Preserving Fresh Produce

A guide to preserving fresh fruit and vegetables

Recipes4us is committed to encouraging people to eat locally grown seasonal produce but certain  bumper harvesting months sometimes makes it  difficult to eat everything that's on offer.

Many of us can get our hands on fresh fruit and vegetables which are out of season locally, but how fresh are they? Often imported products lack flavour and their full compliment of nutrients due to the fact that they are picked young so they can be shipped without fear of spoiling before they get to us.

So, it can be realistically argued that eating produce which has been properly preserved when it was at its best is not only nutritionally as good (if not better) than eating out of season produce, but also environmentally more friendly. Yes,  there's that clodhopper of a carbon footprint again.

Whether you are growing/picking your own or just taking advantage of lower the prices of locally grown seasonal vegetables, if you are getting them in their prime then it's just as well to preserve any excess.

For most of us, the easiest method is freezing but there are other ways too. The following pages outline the various methods and contain detailed information on how to preserve your fresh produce by your chosen method.

Freezing

Bottling

(Jams, Pickles, Chutneys)

Drying