tender vegetables. The fresher the vegetables, the more satisfactory the final product. Tips on selecting, preparing, and freezing vegetables.

Electric Programmable Pressure Cookers, such as the "Instant Pot, are being used for small batch pressure canning. This fact sheet explains research showing why this is a food safety hazard, with a high risk of producing home canned foods that could devel