The art of preserving food has been a practiced for centuries. In fact, it’s inception is so interesting we’re going to share a little history with you.
Canning as we know it now, was originally conceived by Nicolas Appert, a Parisian confectioner and chef during the later 1700’s. After much experimentation, Nicholas successfully managed to preserve foods such as soups, veggies, juices even dairy.
Napoleon, the French emperor at the time, was looking for a way to feed his military troops and offered a 12,000 francs prize to anyone who could find a way to do this. Appert, continuing in his food experiments discovered that by introducing heat to the canning process, he could prevent food from spoiling.
15 years after he began his first experiments, it was announce by the French government that Appert was the official winner of Napoleon’s prize. Appert’s prize winning process simply involved adding food to glass jars, corking them, sealing them with wax, wrapping them in canvas and boiling the jars. This was the very foundation of the modern canning practices we use today.
Now that our history lesson is complete, let’s talk about one more thing – the benefits of preserving food.
- it reduces the waste associated with pre-packed foods.
- preserving food bought in season when it’s inexpensive can be a great way of saving money
- if you’re flush with bumper fruit and vegetable crops, and can’t eat everything once it’s harvested, canning and preserving are great ways to save you from throwing out food
- no matter how much companies try, no commercially canned products tastes as good as locally grown, harvested in season, homemade preserves!
So have we convinced you yet? Interest in food preservation has been growing over the past few years and canning, in particular, is seeing a resurgence of popularity. If you’re looking to get some ideas to try out your hand in food preservation, here are some interesting ideas to preserve food you may never even thought you could preserve.
How To Preserve Citrus
Did you know you can preserve citrus fruits? There are actually quite a few methods but here are two easy ways to preserve lemons and mandarins.
Via Stitch and Boots
Canned Pico De Gallo
If you have never canned your food before, this Pico De Gallo recipe is a great recipe to begin with. It can’t get any easier than this.
Via Gingerly Made
Jasmine Tea Jelly
If you’re looking for an Asian inspired sweet treat, look no further than this delicious Jasmine Tea Jelly recipe.
Via BHG
Homemade DIY Extracts
Orange, Vanilla, Lime, Mint and the list goes on. Homemade extracts are easy to make and are great for gifting.
Via Kirbie Cravings
Pickled Avocados
Cucumbers aren’t the only green produce you should be pickling. Chances are you spend good money on avocados, so make them last longer by pickling them.
Via Tasting Table
Canned Butter for Your Food Storage
Did you know you can bottle butter and store it for up to 3 years. Yep, we’re telling you the truth. Check out this enlightening tutorial to learn how.
Via Teresa Tronier Photography
Preserving Fresh Basil
Imagine the possibilities here, fresh basil all year, infused basil flavored olive oil to use in everything and it’s perfect for sauces, soups, sandwiches, subs, salads, garlic bread, etc.
How to Pressure Can Apple Pie Filling
Nothing says fall like a good crisp apple and why not keep that fall feeling by making a batch of homemade apple pie filling.
Via Melissa Norris
Dehydrate Ginger Root to Make Ginger Powder
Learn how to make your own ginger powder that enhances many Asian dishes and makes for an awesomely refreshing beverage! You’ll never buy store bought ginger powder again.
Via Mom With A Prep
Homemade Stevia Extract
Stevia extract is amazing stuff. It’s pretty popular right now, but in case you haven’t jumped on the stevia train yet, here is a quick run-down: Stevia is simply a plant and it’s 200-times sweeter than sugar and you can grow it right in your garden.
How to Prep and Freeze Cauliflower Rice
If you are Paleo, doing the Whole30 food challenge, or just eating healthy, learning how to prep and freeze cauliflower rice can save you a lot of time in the kitchen and help you have healthy food on hand when you need it.
Via The Pinning Mama
Candied Jalapenos
Candied jalapenos are pretty similar to pickled jalapenos but are sweetened with sugar. Whoa! Spicy and tangy jalapenos that are also sweet? Yum!
Via Closet Cooking
How to Make Watermelon Chips
Who knew you could dehydrate Watermelon and guess what…it’s like candy. Healthy candy that you can eat handfuls of and not feel guilty about!
Homemade Vegetable Stock Powder
Homemade vegetable stock powder is much better than the one you buy at the store. You can be in control of the ingredients you use, it’s 100% natural, free of preservative and has less sodium.
Vanilla Cantaloupe Jam Recipe
Do you find yourself with an over abundance of Cantaloupe? How about making delicious Vanilla Cantaloupe Jam.
Via Grace Garden and Homestead
How to Can Potatoes
Another vegetable that rarely gets canned, canned potatoes are surprisingly wonderful. Plus a bonus 10 other ways to preserve them.
How to Make Tomato Powder Out of Tomato Skins
You’ll never waste tomato skins again with this easy recipe to make tomato powder and tomato flakes.
How to Freeze Fresh Chives
While you could turn it into a delicious compound butter or dehydrated herb, freezing is is a great method to preserve fresh chives. Chives actually freezes incredibly well thanks to it’s hollow, tubular structure.
Via Om Nom Ally
Cucumber and Vanilla Jam
Now here’s an unlikely combination for a preserve. This jam tastes like vanilla with the subtle freshness of cucumber. You should try it, it’s pretty amazing.
Via Like A Strawberry Milk
How to Make Pesto
Did you know basil is high in antioxidants and is considered one of the most nutritious herbs. And, there is so much more you can do with pesto including putting it on rice, pasta, meat, pizza, salad dressing and more.
Via The Yummy Life
Monkey Butter
Have you heard of this unusual but super yummy concoction? With only five ingredients, this is really simple to make and even better to eat.
Dry Lemon Peel
Did you know a tiny jar of dried, powdered lemon peel can go for $10. Really? People are paying $10 for something that the rest of us throw away? Learn how to make your own powdered lemon peel and save money today.
Via Brown Thumb Mama
Today, most of us rush home from the grocery store and crams in armloads of store bought food into the freezer or refrigerator but by doing this, we often overlook that fact that we can have access to a huge variety of food that doesn't require refrigeration. You may not realize but frozen and refrigerated food also tends to lose flavor and some of its nutritional value, not to mention it doesn't always look so hot after a while.
Now, you're armed with some amazing recipes that will help you preserve food, save money and have delicious and nutrious food all year long.
