Home food preservation is a great way to preserve your garden produce. People are returning to home canning after years away or even starting to preserve food for the first time. However, it can be risky or even deadly if not done safely and correctly. Safe food handling and storage is essential to food safety and quality.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five households preserve their own food and 65% of those households can vegetables. With an increased interest in home gardening and food preservation, the concern for safe canning information has increased. The Family and Consumer Science Agent taught both water bath and pressure canning programs in Trimble and Oldham Counties. The workshop focused on the food preservation techniques of pressure and water bath canning, including the tools and an overview of the equipment, safe operation of the pressure and water bath canner, identifying appropriate "head space", safe food handling procedures, identifying safe research-based methods and recipes, and identifying the difference between low and high acid foods.

Follow up surveys indicated that participants became aware of the relevance of following USDA guidelines and the importance of research-based recipes for canning; the basics of home canning and the importance of following directions; the significance of using a pressure canner for low acid foods; and recognizing the signs of food spoilage. 

Participants completing the pre and post test indicated:  92% strongly agreed/agreed that they could identify research-based methods of home food preservation, had better skills in home preservation methods, understood the difference between low acid and high acid foods and could identify the correct methods for canning those foods, identify the necessary equipment for home food preservation methods, and could identify spoilage in home preserved products upon completion of the program.

Comments from participants:

"I never knew the canner had to vent."

“I didn’t realize there was a “need” to process foods.”

“I now understand the importance of not using commercial jars for canning.”

As gardens have increased in popularity, so has food preservation and safety is vital as people want to know where their food comes from, who has handled it, and how it was processed.  Gaining skills and knowledge will lead to more confidence of home food preservation.