7 Ways To Preserve Your Garden Harvest

"There's something so special about planting a garden, watching it grow, harvesting, and then enjoying the fruits of your labor. The years where you have a large garden yield are truly a blessing, but how can you preserve your produce so you can enjoy it year-round? There are more ways than you might think! Here are seven ways to preserve your garden's harvest."

"Many of us remember our grandparents canning fruits and veggies. It's a useful practice that's regaining popularity. There are two methods of canning: water bath canning and pressure canning. Water bath canning is safe for most things like jams and fruits. However, if you'd like to can meat or low acid vegetables such as green beans, you'll need to use a pressure canner to ensure your food is safely preserved."

"Another popular method for preserving foods is to stock them in the freezer. Deep freeze chest freezers are relatively affordable and allow you to freeze fruits and veggies from your garden for later use. Before freezing, most vegetables need to be blanched for 2-5 minutes in boiling water, then immediately immersed into cold water to preserve flavor. Once they are cool and dry, they can be packed in freezer bags and stored in your freezer."

Garden harvests can be preserved using multiple methods including canning, freezing, and dehydrating. Canning offers water-bath and pressure techniques; water-bath suits high-acid foods like jams and fruits, while pressure canning is required for meats and low-acid vegetables such as green beans to prevent botulism. Novices should use tested recipes. High-heat canning can reduce some nutrient content. Freezing is practical; deep-freeze chest freezers store fruits and vegetables long-term. Most vegetables should be blanched 2–5 minutes in boiling water then plunged into cold water, dried, packed in freezer bags, and optionally vacuum-sealed for extended preservation.

Read at Earth911