Oregon State’s Food Preservation Hotline Returns For Another Year

Oregon State University’s Food Preservation Hotline is back for the canning season.  Food preservation has been around for years, but research has found ways to do it safely.  Jared Hibbard-Swanson, with the OSU Extension, said the Food Preservation Hotline is there to help.

"There's some risk that always comes with preserving food whether it's canning, drying, dehydrating or freezing," he noted.  "We want to make sure people know some good techniques and they have access to reliable recipes, so they can keep good quality, good taste and also keep everybody safe who's enjoying that food."

There Is A Right Way To Can, And Many Wrong Ways To Can

The hotline is staffed by Master Food Preservers, trained in food safety.  Hibbard-Swanson said they know what works, and what does not.

"There's a science behind it where we use tested recipes to guarantee that we're using the right controls, the right ways to prevent bacteria, or yeast or mold from growing on our foods."

He added they can help with canning, drying and freezing foods.  The OSU Food Preservation Hotline, (800) 354-7319, is staffed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Monday through Friday.  Click Here to learn more about OSU's Food Preservation effort.

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