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It can be so disheartening to throw away food or to watch it rot. This morning I was so sad when I saw that one of my baby heirlooms had grown some mold on it. It's just a bit humid inside the house and sometimes my beautiful local goodness goes to waste. But a few innovative preservation techniques can do a world of good in your fight to keep uneaten foods from going to waste.
In the home, Americans waste 14 percent of their food purchases, including leftovers and stale dated products. It is estimated that the average family of four tosses out close to $600 per year in fruit, meat, vegetables, and other unidentifiable substances at the bottom of the crisper drawer.
Top Ways to Preserve Food
Drying
Drying is likely the easiest way to preserve food. When you see that something is about to go to waste toss it in the dehydrator. For every nine pounds of fresh produce there you'll get about one pound of dried produce. The amount of enzymes lost in cooking the foods far exceeds that of drying it. This means more nutrient dense foods.
Freezing
This way if you have tons of extra fruits and vegetables for jams, jellies, fruit pies, and smoothies you can save them. Simply lay them out on cookies sheets and place them in the freezer. Once frozen, place them in an airtight container for later use.
Vacuum Packing
For this you'll need a kitchen vacuum packer device but these gadgets are often well worth the investment. The device sucks oxygen out of your produce storage canisters. The oxygen is what causes your produce to turn brown and without it your food will stay fresh five times longer.
Bottling/Canning Produce
Planet Green Writer Kelly Rossiter writes a weekly column with different recipes for bottling and canning seasonal produce. Read Kelly's column.
Via: Mary Janes Farm
More on Green Eating:
How to Go Green: Eating
What is American Food? A Green Eating Manifesto
How to Eat Green
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