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General Preservation
Storing
Storing foods is an essential aspect of food preservation and management. Proper food storage aims to maintain the quality, safety, and shelf life of food items while minimizing waste. It involves a combination of techniques and technologies that encompass factors like temperature control, humidity, packaging, and the use of preservatives. Refrigeration and freezing are common methods for preserving the freshness of foods, while canning, drying, and pickling are employed to extend shelf life. Moreover, the choice of packaging materials plays a crucial role in preventing contamination and spoilage. Understanding the science behind these storage methods, including the role of microorganisms, enzymes, and chemical reactions, is integral to ensuring food safety and minimizing food loss. In today's world, where food security and sustainability are paramount, the science of storing foods is at the forefront of addressing global challenges, emphasizing both food safety and security.
Jams & Jellies
Jelly, jam, preserves, conserves and marmalades are fruit products that are jellied or thickened. Most are preserved by sugar. Their individual characteristics depend on the kind of fruit used and the way it is prepared, the proportions of different ingredients in the mixture and the method of cooking. The characteristics of clarity or clearness, color, consistency and flavor are used to determine the quality of jellied products.
They have long been used as a traditional method for preserving seasonal fruits, effectively prolonging their shelf life while encapsulating the vibrant essence of fresh, ripe flavors. Homemade tested recipes allow for a variety of fruits, spices, and flavorings to be combined to create unique and delightful spreads.
Pickling
Pickled products truly add spice to meals and snacks. The skillful blending of spices, sugar and vinegar with fruits and vegetables creates a crisp, firm texture and a pungent, sweet-sour flavor. Although food markets today offer a wide variety of pickles and relishes, many consumers like to make their own pickled products when garden vegetables and fresh fruits are in abundant supply. Various types of pickled products can be made depending on the ingredients used and methods of preparation.
Fermenting
Fermentation is a process that involves the transformation of raw ingredients into a wide array of flavorful, preserved, and often nutritionally enhanced products. At its core, fermentation is driven by microorganisms, such as bacteria, yeast, and molds, that break down carbohydrates and other organic compounds in the absence of oxygen. This metabolic activity generates a spectrum of compounds, including acids, alcohol, and gases, which not only preserve food but also imbue it with distinctive textures and flavors. The fermentation process encompasses a diverse range of culinary traditions and foods, from bread and cheese to sauerkraut and kimchi, showcasing both the art and science of harnessing microorganisms to create delectable and nutritionally valuable products.
Curing & Smoking
The practice involves the preservation and flavor enhancement of foods through a combination of salt curing and controlled exposure to smoke. Curing is a meticulous process that utilizes salt and sometimes sugar, along with various seasonings, to draw out moisture from meats, creating an inhospitable environment for harmful microorganisms while intensifying flavors. Once cured, the meats are subjected to the gentle, controlled application of smoke, which imparts a rich, smoky taste and acts as an additional preservative. The transformation of fresh meat into delicious smoked products is deeply rooted in the art of balancing time, temperature, and the interplay of flavors, making it a blend of culinary tradition, food science, and craftsmanship. Over centuries, this technique has given rise to an array of beloved foods like bacon, ham, and sausages, each bearing the signature of careful curing and smoking methods.
Drying
Drying is one of the oldest methods of preserving food for later use. It can either be an alternative to canning and freezing or complement these methods. Drying food is simple, safe and easy to learn. With modern food dehydrators fruit leathers, banana chips, pumpkin seeds and beef jerky can all be dried year-round at home. Dried foods are ideal for backpacking and camping. They are lightweight, take up little space and do not require refrigeration.
Meat jerky, dried nuts and seeds are good sources of protein for a snack or a meal. The fruit leathers and dried fruit chips provide plenty of quick energy.
Dried vegetables can be prepared separately or combined to make a soup. While camp is being set up, add water to the dried foods to allow sufficient time (1 to 2 hours) to reconstitute them. To retain vitamins, use the soaking water for cooking.
How
Freezing
Freezing is one of the easiest, most convenient, and least time-consuming methods of preserving foods. Freezing does not sterilize foods; the extreme cold simply retards the growth of microorganisms and slows down chemical changes that affect quality or cause food to spoil.
This process involves reducing the temperature of the food product to a point where water within it solidifies into ice, creating an inhospitable environment for microbial activity. The key to successful freezing lies in achieving rapid and uniform cooling, minimizing the formation of ice crystals, which can negatively impact the texture and quality of the food. Understanding the science of freezing, including the principles of heat transfer and the kinetics of freezing, is essential for preserving the nutritional content and overall appeal of a wide range of foods, from vegetables and fruits to meats and dairy products.
Canning
Canning is an important, safe method of food preservation if practiced properly. The canning process involves placing foods in jars or cans and heating them to a temperature that destroys microorganisms that could be a health hazard or cause the food to spoil. Canning also inactivates enzymes that could cause the food to spoil. Air is driven from the jar or can during heating and as it cools a vacuum seal is formed. This vacuum seal prevents air from getting back into the product bringing with it microorganisms to recontaminate the food.
Recent Content
Can Splenda® (sucralose) be used in preserving food?
Granular Splenda® does not provide preservative properties like sugar.
Canning Fruits: Whereas we do not have published research work with using sucralose in the canning of fruits at home available to us, it is possible to use it for sweetening the water used to cover fruits when canning. The texture and color preserving aspects of a sugar syrup will not be provided. The result would be like canning in water except for the additional sweetness contributed by the Splenda®. The USDA fruit canning directions do allow for canning in water (i.e., without a sugar syrup), as there is adequate preservation for safety from the heat of proper canning. Some people do notice an aftertaste in other products and canned fruits, and it is possible some little changes in natural flavors may occur over storage time, since sugar can mask some of these. For people used to sucralose sweetening and flavors, the aftertaste may not be an issue. Based on some of our experiences in canning peaches and pickled foods, we suggest you start seeing what you like by trying less than a full substitution for the sugar in canning syrups. For example, if you use a medium sugar syrup that is 5-/14 cups water to 2-1/4 cups sugar, try 1 to 1-1/4 cups Splenda® the first time. You can always sweeten more when you serve the finished product if it is not quite sweet enough; then you can increase the canning liquid amount the next time you can.
Preserves and Pickled Fruits: In other cases, where sugar is important, like some preserves or pickled fruits, it is not recommended that substitution of Splenda® be used for sugar if the product is to be canned for shelf stability. Splenda® cannot be used in several traditional Southern preserves we have on this website or in the University of Georgia Extension publications. These are whole or uniform pieces of fruit in a very thick sugar syrup, usually made with figs, peaches or pears. (These preserves are not jam or pectin gel products.) Sugar is required for the preservation of these syrupy fruit preserves as published, with very short boiling water canner processes. Without that heavy amount of sugar, these products become fruit pieces canned in water or lighter sugar syrups, and the usual (and longer) fruit canning process times and preparation directions would need to be used.
Jams and Jellies, or Fruit Spreads: You could use Splenda® as the optional sweetener in a jam or jelly made with a no-sugar needed pectin, such as Mrs. Wages™ Lite Home Jell® Fruit Pectin, Ball® No-Sugar Needed Pectin or Sure-Jell® for Less or No-Sugar-Needed Recipes. With these low-methoxyl pectins, no sugar is required at all. Sugar substitutes can be added as desired simply for flavor. The package inserts with these pectins give instructions on when to add the sugar substitutes (usually after all the cooking, right before filling the jars). Do not try to substitute Splenda® for the required sugar in recipes calling for “regular” liquid and powdered pectins.
And do not try to substitute Splenda® in long-boil or no-pectin-added jams and jellies intended for room temperature storage as a canned product. You might get some thickened fruit spreads with just fruit and Splenda®, but they may not have enough water control for processing like a gelled, high sugar-containing jam or jelly. They might require longer processing to avoid spoilage at room temperature. If you want to experiment with making these kind of fruit spreads we recommend freezing or refrigeration for storage.
We have developed three recipes using Splenda® and they are on our website, www.homefoodpreservation.com. They are quick pickled sweet cucumber slices, pickled beets and pickled cantaloupe. They are under the How do I....Pickle category, as well as National Center factsheets, http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/publications/nchfp/factsheets.html.
There is also a Peach-Pineapple Reduced Sugar Fruit Spread from the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning that does not require added sugar. Some other fruit substitutions are provided in the text. The suggested sugar for sweetening can be left out, or you can add some Splenda® as desired for sweetness. The process time is longer than regular jams and jellies, and is like that for a fruit puree. http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/can_07/peach_pineapple_spread.html
How can I become a Master Food Preserver?
“Master” volunteer programs that are connected to the Cooperative Extension System, such as Master Food Preservers and Master Gardeners, are currently state- or county-managed programs affiliated with the land grant universities and the Cooperative Extension Service in the state. In exchange for extensive education, the master volunteer returns contributions to the local Extension office, such as answering phone calls, developing and hosting exhibits, judging at competitions, etc. There are liabilities involved in someone conducting even volunteer work in the name of a state university; therefore, the guidelines and management procedures will vary among states. At this time, the National Center is not in a position to help individuals meet state guidelines for credentials and the title of Master Food Preserver.
If you would like to find out if your state offers this opportunity to become a Master Food Preserver, contact your local Extension Office (usually listed in local government pages of the phone book under Cooperative Extension Service, Ag Extension Office and/or 4-H Office). You could also contact someone at the state university to either ask your questions or let them know of your interest. These contacts can be found on a website managed by USDA:
https://nifa.usda.gov/nutrition-and-food-safety-directory
Most states do not sell their Master Food Preserver curricula or notebooks to the general public. If someone wants information on preserving, they have other publications available with the actual recommendations and procedures. This website from the National Center is full of “How To” information for various types of food preservation. We will eventually have tutorials and a correspondence type course on line for self-study.
Is it necessary to thaw meat or fish before cooking?
No, meat and fish can be cooked from the frozen state if extra cooking time is allowed. The amount of time will depend on the size and shape of the cut. Large frozen roasts can take as much as 11/2 times as long to cook as unfrozen cuts of the same weight and shape. Small roasts and thin cuts such as steaks and chops require less time.
Can meat and poultry be thawed in the conventional oven?
No, meat and poultry should never be thawed in the conventional oven or at room temperature. There is greater danger of bacterial growth and food spoilage for food thawed at room temperature. Thaw meat and poultry in the refrigerator in the original wrappings. To speed thawing, loosen the wrapping. To keep other foods safe, put the thawing meat and poultry in a pan on the bottom shelf. For a quicker method, immerse meat or poultry in a watertight bag into cold water. Thaw until it is pliable. Meat and poultry can also be thawed quickly and safely in the microwave oven, followed by immediate cooking, either in the microwave oven or by some other method. Because microwave ovens vary, check your manufacturer's instructions for information on how to safely thaw in your microwave oven. Frozen meat and poultry can also be cooked without thawing.
What is blanching?
Heating or scalding the vegetables in boiling water or steam for a short period of time.
Is it recommended to blanch vegetables before freezing?
Yes. Blanching slows or stops the action of enzymes which cause loss of flavor, color and texture. Blanching cleanses the surface of dirt and organisms, brightens the color and helps retard loss of vitamins. Blanching also wilts or softens vegetables and makes them easier to pack.
Is it safe to freeze fruits without sugar?
Yes; sugar is not used as a preservative but only to maintain flavor, color and texture.
Can artificial sweeteners be used in place of sugar for freezing fruits?
Sugar substitutes can be used in place of sugar. Labels on the products give the equivalents to a standard amount of sugar. Follow the directions to determine the amount of sweetener needed. Artificial sweeteners give a sweet flavor but do not furnish beneficial effects of sugar, like thickness of syrup and color protection.
SO EASY TO PRESERVE
The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension has now published a 6th edition of its popular book, So Easy To Preserve. The book was reviewed and updated in 2020. Chapters in the 388-page book include Preserving Food, Canning, Pickled Products, Sweet Spreads and Syrups, Freezing and Drying.