General Home Food Preservation

Up-to-date publications on food preservation methods, such as freezing, freeze-drying, and canning, available from the University of California and other land-grant institutions.

• Fresh Preserving and Canning Questions (Ball/Jarden Home Brands)
• Home-Canned Foods - Protect yourself from Botulism (CDC)
• National Center for Home Food Preservation 
  The NCHFP website contains science-based recommendations about a variety of meats, fruits and vegetables. Find expert advice on canning, freezing, drying, curing & smoking, fermenting, pickling, and making jams and jellies. Find information useful for home preservation for educators and home food preservers.
  • National Center for Home Food Preservation Blog
• Preserve@Home An online food preservation course.  (University of Idaho Extension) Teaches individuals how to safely preserve a variety of food products.
• Safe and Healthy:  Preserving Food at Home (University of Wisconsin-Extension)
• UC Home Preservation and Storage Publications (UC Food Safety) UC publications discuss safe preservation and storage of a variety of fruits and vegetables.

Freeze Drying

• Freeze-Drying Ice Cream (Exploratorium video, 1:20 min.)
• Buying a Home Freeze Dryer: What to Know Before You Go (Utah State University)
• How To...Freeze Dry (Utah State University)
• Let's Preserve: Freeze Drying (Penn State Extension)
• Preserving by Home Freeze Drying (Iowa State University Extension)

Food-Specific Resources on Home Food Preservation

A comprehensive list of websites and PDF files discussing home food preservation.

Food Preservation Outbreaks

• Botulism outbreak associated with home-canned peas - June 2018 (CDC)
• Botulism associated with home-fermented tofu - March/April 2012 (CDC)
• Botulism from home-canned beets in Oregon - August 2012 (NC State and Kansas State University) (PDF 268 KB)
• Botulism from drinking prison-made illicit alcohol - Arizona, 2012 (CDC)
• Botulism from home canned green beans - Spokane 2009 - (NC State and Kansas State University) (PDF 411 KB)
• Botulism caused from unsafe canning of home vegetables, 2008 & 2009 (CDC)
• Suspected botulism death prompts warning about home-canned food 2022 (Food Safety News)

Hot Topics

• Preserving Food at Home - Canning in a Multi-Cooker (National Center for Home Food Preservation blog)

Suppliers of Home Canning Supplies and Ingredients

• All American 
  A supplier of pressure cookers and canners.
• Ball (Jarden Home Brands)
  A comprehensive source for home canning information, including the Ball Home Canning Guides. 
• Sure Jell (KraftHeinz)
• Presto (National Presto Industries, Inc.)
  A convenient resource for pressure canners, canning basics, recipes and methods.

UC Home Preservation and Storage Publications

UC publications discuss safe preservation and storage of a variety of fruits and vegetables.

UC Master Food Preserver Program

• UC Master Food Preserver Program is a public service community outreach volunteer program through the University of California Cooperative Extension that provides up-to-date information on food safety and preservation. Chapters are organized through county Cooperative Extension offices and volunteers undergo an extensive training program.  Master Food Preservers organize meetings to help educate the community on the safe practices of food preservation, including pickling, drying, freezing, canning, and fruit preserves.
  • Find a UC Master Food Preserver Program in your area
  • UC Master Food Preserver Resources
  • UC Master Food Preserver Food Safety Training - a series of 11 training modules on YouTube, recorded by Dr. Erin DiCaprio
  • UC Master Food Preserver Program En Español - Esta página contiene información en general sobre la conservación de comida  y además recetas. Más información se actualizará cuando sea traducida y disponible. 

University & Government Home Preservation Resources

A comprehensive list of (non-UC) University and Government websites discussing home food preservation.