Produce & Pantry

Erythritol is a natural and low-glycemic sweetener. Studies show that it does not have the same effect as regular sugar on tooth enamel or blood sugar, and that it doesn't cause indigestion the...

Raw tomatoes can be frozen sliced, chopped, pureed, or whole, and peeled or unpeeled. You can also freeze them cooked. Frozen tomatoes do not remain solid when thawed; therefore are not suitable...

Boiled peanuts are a longtime Southern tradition prepared by simply boiling raw, shelled peanuts for hours in salty water. By the end of the process, the peanut shells are soggy and the peanuts...

Fish is a produce that needs to be frozen and unfrozen with care. Fish can easily go bad and can make you sick if you eat. But doing it the right way is really not that hard.

Peanuts are a tasty, nutritious snack---although they are high in fat, they're also packed with protein. "Raw" peanuts are defined as peanuts that have not been cooked or roasted; they differ from...

If hunting season has rewarded you with more venison than you can use right away, consider freezing it for future use. Ground venison will store well in the freezer for about five months, while...

You can enjoy the flavor and nutrients of fresh fruit long after they have gone out of season by properly storing the fruit in your freezer. Freezing and storing fruit at home is a simple process...

Freeze drying is a form of food preservation that removes all of the moisture from the food. Freeze drying food is a popular method because it doesn't have much of an fan effect on taste, and...

Ginger has been used in Asia and the Middle East since ancient times as a cooking spice and healing herb. If you are using fresh ginger for tea or in recipes, you may already know that a little...

Kidney beans are named for their kidney shape, and are often used in soup and chili for their hearty, meaty texture. Freezing kidney beans is an easy way to preserve cooked beans for long periods...

Bottled lemon juice is convenient, but it contains artificial flavoring and other chemicals. Also, it could expire before you are ready to use it. Keeping fresh lemons is not always feasible, and...

Growing your own tomatoes, or buying tomatoes in bulk, can save money and provide you with the freshest, best vegetables. However, having so many tomatoes lying around can cause a problem if you...

Beets are a type of root vegetable that grows in cool temperatures, especially the fall and spring. Although canned beets are available in grocery stores all year long, they don't have the same...

Apricots are small pale orange fruits with a slight outer covering of fuzz. If you have an excessive amount of apricots that you cannot eat before they spoil, you can preserve them for another...

Concord grapes are typically used to make commercial grape jelly, but they can also be eaten whole after their seeds have been removed. Although seedless grapes are easier to freeze because they...

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away"---remember that? There's a lot of truth in that simple phrase. According to the George Mateljan Foundation for the World's Healthiest Foods, apples are...

Fresh peppers are available in a variety of flavors ranging from bitter green bell peppers to sweet red peppers. Although you can eat them fresh or quickly cooked in oil, if you roast them over...

Canned pumpkin has a long shelf life already, so you probably don't need to freeze an entire can to extend its freshness. However, if your recipe uses a portion of the can and you want to save the...

Blueberries are an easy fruit to store in your freezer. Freeze them when they are ripe, and keep them in the freezer for several months, if necessary. Just make sure that before you store your...

Fava beans, also known as broad beans, are vividly green legumes with a nutty flavor and smooth, buttery texture. Although they gained notoriety in the 1991 hit "The Silence of the Lambs" as one...

All produce contain bacteria and enzymes. Over time, the bacteria and enzymes destroy flavor, change color and texture of food. Freezing vegetables (and other foods) can help slow the breakdown of...

Freeze dried foodstuffs have become so popular that you might have seen them at your grocery store. This type of food preservation is steadily gaining popularity because you do not have to add any...

Black walnuts gathered from the tree or from the ground under the tree must be hulled and cured to prevent spoilage during storage. Properly prepared, the nuts will remain fresh for almost two...

You have probably heard the horrors of leaving potato or egg salad out on the counter, and you undoubtedly know that you must store that Thanksgiving stuffing in the fridge. But, do you know the...

If you like fresh okra but have too many pods to use in one meal, you can use your Foodsaver to freeze them. A little preparation is all that is needed to ensure you retain your okra's color,...

Green snap beans are one of many bean varieties that are often frozen for use long after the gardening season has ended. Preparing green snap beans for the freezer takes a bit of time, but the end...

For generations, families with gardens and farms have been preserving food after harvest to last throughout the year. In fact, people have been preserving food in jars since the early 19th...

Asparagus is a vegetable that grows in thin stalks and is available in green, white or purple varieties. If you purchase fresh asparagus, it must be cooked and eaten within two days or it will...

We are all used to putting things in the freezer that are already frozen when you buy them, but what about items like chicken, fruit, fish, eggs or butter? If you know how to freeze food properly,...

Juice squeezed directly from a lemon is referred to as "fresh." as opposed to lemon juice that is processed and sold in bottles. Bottled lemon juice keeps much longer than fresh due to added...

Leeks resemble giant green onions, with green tops and white bottoms. Their mild onion-like flavor goes well in stews and other recipes, most notably potato soup. When purchasing leeks look for...

If you are looking to save money by growing and freezing your own vegetables, here are a few tips.

An easy method of cooking squash without the hassle of cutting through the thick rind of a raw squash.

Apple picking season is a delight. Fragrant wafts of Macintosh, Granny Smith, Delicious and Honey Crisp apples fill the air. It’s tempting to pick every last globe on the tree – but then you have...

Leeks are a close relative of the onions that resemble scallions except they are larger. When harvesting or selecting them from the produce section, choose leeks that are smaller than 2.5 inches...

Freeze drying is a method of preserving biological material ranging from flowers to whole animals. The most common use of this technique (called lyophilization) is to preserve food in a way that...

Blueberries are pack antioxidant. Freezing these berries is easy and locks in the fresh flavor from you farmers market or extra berries from your pick your own trip to the farm. Enjoy blueberry...

It's that time of year when the peppers in the garden are ready to pick. If you have a surplus the best way to keep them is to freeze and store for use during the cold winter months.

Nuts are an important staple in our diet. They provide protein, fiber, oils, vitamins and minerals. Without their shells they are unprotected and can quickly become rancid. This can happen more...

Choosing the right food packaging methods is critical if you plan to make the most of your freezer, pantry and cabinet space. Poorly packaged foods will not last as long or taste as good, and can...

Onions are a kitchen staple...they add flavor to almost any dish. But chopping an onion for every meal can take time. An easy way to always have onions ready for any meal is to freeze them....

I think we would all agree that eating fruit that is fresh and "in season" is a little piece of heaven! Blueberries, strawberries, peaches, and bananas all freeze really well,...

Blueberries certainly pack a powerful punch – not only are they delicious, but they have one of the highest levels of antioxidants and are incredibly versatile – add them to your yogurt or...

Banana peppers are easy to grow and even easier to freeze. By freezing your excess supply, you can enjoy homegrown peppers in the winter, and save money by not buying them out-of-season. Add...

I accidently mess up a recipe for canning tomatoe juice, but, guess what? The juice turned out great and I have crushed toms in the freezer to boot!

Everyone likes corn on the cob. The problem, though, is that when you harvest your corn you have an abundance, but the rest of the year you have none. This problem can be overcome by freezing...

We love our Rhode Island Red chickens. Reds are adequate meat chickens and they do well for laying eggs. Reds are have one of the best ratios for converting food to eggs. They are great foragers....

You have probably heard that cooking destroys some of the nutrients in foods. One of the best ways to preserve foods without destroying it's nutritional benefits is to freeze the food. You can...

Nothing tastes quite like the fresh taste of corn-on-the-cob in the summer. Here's how to have that scrumptious corn from the cob flavor all year long, and save money too!

It seems like when you were younger your mothers and grandmothers could whip up a big meal with nothing. You could look in the pantry and not find anything to eat. Then suddenly, a delicious meal...