Whether you’re looking for a way to use up a load of green beans or try your hand at canning jam, there’s something for you in this list of preserving recipes, tips, and the best resources.
It’s no secret I love “putting up” the food from our garden that we harvest since I’ve written about canning, freezing, and drying produce since the beginning of AOC in 2009. But what you might not know is this:
I didn’t grow up learning about canning and preserving, and didn’t really know many people who did.
It was only when I started growing our own food that I wanted to fine ways to preserve with this garden goodness – no way was I going to let it go to waste! I started to check out books from the library to learn what I could about preserving food, but I still remember being so scared the first time I canned food! (Which was jam, the best thing to start with, by the way.) You know what?
It was easy, safe, and produced a great “I made this” feeling that turned out to be kind of addicting.
It was so empowering to make my own foods that passing on what I’ve learned and helping you to preserve your own food is one of the main reasons I started this blog (along with Pantry Basic recipes which we’re also so empowering and enlightening to me – you CAN make mayo and ketchup at home!).
So preserving recipes are a cornerstone of AOC and my goal is for you to be inspired and armed with both knowledge and tried-and-true recipes that are safe and easy to do.
Consider this page as all-in-one resource for everything preserving: recipes, tips, and needed supplies. This will be continually updated, so pin this for future reference when when you’re surrounded by baskets of tomatoes, berries, or whatever produce you love. (You can hop over to the preserving recipe visual index, too, if you’d like to see pictures of the recipes.)
Preserving Recipes
Freezing
Vegetables:
- How to Freeze Green Beans Without Blanching
- How to Freeze Green Beans Without Blanching – The Video
- How to Freeze Snap Peas Without Blanching
- How to Freeze Peppers {Sweet, Hot & In Between}
- How to Roast & Freeze Beets
- How To Freeze Corn Three Ways: Blanched, Unblanched and Whole
- Garden Harvest Roasted Tomato Sauce (our absolute favorite sauce and super easy, too!)
- Lemon-Garlic Roasted Vegetables to Freeze
- Easy Freezer Plain Roasted Tomato Sauce
- Balsamic Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce
- 6 Ways to Freeze Basil
- 22+ Ways to Preserve Basil {& Pesto Isn’t One of Them} (includes more than just freezing)
- Frugal Homemade Basil Pesto (with ‘secret’ ingredient) to freeze
Fruits:
- How to Freeze Strawberries for Smoothies
- Basic Freezer Jam
- Chia Seed No Cook Blackberry Freezer Jam Recipe
Drying
- How to Dry Tomatoes and Store them In Olive Oil
- Dry & Store Tomatoes in Olive Oil – The Video
- How to Dry Plums {Not Your Mother’s Prunes}
Refrigeration
Canning
Vegetables:
- Pickled Asparagus
- Mustard-Garlic Pickled Green Beans
- Original Addictive Tomato Chutney
- Less Sugar Addictive Tomato Chutney (this is how we make this must-have condiment now)
- Favorite Salsa Canning Tutorial | Updated Tip For Easier Salsa Method
- Canned Tomato Bruschetta Topping
- Tomatoes & Chilies {a Rotel copycat recipe}
- Pizza Sauce {using fresh or frozen tomatoes}
- Roasted Red Peppers in Wine
- Sweet and Spicy Canned Onion Marmalade
- Honey Sweetened Jalapeño Jelly {Jam} for Canning
- Easy Chipotle Canned BBQ Sauce
- Roasted Tomatillo or Green Tomato Salsa (to can or freeze)
- Canned Roasted Tomato Sauce (water-bath safe)
Fruit:
- Spicy Plum Sauce {lower sugar}
- Canned Plum Sauce {full sugar}
- Honey-Lemon Rhubarb Butter
- Spicy Rhubarb Chutney
- Sour Apple Canning Recipes
- Low Sugar Berry Syrup & Topping
- Black Currant Juice for Italian Sodas
- Slow Cooker Maple-Sweetened Apple Butter
- Small Batch Honey Rhubarb Ginger Jam
My Favorite Canning Supplies & Resources
CLICK HERE to see my favorite canning supplies & resources – both what you need and some that just make preserving easier.
General Preserving Tips
- How to Peel Tomatoes the Easy Way
- Ripening Tomatoes at the End of the Season
- Electric Sauce Maker Video Review (revolutionary!)
Ultimate Vegetable & Fruit Guides (how-tos + lots of recipes in each!)
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