The most popular time to look for food preservation ideas is during the height of the garden season.
However, just because it’s not the main garden season doesn’t mean you can’t preserve food.
In fact the off-season is an ideal time to prepare items such as breads, pastas, desserts and use up those little bits of fruits, meats and vegetables in your freezer (affiliate link).
This is done by dehydrating, turning that excess food into soups, stews or adding it to recipes that you can eat right away or preserve for later use.
Advantages Of Food Preservation During The Off Season
I like off-season food preservation because I don’t feel as rushed.
I can enjoy the process, take in the smells and be a bit more creative.
The key to making the most of this process is to properly dehydrate or freeze the foods during the height of the garden season.
This gives you a quality product to start with.
Food Preservation Ideas For Pasta
This past week I made up several types of pasta, dried it and froze it.
Fresh pasta must be dried before you freeze it – and this can be done with a dehydrator or by laying it out to dry.
Be sure to turn it over at least once during the drying time.
Once it is dry, gently put it in freezer bags (affiliate link) or better yet, freezer (affiliate link) containers so it doesn’t get crushed.
Homemade pasta preserved in the freezer (affiliate link) is good for six months, but unless you make a lot it won’t last that long.
Other Food Preservation Ideas
Other foods I process during the off-season is sweet and savory cooking cubes.
Fresh herbs and fruit mixed in butter then frozen are favorites at my house.
I also chop up fresh herbs and top off my trays with olive oil or water (affiliate link) then freeze them.
I add these cubes to many recipes throughout the year.
When I make bone broth or meat the the grease drips off of I freeze the grease to use as cooking oil.
I also freeze leftover heavy whipping cream so I always have cream cubes on hand for gravies, mashed potatoes, etc.
This would work for milk and many other liquid items as well.
Don’t Forget To Stock Up On Baked Goods
I challenge you to look in your freezer (affiliate link) and pantry to see what items you have that need used up and come up with some creative food preservation ideas.
Be sure to take inventory while you are at it so you know if you need breads or desserts.
Now is a great time to prepare or bake and preserve those as well.
Canning Food At Home
The Ultimate List Of Home Canning Recipes
This ultimate list of home canning recipes are all tested and proven to work. Learn how to preserve the fruits and vegetables you grow in your garden!
How To Can Broccoli
Looking for a recipe for canning broccoli? Here is one for pressure canning broccoli that is simple even for those just learning how to can.
Homemade Beef Stew Recipe For Canning
When it comes to having quick home cooked meals that just need reheated, this beef stew recipe for canning can't be beat!
Red Hot Apple Wedges Canning Recipe
Preserving your own food means trying new recipes, such as this red hot apple wedges canning recipe. While it is true, it is a good idea to stick to recipes you know you and your family will eat, it never hurts to branch out a bit.
Cinnamon Chocolate Mint Fruit Cocktail Recipe
This Cinnamon Chocolate Mint Fruit Cocktail recipe is ideal to use up some of your extra summer fruit or to combine some of the fruit you have already preserved to come up with something a little different.
How To Make Homemade Maraschino Cherries
Learn how easy it is to make and can your own homemade maraschino cherries. Not only do these taste great, but they are easy to preserve too!
Five Spice Cherry Canning Recipe
This five spice cherry canning recipe is a unique take on typical recipes for canning cherries. I love the way the spices complimented the tart cherries!
How To Easily Start Canning Blueberries
Learn how to easily start canning blueberries in your own kitchen. Home canning is a great way to preserve fresh foods that you or someone you know grew.
How To Make Raspberry Vinegar
A great way to preserve raspberries is to make raspberry vinegar. Its delicious on pork chops! Best of all you can preserve it for winter use by canning it.
Orange-Cranberry Vinegar And Marinade Recipe
This orange-cranberry vinegar and marinade recipe is easy to make, easy to can and tastes great!
How To Make Homemade Ketchup
Learn how to make homemade ketchup right in your own kitchen using tomatoes you grew in your garden. This recipe works with fresh or frozen tomatoes!
Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe
This homemade bbq sauce recipe uses fresh tomatoes and is perfect for canning. Use it as it is or as a base sauce to create different types of BBQ sauces.
How To Make Cajeta Goat Milk Caramel
Learn how easy it is to make cajeta goat milk caramel from fresh goat milk. Plus learn how to preserve it for winter use by canning it.
How To Make Homemade Honey
Learn how to make homemade honey right in your own kitchen using a mixture of water, sugar, red clover, white clover and fireweed!
How To Make Rose Petal Jelly
Learn how to make rose petal jelly using fresh rose petals from your favorite organically grown roses. Try different roses for unique flavored jelly.
Try These Off Season Food Preservation Ideas
These off season food preservation ideas are perfect for the off season. There are lots of items you can fill your freezer with or even can year-round.
Importance Of Food Preservation Inventory
Do you understand the importance of food preservation inventory? From spices to food stored in the freezer and pantry, this list can help you save money.
Four Factors That Affect Food Storage
Understanding the four factors that affect food storage is essential for keeping your food safe, especially if you intend to store it long term.
Canning Food: Is It Worth The Time And Effort?
Learn if canning food at home is really worth the time and effort involved as well as about some of the supplies you need to get started.
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