Food Safety & COVID-19: Do We Need to Worry About Food Packaging?

Stories in the news have prompted consumers to ask questions about the survival of the coronavirus on food packaging surfaces.  Laboratory studies have shown that the virus that causes COVID-19 can survive on surfaces for up to several days and China recently banned food imports from several counties after finding viral RNA on food packaging. Is this cause for concern? […]

Read More...

Canning Update: Successful Jar Sealing

Successful jar sealing often begins, and ends, with the lids.  Home canning requires use of a 2-piece sealing system, a flat metal lid and a metal band.  Several years ago, manufacturers such as Ball changed the design of the lids to increase rust resistance and seal-ability and most lids no longer need to be preheated.  Boiling […]

Read More...

Safe Substitutions when Canning

The safety of the food that you preserve for your family and friends is important to you.  The University of Wisconsin Division of Extension supports using up-to-date, research-tested recipes so that you know that the food that you preserve is both safe and high in quality.  Here are a few quick tips on changes and […]

Read More...

At the End of Canning, Why Wait 5-10 Minutes?

Many current home canning recommendations suggest a 5 to 10 minute wait at the end of the canning process prior to removing jars from the canner.  Why is this wait time now included in some canning recipes and it is necessary for safety?  Some home canning recipes, such as the Ball (Fresh Preserving) recipe for Classic Strawberry Jam, include as […]

Read More...

A Fresh Look at Steam Canning

It’s jam and jelly season!  Let’s review the use of an atmospheric steam canner for canning acid foods.  The University of Wisconsin-Madison conducted research showing that an atmospheric steam canner may be used to safely can naturally acid foods such as peaches, pears, and apples, or acidified-foods such as salsa or pickles.  The atmospheric steam […]

Read More...

What’s Up with Condiments?

Whether it’s ketchup and mustard on a burger or mayonnaise used in a favorite potato salad, do condiments need to be stored in the refrigerator?  Looking at the container for your favorite sauce or condiment, you will almost always find the words Refrigerate after Opening.  My own home refrigerator has over a dozen such bottles: barbecue sauces, salad dressings, mayonnaise, mustard, […]

Read More...

Cooking Chicken this Summer: Do it Safely!

Many American households fire up the grill as summertime arrives.  Whether cooking chicken on the grill or stove, a new study revealed that it’s important to do so safely.  A study published in April 2020 by European scientists in the journal PLOS One suggests that consumers routinely fail to accurately judge doneness of chicken.  Cooking […]

Read More...