Home Food Preservation

Link to University of California Master Food Preserver Program

General Home Food Preservation

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

• 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
  • "Put it Up!"  Food Preservation Lessons for Youth
• UC Home Preservation and Storage Publications
  UC publications discuss safe preservation and storage of a variety of fruits and vegetables (listed alphabetically by item).
  
• 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)
• Fresh Preserving and Canning Questions (Ball/Jarden Home Brands)

Hot Topics

• Preserving Food at Home - Canning in a Multi-Cooker

Food-Specific Resources on Home Food Preservation

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

Food Preservation Outbreaks

• 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)

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 Blue Book Guide to Preserving.
• Sure Jell (Kraft)
• Presto (National Presto Industries, Inc.)
  A convenient resource for pressure canners, canning basics, recipes and methods.

University & Government Home Preservation Resources

A comprehensive list of University and Government websites discussing home food preservation.