The summer of 2020 has seen a lot of changes in the way we do most things. The pandemic has led many Americans to look for ways to better be prepared for future emergencies. It has also motivated many people to look for ways to save money on food. One of the best ways to save on your food bill is to prevent food waste. If you find a good deal on fresh produce at the farmer’s market or grocery store, it’s important to eat or preserve that food before it goes bad. That’s why canning and other food preservation methods are becoming popular again. Learning to preserve food helps you have an emergency supply of food on hand and greatly lessens food waste.
Canning food
Canning food is an old-fashioned process that has lost popularity as it became easier to find shelf-stable foods in stores. But canning has recently been making a comeback due to its affordability. Once you have the necessary equipment, you can reuse your jars and rings for years. The main thing to consider when canning is safety. It’s essential to follow sanitary practices when canning. This helps prevent harmful bacteria from growing in your food and extends the shelf life. One of the best sources for those new to canning is The All New Ball Book of Canning and Preserving. It has information on the equipment you need and includes plenty of recipes for canning meats, fruits, and vegetables.
Use your freezer
Using your freezer to preserve foods is one of the simplest and quickest ways to prevent food waste. You can freeze nearly anything as long as you store it right and follow some basic tips on freezing. You can freeze everything from leftovers and dairy products to fresh fruits and vegetables. The most important thing to consider when freezing foods is the container you use. Be sure to date and label everything and go through your freezer periodically to use up foods before they get freezer burned. Most foods last 2-3 months once frozen.
Dehydration
Dehydrating foods is one of the oldest methods of food preservation. It’s never been easier than today with all the different dehydrators available. If your family enjoys jerky and dried fruits, making them at home can save a lot of money. Plus, the process is quite easy. When you dehydrate foods, you’re removing moisture to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria. You can dehydrate foods in your oven or a dedicated food dehydrator. NESCO has an extensive line of dehydrators that are simple to use and perfect for beginners.
Food preservation has been a tradition in past decades but has fallen out of popularity in recent years. But with the uncertainty in the world, and the possibility of a second wave of lockdowns due to COVID-19, people are looking for better ways to keep food on hand. Canning, freezing, and dehydrating foods are all great ways to ensure you don’t waste fruits, vegetables, and meats. Learning to preserve food through these 3 processes at home can save you money. It also gives you the peace of mind in knowing that in case of any emergency where you can’t get to the grocery store, you have a supply of food readily available.
