3 Ways to Preserve Food and Save Money: Easy and Inexpensive Tips

One of the best ways to save money and keep your family healthy is by preserving food. There are many methods of preservation, and most of them are easy and inexpensive. In this blog post, we will discuss 3 ways that you can preserve food using common ingredients and techniques. We will also provide links to helpful tutorials for each method. So, whether you want to can fruits and vegetables, make jams and jellies, or ferment foods, we have you covered!

3 Ways to Preserve Food

01. Canning

One of the most common ways to preserve food is by canning. Canning is a great way to preserve fruits, vegetables, and even meat. The process of canning involves heating food to a high temperature and then sealing it in a jar. This prevents bacteria from growing and keeps the food fresh for months. If you are new to canning, we recommend checking out this tutorial from the Ball Canning Company.

Things You’ll Need for Canning

First and foremost, you’ll need canning jars. Canning jars come in a variety of sizes, but the most common are pint-sized jars. You’ll also need lids and rings for your jars – these can usually be purchased together with the jars themselves.

Next, you’ll need to choose a canning method. There are two main methods of canning:

Water bath canning and pressure canning. Water bath canning is the simpler of the two methods, and is typically used for high-acid foods like fruits and pickles. Pressure canning is more complex, but it’s necessary for low-acid foods like vegetables and meats.

Once you’ve decided on a canning method, you’ll need to gather the rest of your supplies. For both water bath and pressure canning, you’ll need a large pot or canner, a rack to fit inside the pot, tongs, and a funnel. You’ll also need jars, lids, and rings (as mentioned above), as well as a jar lifter.

If you’re pressure canning, you’ll also need a pressure canner and a weight or gauge to regulate the pressure. And finally, no matter what type of canning you’re doing, be sure to have plenty of fresh produce on hand – that’s what it’s all about, after all!

Things you need to get started with canning are:

– A set of jars specifically meant for canning with the right size lids and rings

– A canning method. The two main types are water bath canning and pressure canning.

– If you’re pressure canning, you’ll need a pressure canner along with a weight or gauge to regulate the pressure.

– A large pot or canner, a rack to fit inside the pot, tongs, and a funnel

– A jar lifter

– Fresh produce! This is the exciting part where you get to choose what you want to preserve.

02. Pickling

Another popular method of preservation is pickling. Pickling is a great way to preserve cucumbers, onions, and other vegetables. The process of pickling involves soaking food in a vinegar or brine solution. This prevents bacteria from growing and keeps the food fresh for months. If you are new to pickling, we recommend checking out this tutorial from the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

Things You’ll Need for Pickling

– Mason jars: You’ll need mason jars to store your pickles. Any size will do, but we recommend using 32-ounce jars so you can make a big batch at once!

– Vinegar or brine: This is what will preserve your pickles and give them their signature tangy flavor. You can use either white vinegar or apple cider vinegar. For the brine, you’ll need to dissolve salt in water. We recommend using a ratio of one cup of salt per gallon of water.

– Pickling spices: These spices will add flavor to your pickles. You can find pickling spice blends at most grocery stores, or you can make your own blend with ingredients like mustard seeds, peppercorns, dill weed, and cloves.

– Fresh produce: This is what you’ll be pickling! You can pickle just about any fruit or vegetable, so get creative! Cucumbers are the most popular choice for pickles, but you can also pickle carrots, peppers, onions, watermelon, apples, and more.

03. Fermentation

Fermentation is another popular method of food preservation and a great way to preserve fruits, vegetables, and even meat. The process of fermentation involves allowing bacteria to grow in food. This prevents other bacteria from growing and keeps the food fresh for months. If you are new to fermentation, we recommend checking out this tutorial from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

So there you have it! 3 easy and inexpensive ways to preserve food. Which method will you try first? Let us know in the comments below! And be sure to check out our other blog posts for more tips on saving money and eating healthy!

Do you have any favorite tips for preserving food? Share them with us in the comments below! And be sure to check out our other blog posts for more tips on saving money and eating healthy!