Food Preservation

Welcome to WSU Clark County Extension Food Preservation, your source for current research-based information, publications and recipes.

Food can be preserved in many different ways including freezing, canning and dehydrating which allows you to preserve the bounty from your garden, farmers market, gleaning and other sources year round.  To take advantage of this bounty however; you need to have a trusted source of publications, literature and recipes. The sources listed below will tell you the latest and best method of preservation and the proper steps, times and ratio of ingredients to ensure a high quality, safe product that has been lab tested to ensure its safety for your family.

Safe Canning Books

• PNW Publications*
• So Easy to Preserve – The University of Georgia*
• USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning  (PDF)

*Available for purchase at the Clark County Extension Office

PNW Extension Publications

• Freezing Home Prepared Convenience Foods – PNW296  (PDF)
• Using and Caring for your Pressure Canner – PNW0421 (PDF)

Fruits & Vegetables

• Canning Vegetables – PNW172  (PDF)
• Canning Fruit – PNW199  (PDF)
• Freezing Fruits and Vegetables – PNW214  (PDF)
• Drying Fruits & Vegetables – PNW0397  (PDF)
• Canning Tomatoes and Tomato Products – PNW300  (PDF)
• Pickling Vegetables – PNW355  (PDF)
• Salsa Recipes for Canning – PNW395  (PDF)
• Drying Fruits & Vegetables – PNW0397  (PDF)
• Making Garlic and Herb-Infused Oils at Home – PNW664  (PDF)
• Storing Fruits & Vegetables at Home – EB1326E  (PDF)
• Let’s Preserve Jams, Jellies and Spreads – EB1665  (PDF)
  
• Making Jams, Jellies and Fruit Spreads – FS232E  (PDF)
• Low Sugar Fruit Spreads – FS236E  (PDF)
• Preserving Berries – FS233E  (PDF)
• Preserving Berry Syrups at Home – FS238E  (PDF)
• Preserving Pumpkin and Winter Squash – FS303E  (PDF)

Meat, Poultry & Seafood

• Pickling Fish & Other Aquatic Foods for Home Use – PNW0183  (PDF)
• Canning Seafood – PNW194  (PDF)
• Smoking Fish at Home Safely – PNW238  (PDF)
• Canning Meat, Poultry and Game – PNW361  (PDF)
• Canning Smoked Fish at Home – PNW450  (PDF)
• Making Jerky at Home Safely – PNW632  (PDF)
• Home Freezing of Seafood – PNW0586  (PDF)
• Big Game from Hunt to Home – PNW517  (PDF)
• Using a Food Thermometer – MISC0513  (PDF)
• Pickled Eggs – EB1104  (PDF)

Miscellaneous

• Yogurt Made Simple – FS173E  (PDF)
• Pack Food Safely in Your Lunch – FS289E  (PDF)
• You Can Prevent Foodborne Illness – PNW250  (PDF)
• Storing Food for Safety and Quality – PNW612  (PDF)

Spanish Publications

• Recetas de salsa para guarder en conserva – PNW395S (PDF)
• Guardado de vegetales en conserva – PNW172S (PDF)
• Elaboracion de conservas de tomates y productos de tomates – PNW300S (PDF)
• Guardado de frutas en conserva – PNW199S (PDF)

Food Safety Fact Sheets

• Food Preservation
• General Food Safety
• Food Safety for Specific Foods

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Have you wondered what causes liquid loss in jars of home canned fruits and vegetables?  Or when you canning are you assured that your food is safe to eat when the jar seals?  And why do I have to vent my pressure canner?  Find the answers to these questions and more on our Frequently Asked Questions page!

 

Learn More About Home Food Preservation

Would you like to learn more about home food preservation?  Do you want to learn about preserving food safely?  WSU offers a wide variety of educational programs including “Preserve the Taste of Summer” online course, “You Can!” Food Preservation series and specialty classes such as How to Preserve Fish & Seafood and How to Preserve Wild Game to meet the needs of the general public.

Do you enjoy volunteering, helping others and want to learn more about food preservation and food safety?  The Washington State University Master Food Preserver (MFP) program is a VOLUNTEER training program which trains volunteers to assist and work with the community. Learn more about the Master Food Preserver Program .