Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By  Lexie Hare

Alabama Cooperative Extension Service

Whether you’re a passionate home gardener, familiar with leftovers or curious about food preservation, learning how to preserve food is a valuable, beneficial skill.

“The goals are to establish safe food preservation techniques, reduce food waste and unearth skills to safely preserve food, extend food shelf life and reduce food insecurities,” said Susan Hill, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System food safety and quality agent.

Preserving food isn’t just practical. It helps maintain the quality of food while promoting self-sufficiency, especially when using produce from a home garden. It can also save money by reducing waste and encouraging healthier eating habits.

Types of Canning Methods

There are many ways to preserve food. Beginners can learn freezing, dehydrating and pickling with ease. For those ready to take the next step, canning is a more advanced technique. There are two main methods:

• Water bath canning. Ideal for high-acid foods like jams, jellies, tomatoes, relishes, marmalades and pickled items.

• Pressure canning. Used for low-acid foods such as vegetables and meats.

It’s best to begin with simple methods. Research safe food preservation practices, start with clear, easy-to-follow instructions and build canning confidence with a beginner-friendly recipe.

The benefits of food preservation go beyond the basics. Preserving food reduces spoilage and waste, extends shelf life and allows for a wider variety of foods year-round. It saves money, supports home gardening efforts and addresses food insecurity by ensuring consistent access to nutritious options. Additionally, it enhances the flavor of foods and brings more variety to the dinner table.

“Food preservation is one of the oldest sciences,” said Hill, who represents Alabama Extension at Auburn University. “Proper use of food preservation techniques maintains food safety, food quality and nutritional value while preventing food borne illnesses. Whether you’re growing your own food or buying in bulk, food preservation helps save money on food and keeps you healthy.”

Simple, beginner-friendly recipes are available through the National Center for Home Food Preservation at https://nchfp.uga.edu. Home canners can also follow along with Alabama Extension food safety agents through the Pick, Pack & Preserve video series on YouTube or read more about freezing vegetables in the publication, “Freezing Summer’s Bounty of Vegetables.”

For more information on canning techniques and other preservation methods, contact your local Extension office or visit www.aces.edu.