The harvest has been a good one and you now have vegetables in abundance and you certainly don't want to waste all that time and effort by letting the stuff go bad on you. There are many methods for preserving vegetables after harvesting them and the method you choose will depend on the type of vegetable to be preserved and your skills in the kitchen. In this way you can give your family healthy, nutritious meals for a good long while to come.
Freezing: is an easy and convenient method of preserving vegetables and it has the added advantage of being the least time consuming of all the methods. It is recommended that you set your freezer at 0 degrees to freeze vegetables. Foods spoil because of microorganisms and enzymes that are present. These enzymes cause the deterioration of food since they promote chemical reactions which include ripening. Freezing helps to stop the enzymes from acting.
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In order to freeze vegetables properly you need to blanch them immediately after they are harvested. This is one of the best ways to retain nutrients, color, flavor and texture of the vegetables, which can last up to 12 weeks in the freezer. When you blanch the vegetables it prevents the enzymes from continuing to act on them, causing them to lose color and flavor. After blanching, place the vegetables on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze as quickly as possible - you can try minus 20 degrees. After the vegetables have frozen you can pack them into freezer bags for storing in the freezer. Some vegetables like beetroots need to be fully cooked before freezing and some can be frozen raw.
Canning: is an excellent way to preserve vegetables such as tomatoes, mushrooms and beans that have a high water content. Vegetables that are healthy and disease free should be chosen. Wash them well and then process them in boiling water or a pressure canner. Make sure to use sterilized jars with seal lids that are new. Be very careful not to under process the vegetables especially green beans when using boiling water; the threat of botulism poisoning is very real!
Drying: is also a rather easy process and you don't need any special equipment to get the job done. You can use a dehydrator and if you haven't got one, then use the oven. Choose vegetables that have fully matured, not bruised and diseased ones. There should be good air circulation all through the drying process to prevent the vegetables from spoiling. This process is a long drawn out one so make sure you have lots of time on hand and stock up on patience as well.
Storing: this is by far the easiest method of preserving your harvested vegetables. Root vegetables like onions and squash will last the longest when stored after they have been cured. Fully mature, healthy vegetables should be chosen for storage. Use up any bruised and immature ones at the earliest. You need to clean off the soil and allow the vegetables to dry well before you store them. Don't forget to keep a small stem on your root crops.
Black Friday Mirro 22-Quart Polished Aluminum Pressure Cooker/Canner 2011 Deals
Nov 24, 2011 02:49:19
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Black Friday Mirro 22-Quart Polished Aluminum Pressure Cooker/Canner Feature
- 22-quart pressure cooker/canner constructed from rustproof heavy-gauge aluminum; holds 16 pint jars or 5 quart jars
- Maintains steady pressure with 3 cooking-pressure options--5, 10, and 15 PSI
- Reusable overpressure plug, sure-locking lid system, and side gasket pressure release
- Cooking/canning rack and user guide with recipes included
- Hand washing recommended; 10-year limited warranty
Black Friday Mirro 22-Quart Polished Aluminum Pressure Cooker/Canner Overview
Mirro 22-quart pressure cooker quickly and healthfully cooks foods with trapped steam at temperatures higher than boiling. It's the ideal size for families. Pressure cooking requires little water so nutrients, flavor, and color are not boiled away. Made of rust-proof, heavy-gauge aluminum, the cooker has a stay-cool, locking handle. Mirro pressure cookers are designed with safety in mind. This one features the "Triple Safe Design" with a safety release plug, sure-locking lid system, and side gasket pressure release.SAVE NOW on Black Friday offers below!
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