Food Preservation
While you can find many food preservation resources online, not all of them are research-tested and safe. Be sure to follow trusted resources from the University of Wisconsin, Division of Extension Food Preservation Resources or the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Pressure Canner Testing
The Extension Winnebago County office offers free testing of pressure canner lids! At this time, our office can only test gauges for Presto, National, Magic Seal, and Maid of Honor brand canners. Please contact our Health & Well-Being Educator, Katie Jaegly, at katie.jaegly@wisc.edu to schedule an appointment.
Using Pressure Canners
Nebraska Extension Pinterest Page: UNL Food Preservation
Due to the nature of our work, immediate or same-day responses may not always be available. We encourage you to plan ahead and reach out with questions before you begin your food preservation process, and we wish you a safe and enjoyable food preservation season!
Questions?
Get reliable answers from trusted Extension experts.
Wisconsin residents can call or email the Wisconsin AnswerLine to get answers to common questions about food safety, home food preservation, household management, and more. This service is part of a partnership between UW–Madison Extension and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The information provided is based on the latest research and is free to the public.
Extension Food Preservation Videos & Narrated PowerPoints
The So Easy to Preserve series provides videos and narrated PowerPoints that can help you learn how to safely preserve food or add interest to your teaching.
These videos are encoded in .mp4 format. Free, open-source software for playing .mp4 formatted videos is available at VLC Media Player. To view the video files using a Windows computer, download the files to your computer and then open with the VLC Media Player.
Mini Modules – Using narrated PowerPoint, the University of Minnesota has created 20, 5-minute online Food Preservation mini-modules. Topics include Pressure Canning 101, Boiling Water Canning Method, Jam and Jelly Basics, and more.
A quick overview of canning can be found in Home Canning Basics from Penn State University.
Canning
Acid Levels in Foods Affect Processing Method
Understanding Altitude Effects on Processing
The Importance of Head Space in Canning
Cooling Jars at End of Process
The Boiling Water Canning Process
The Pressure Canning Process
Hot Pack for Fruits
Hot Pack for Vegetables
Raw Pack for Vegetables
Ball Canning offers numerous recipes, guides, and resources through their Fresh Preserving website.
Freezing
Dehydrating
Extension Food Preservation Publications
The following publications are available for FREE download using the links below. Printed copies can be obtained for a fee by visiting the Extension Winnebago County office at 625 E. County Rd. Y, Suite 600, Oshkosh.
For a complete list of publications, view The Learning Store Food Preservation and Safety publications.
Canning Fruits Safely
Canning Vegetables Safely
Canning Meat, Wild Game, Poultry, & Fish Safely
Canning Salsa Safely
Homemade Pickles & Relishes
Freezing Fruits & Vegetables
Making Jams, Jellies, and Fruit Preserves
Preserving Tomatoes: Tart & Tasty!
Wisconsin Food Processing Guide
Home Food Preservation Fact Sheets
Food Safety
Clean: Wash your hands and surfaces often.
Separate: Don’t cross-contaminate.
Cook: Cook foods to the right temperature.
Chill: Refrigerate foods promptly.
Foodborne Illness & Recalls
A food recall occurs when a food producer takes a product off the market because there is reason to believe that it may cause consumers to become ill. Food recalls may happen for many reasons, including but not limited to:
- Discovery of organisms, including bacteria such as Salmonella or parasites such as Cyclospora.
- Discovery of foreign objects such as broken glass or metal.
- Discovery of a major allergen that does not appear on the product label.
Recalls are very specific, meaning all information must match for a product to be considered part of a recall. If a product doesn’t match all the information in the recall completely (brand, product name, use or freeze by date, EST number, etc.), then it is not considered part of the recall and is safe to use.
If the product details in the recall notice match the details on the food product you have at home, do not open or consume the product. Instead, do one of the following:
- Return the product to the place of purchase for a refund.
- Dispose of the product following the instructions provided in the recall notice to make sure no one will consume it.
- Recalls and Outbreaks
- Food Poisoning Symptoms
Holiday Food Safety
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day, or even the Super Bowl, holidays are a time for hosting lunches or dinners with your family and friends. Use these resources to ensure the food you serve is safe.
Holiday Food Safety
Game Day Food Safety Tips
Preparing Your Holiday Turkey Safely
Serving Up Safe Buffets
Food Safety Tips for Dining Out
Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency
A flood, fire, national disaster, or loss of power can jeopardize the safety of your food. Knowing how to determine if food is safe – and how to keep it that way – will help minimize the potential loss of food and reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
Keeping Food Safe After a Disaster or Emergency
Guidelines for Consuming Late Season Produce Exposed to Floodwater (English | Spanish | Hmong)
