7 Ways to Preserve Food From Your Garden Harvest.

Knowing how to preserve food is essential for the home garden.  Come mid season, your plants will be producing all at once.  You will suddenly be overwhelmed with way more produce than can be eaten fresh.  Let’s talk about some ways to preserve food so it does not go to waste.  

Preserve Food by Freezing

Freezing is one of my favorite options because it takes very little work for most items.  I highly recommend Freeze Fresh by Crystal Schmidt to add to your book collection.  It gives you all the instructions for freezing fruits and vegetables.  Even better, there are also complete recipes for entire meals that can be frozen. 

One of the easiest items for example is peppers. Chop them, spread them on a flat try, freeze them, and then you can bag them once fully frozen.  How simple is that?  Most frozen items will last 6 months to 1 year in the freezer.  

I do recommend getting a food sealing kit.  However, I love this option because it is one of the cheapest.  It only costs you bags to freeze in.  Anyone can preserve food this way.  You can literally start utilizing this method today.

Preserve Food by Dehydrating 

Dehydrating food is my second favorite method to preserve food.  While it is time consuming, this is another entry level method that is easy to learn.  It is also food you can take on the go. 

There are different dehydrators on the market and some are better than others. However, you can pick up a dehydrator that will do the job for under $60.00 on Amazon.  

I recommend you look for these basics:  

• Has at least 7 trays 
• BPA free
• Reaches at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.  

If you decide you like dehydrating or maybe you have a larger budget, getting a dehydrator that dries from the back is preferred.  This allows all trays to be equally addressed by the air being pushed out.  Whereas, stacking dehydrators push air only from the bottom.  As a result, they take more effort because you will have to cycle the top trays to the bottom halfway through. 

Start with something easy like strawberries.  You simply have to slice them thin, lay them on the tray, and stick them in the dehydrator.  They take roughly 6 to 8 hours.  Thus making them one of the faster items to dehydrate.  Other items take more prep time.  Apples for example should be dipped in lemon juice to prevent browning.  This is relatively simple, but it is an extra step.

I recommend checking out thepurposefulpantry.com and joining the FaceBook group.  Darcy is an amazing resource for all things dehydrating and her group is very helpful.

Did you know you can ferment your own food? 

If you love that tangy flavor and want good gut health, this is for you.  To get started, check out Fermented Vegetables by Kristen K. Shockey & Christopher Shockey.  They have 72 recipes in the book that cover vegetables, fruits, and herbs.  

Learn how to make your own pickles, sauerkraut, kimchi, etc.  The necessary tools can be found in your local Walmart.  Amazon also sells different fermentation kits based on your preferences.  While you can utilize mason jars, there are also fermentation crocks that may be of interest to you. 

Do you have a Root Cellar?  

If you have a true root cellar, this is another option that is simple.  Root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, beets, etc., can be stored for up to 6 months.   Squash can last 2 to 4 months.  Pumpkins may last 2 to 6 months.   

There are specific varieties that are meant for being stored in this manner.  Winter squash for example are intended to be stored and are more likely to last until that 4 month mark.  This information can commonly be found on your seed packets.  

Preserve Food by Freeze Drying

Freeze drying as a method of food preservation is a costly up front investment.  However, I think it is well worth it.  Did you know that freeze dried food has a shelf life of up to 25 years?  Or how about the fact that this is how MRE food packets are made?  

Next to dehydrating, this is the most ideal option for adventure types.  Take your food on the go without worrying about it going bad.  Make entire meals that only need water added to them.  This lightens your backpacking load. 

Worried about the future? Never worry about running out of meals.  This is food security right in your own pantry.  

Are you a busy parent who spends too much money on snacks?  Save money making them at home. Tailor snacks for your picky eaters.  Know exactly what you are feeding your family.  Stuff it in your purse and take it on the go for car trips.

Canning Food 

Canning takes more skill and effort, but I still think it is a method everyone should learn.  Imagine walking into your pantry and pulling out a jar of your very own spaghetti sauce.  Need peaches for that cobbler tonight?  You can canned those too. Envision knowing the contents of every jar in your pantry.  Think of the relief of knowing exactly what is in your food. 

Sharing/Donating

This last one isn’t really a method of food preservation but it counts in my book.  Maybe you don’t have the time or budget to learn one of the other options just yet.  Perhaps you still have too much food even after preserving it.  Sharing with friends, family, neighbors is a viable way to make sure nothing goes to waste.  You can also ask around at local churches or soup kitchens to see if they will take donations.  

Final Foodie Thoughts 

Use your food that you worked hard to grow in any method you can.  It doesn’t matter which method you pick.  That is a personal preference.  Every household will look different. Some will choose multiple preservation methods and some might choose just one.  Do whatever works for you.  

For anyone who has not started their own garden, you can still learn to preserve food too.  Those cucumbers you got from the grocery store, try fermenting them.  That corn that was on a great sale at your local farmers market, try freezing it.  Just because you don’t have a garden yet, doesn’t mean that you can’t start learning how to preserve food.