Food Safety & Preservation

Ensuring food safety is paramount to maintaining good health and preventing foodborne illnesses. These simple yet crucial steps will contribute to a safer and healthier dining experience for you and your loved ones.

Resources:
Food Safety Basics
Consumer Food Safety page
Food Safety Education
Food Poisoning
Emergency Preparedness

Food preservation is the art and science of creating conditions wherein food lasts longer than a few days or weeks after harvest. These technologies inhibit or prevent the growth of unwanted bacteria, fungi, or yeasts that cause spoilage or disease. They also prevent oxidation of fats which lead to unwanted biochemicals that wreck the flavors of foods. If you’ve ever tasted rancid butter, you know that you never want to taste that again!

Resources:
Food Preservation Basics
So Easy to Preserve – Please note this is a paid resource
National Center for Home Food Preservation
USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning
Fundamentals of Consumer Food Safety and Preservation: Master Handbook (EC002)
Food Preservation Resources – WSU Publications

Home food canning is a traditional preservation method that allows people to store fruits, vegetables, and other foods for extended periods. By utilizing the pressure canning method for low-acid foods, home canners can safely seal their produce in jars, protecting them from spoilage and bacteria. This process not only extends the shelf life of homegrown or locally sourced foods but also enables people to enjoy seasonal flavors year-round. Canning at home can be a rewarding and economical way to reduce food waste, maintain nutritional value, and foster a deeper connection with the food one consumes. Proper sterilization and following tested recipes are crucial to ensure safety and prevent the growth of harmful pathogens such as botulism.
Pressure canner testing is a crucial aspect of ensuring the safety and effectiveness of home canning processes. By prioritizing pressure canner testing, you contribute to the longevity and efficiency of your canning equipment while ensuring the health and well-being of those who enjoy your home-canned delights.

Resources:
Using and Caring For your Pressure Canner
Storing Food for Safety and Quality

People have been working to come up with ways to preserve and store food, well… for as long as there have been people. In the arctic, folks froze meat on the ice. In tropical locals, food was dried in the sun. Our methods have gotten more complex, but food preservation is still “a thing” in the modern era. 

Resources:
Food Preservation Articles WSU Consumer Food Safety
– Food Preservation – The Basics
– Food Preservation – Canning
– Food Preservation – Drying & Smoking
– Food Preservation – Other Methods