Are you interested in preserving food?
With summer harvest time starting soon, OSU Extension Fayette will be offering an online (webinar) series to help you with knowing how to can, freeze or dehydrate foods. Understanding how to correctly preserve the foods you grew or purchased at the Farmer’s Market will assure you have a good tasting and safe food item to eat.
Starting next Wednesday afternoon from 4-5 p.m., the weekly series will explain how to preserve foods by canning, freezing or dehydrating. The webinars are free but you must register so the connection link can be sent to you. Each week will cover a different type of food preservation.
Each webinar will be on Wednesday afternoon from 4 to 5 p.m. To register send an email to [email protected] and tell what webinar or webinars you wish to attend. Topics for the different dates include:
May 27 – Overview of Food Preservation Methods
June 3 – Water-Bath Canning
June 10 – Pressure Canning
June 17 – Freezing Fruits and Vegetables
June 24 – Dehydration
The webinars will be general information sessions providing information by PowerPoint presentation. The basics of home canning and food preservation will be taught and is appropriate for people with all levels of experience.
The science behind food preservation will be explained to help understand why some processes are done the way they are. Everyone who cans or freezes fresh fruits and vegetables should understand why certain procedures must be followed precisely to ensure a high-quality, safe product that they and their family can enjoy.
The webinars will address:
• Basic food safety principles.
• How to use equipment.
• Accessing resources from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, OSU Extension, and other research-based food preservation information.
The programs are free and open to anyone, but reservations are required. To register please send an email to [email protected] and include what webinar or webinars you want to attend. After you register you will be sent the link with the information on how to connect to the presentation. It is important to use updated materials to keep your family safe.
OSU Extension Food Preservation Team are offering some free food preservation webinars in June and July available on Tuesdays from 4-5 pm. Below is information about what is being offered and how to register for the webinars.
June 2 – Jams and Jellies Link to register: https://go.osu.edu//jamsandjellies
June 16 – Canning & Freezing Vegetables
Link: https://go.osu.edu/canningfreezingvegetables
June 30 – Canning and Freezing Fruit Link: https://go.osu.edu/canningfreezingfruits
July 14 – Pickles Link: https://go.osu.edu/pickles
July 28 – Making Salsa Link: https://go.osu.edu/makingsalsa
If you are using a pressure canner with a gauge, the gauge should be tested for accuracy each year. I will be offering gauge testing soon in our Fayette County office. Watch for an announcement on when gauge testing will be offered.
Pat Brinkman is the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Educator for Ohio State University Fayette County.
