Summer is a great time to get fresh fruits and vegetables from the farmers market. Growing your own garden also provides a lot of fresh produce that you want to preserve for the winter months. Canning and freezing is a great way to preserve the fresh fruits and veggies from the summer to use during the winter months.
Canning
Canning food has been around for centuries. Home canning is a great way to preserve the taste of your favorite local produce year round. Canning and food safety has changed since 1998, so you will want to check the latest resources and canning recipes to make sure you are canning the fruits and veggies safely. The trusted resources for canning recipes come from the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning, 2015 revision, the National Center for Home Food Preservation, and Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving.
The University of Maryland Extension offers workshops and free advice about canning. Canning with friends and family is a great way to socialize, and preserve food that you can enjoy later on in the year.
Some of the popular fruits and vegetables to can during the summer include: corn, green beans, tomatoes, apples, grapes, and peaches.
Freezing
Freezing is another way that you can preserve fresh fruits and veggies. Different fruits and vegetables will require a special preparation method to keep their high nutritional value.
Below are links for food preservation workshops offered in Maryland, as well as how to freeze different types of produce. It is important to note that freezing food does not kill bacteria. If something goes into the freezer contaminated, it is likely to come out of the freezer contaminated too.
For more information about food preservation:
Fruits and veggies that are great to freeze are: berries, peaches, apples, asparagus, corn, broccoli, and peppers.
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