The best way to extend your local food season is to learn a few simple food preservation techniques. With some canning, freezing, drying, and cooking ahead, you can enjoy your garden and farmer’s market produce long after summer ends.
Preserve Fresh Produce without Losing Nutrition
Did you know that under refrigeration, produce may lose half of its vitamins in just a week or two? Makes you wonder how many vitamins those strawberries still have left, right? That’s why learning how to preserve your harvest is so important. By using the right preservation methods, you can lock in both flavor and nutrition.
The University of Minnesota’s “5-Minute Modules” are a great resource to get you started. These bite-sized videos break down basic preservation methods in just minutes, giving you ways to keep local food around all year long.
Easy Food Preservation Techniques to Try
Almost anything from your garden can be frozen, dried, or canned. You just have to know the right techniques. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Freezing produce for quick and easy storage
- Drying herbs to fill up your spice jars
- Canning produce for jams, jellies, and crispy, crunchy dilly beans
For everything you need to know about preserving, check out the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Start Small and Build Your Skills
Like all the ideas I share here, I urge you to just get your fork in the dirt! If you’re new to preserving food, just try out one simple idea. If you’re already a pro, learn a new technique—and come teach me a trick or two as well!
With a little practice, these food preservation techniques will help you enjoy local food all year round.
