Melissa Voss | Editor
With people staying at home because of COVID-19, an increase of at-home hobbies has helped to defeat boredom. Gardening has taken the national forefront as not only a boredom-buster, but a therapeutic hobby.
The rise in gardening is a response to the COVID-19 crisis in terms of food concerns as well. Gardening and harvesting one’s own produce reduces trips to the grocery store and promotes healthy eating.
But the concern about fresh produce is keeping it fresh or long-lasting. Even though all produce has a different shelf life when fresh, the average garden produce lasts only seven days. However, there are several ways to preserve your garden’s harvest to use for months to come:
Traditional canning
Canning garden-fresh produce is one of the most common forms of preservation. The canning process heats the food and vacuum-seals the container (typically a mason jar), preventing microorganisms that can cause food spoilage. Foods that work best for the canning process are citrus foods and tomatoes.
Keep your stock in your freezer
Freezing fresh, raw fruits and vegetables at their ripest will keep them ripe while in the freezer. With vegetables, flash blanching prevents discoloration and a change in texture when frozen. Using a vacuum-sealer prevents freezer burn and keeps your produce tasting moist and fresh.
No fridge or freezer space? Dry or dehydrate
Using a dehydrator can be ideal for storing fruits and can be a healthy alternative for snacking. One does not need a dehydrator in order to take advantage of dehydrated garden produce. If you are growing herbs and spices, cutting them at the base of the stem, tying string around the stem, and hanging them upside-down in the sun dries them out, making it ideal for long-term storage.
Pickling is not just for cucumbers
Similar to canning, a majority of things can be pickled. Ideally, it is mostly vegetables such as onions, asparagus, string beans, cabbage, and more. These pickled foods can be great as side dishes and condiments, and can last up anywhere from 5 months to a couple years unopened.