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Safe Food Preservation

Be Safe!

Pulling a jar out of a canner
Preserving food at home is a great way to extend your garden's harvest and to reduce food waste. While none of the practices we use to preserve foods are difficult, it is important to follow tested recipes and techniques to ensure that you—or your family—are not exposed to food-borne pathogens.

In order to be safe you should:

  • Only used tested recipes
  • Use a preservation technique appropriate for the type of food
  • Make sure food and cooking areas are clean
  • Don't eat anything you're in doubt about
  • If you have questions about preserving food, ask us! (immg@ucanr.edu) 

Preservation Techniques

 

Canning
Canning
Dehydration
Dehydration
Fermentation
Fermentation
Freezing
Freezing


 

 

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Pressure Gauge Testing

Pressure Guage
  If you use a dial-gauge pressure canner, you should have the gauge tested annually to be sure the canner is reaching a safe pressure during canning. 

We can test Presto gauges free of charge in the Farm Advisor's Office in Bishop. Please call (760) 873-7854 or email us at immg@ucanr.edu to make an appointment.

Live out of our area? Other county MFP programs also offer this service. Here is a list of locations.