Spring is just around the corner, and before long, summer gardens will be overflowing with fresh fruits and vegetables. With a bit of planning, you can enjoy those garden-fresh flavors long after the growing season ends.
Home food preservation remains a popular way to reduce food waste, stretch your grocery budget, and make the most of seasonal produce. A great way to preserve your produce is to freeze it. Freezing is one of the simplest and most time-efficient methods of preserving food. When done correctly, it helps maintain a food’s natural color, fresh flavor, and nutritional value better than many other preservation methods.
However, if you have ever frozen berries or tender fruits and vegetables only to be disappointed by changes in texture or flavor, you are not alone. Freezing slows enzyme activity in fruits and vegetables, but it does not entirely stop it. If these enzymes are not adequately inactivated before freezing, they can cause undesirable changes in flavor, color, and texture over time.
Therefore, learning the proper techniques to ensure high-quality results and safe food storage is a must. Successful freezing requires more than just placing food in the freezer. Understanding the science behind freezing can make the difference between an average product and one that tastes garden-fresh months later.
Join us for Yes, You Can: Freezing Your Summer Harvest to learn research-based methods for freezing fruits and vegetables successfully. You’ll gain practical tips and the confidence to preserve your summer harvest with excellent results. Class will be held on Thursday, April 16, from 6-8 PM at the Jo Daviess Extension office, located at 204 N. Vine Street, Elizabeth, IL.
To register for Yes, You Can: Freezing Your Summer Harvest, call the Extension office at (815) 858-2273 or visit us online at go.illinois.edu/jsw. There is a $5.00 fee for this program, which includes all educational materials. Pre-registration is requested. We hope to see you there!
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in this program, please call (815) 858-2273.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.