Preserving Vegetables by Karen P
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PRESERVING This publication includes freezing and canning content, and texture. When enzymes are inactivated procedures for vegetables popular in Kansas. Related by heat, the storage life is nine to twelve months. publications are referenced in the text. To blanch in boiling water: Use 1 gallon of water for Freezing each pound of vegetable except for leafy greens which need 2 gallons per pound. Speed in getting vegetables from the garden to the freezer is a must for top-quality frozen vegetables. • Bring the water to a rolling boil. During hot weather, harvest vegetables in the early • Immerse the wire basket, blanching basket or morning before they absorb much heat. Select mesh bag containing the vegetables. vegetables at optimum maturity, when they reach their • Cover the kettle and boil at top heat the required best flavor and texture. length of time. Begin counting the time as soon as the water returns to a boil. You may use the Process and freeze all garden products with as little same blanching water two or three times. Keep delay as possible. it at the required level. Change the water if it If you must store vegetables for a short time after becomes cloudy. harvesting, spread them out loosely in a cool • Cool immediately in pans of ice water for the well-ventilated place or pack them loosely in the same time used for blanching. Keep the chilling refrigerator. Prompt cooling in ice water followed by water ice cold. refrigerator storage helps retain flavor, quality, and • Drain the vegetables thoroughly. Extra water will vitamin C in many freshly picked vegetables such form too many ice crystals. as asparagus and unshelled peas. For longer storage • Pack using the dry- or tray-pack method. periods, pack in crushed ice. To blanch in steam: Use a pot with a tight lid and a Never store vegetables after shelling or cutting. basket that holds the food at least three inches above Souring may result from the delay between the bottom of the pot. Fill pot with an inch or two of preparation and freezing, improper cooling after water and bring to a boil. blanching or stacking the packages too close when Put vegetables in basket in a single layer for even freezing. steaming. Cover with lid and keep heat high. Start Blanching is necessary counting time as soon as the lid is on. To prevent a loss of quality and to preserve the This works best for broccoli, pumpkin, sweet potatoes vitamin content of vegetables for freezing, blanch and winter squash. them in boiling water or steam. Nutritive values are Microwave blanching: This is not recommended due best retained when: to uneven heating. This may cause some enzymes • Water is brought to a boil quickly. to remain active. This method does not save time or • The blanching period is as short as possible. energy. • The vegetable is chilled quickly and removed from Methods of packing vegetables cold water promptly. The blanching process is necessary to inactivate There are two basic methods for packing vegetables enzymes. If these enzymes are left in their active for freezing, the tray-pack and the dry-pack methods. state, the frozen vegetable loses quality after one to Dry pack: Blanch, cool, and drain vegetables. Pack two months or less. “Off ” flavors develop and the tightly into containers or freezer bags to reduce the vegetable tends to lose its garden-fresh color, vitamin amount of air in the container. Press freezer bags to Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service squeeze air out of the unfilled part of the bag. When Weighted-gauge models exhaust tiny amounts of air packing broccoli, alternate the heads and stems. and steam each time the gauge rocks or jiggles during Tray pack: Freeze individual pieces of blanched and processing. They control pressure precisely and need drained vegetables on a tray or shallow pan, then pack neither watching during processing nor checking the frozen pieces into a freezer bag or container. This for accuracy. The sound of the weight rocking or method produces a product similar to commercially jiggling indicates that the canner is maintaining the frozen plastic bags of individual vegetable pieces and recommended pressure and needs no further attention is particularly good for peas, corn, and beans. until the load has been processed for the set time. Pack the frozen pieces into a bag or container as soon The single disadvantage of weighted-gauge canners is as they are frozen. that they cannot correct precisely for higher altitudes. At altitudes above 1,000 feet, they must be operated Canning at canner pressures of 10 instead of 5, or 15 instead of Low-acid foods such as vegetables require pressure- 10 pounds of pressure. Check dial gauges for accuracy canner processing. Pressure does not destroy before use each year and replace if they read high by microorganisms, but high temperatures applied for more than 1 pound at 5, 10 or 15 pounds of pressure. a certain period of time do kill microorganisms. The Low readings cause overprocessing and may indicate success of destroying all microorganisms capable of that the accuracy of the gauge is unpredictable. growing in canned food is based on the temperature Gauges may be checked at most local K-State obtained in pure steam, free of air, at sea level. At Research and Extension offices. sea level, a canner operated at a gauge pressure of Handle canner lid gaskets carefully and clean them 10.5 pounds provides an internal temperature of according to the manufacturer’s directions. Nicked 240°F. or dried gaskets will allow steam leaks during Processing instructions pressurization of the canners. Keep the gaskets clean Two serious errors in the temperatures obtained in between uses. Gaskets on older canner models may pressure canners occur because: need to be lightly coated with vegetable oil once a year. Those on newer models are prelubricated and 1. Internal canner temperatures are lower at higher do not benefit from oiling. Check your canner’s altitudes. To correct this error, canners must be instructions if there is doubt that the particular gasket operated at the increased pressures specified in this you use has been prelubricated. publication for appropriate altitude ranges. Lid safety fuses are thin metal inserts or rubber plugs 2. Air trapped in a canner lowers the temperature designed to relieve excessive pressure from the canner. obtained at 5, 10 or 15 pounds of pressure and Do not pick at or scratch the fuses while cleaning the results in underprocessing. The highest volume lids. Use only canners that have the Underwriter’s of air trapped in a canner occurs in processing Laboratory (UL) approval to ensure their safety. raw-packed foods in dial-gauge canners. These canners do not vent air during processing. To be Replacement gauges and other parts for canners are safe, all types of pressure canners must be vented often available at stores offering canning equipment 10 minutes before they are pressurized. or from canner manufacturers. When ordering parts, give your canner model number and describe the parts To vent a canner, leave the vent port uncovered on needed. newer models or manually open the petcocks on some Using pressure canners older models. Heating the filled canner with its lid locked into place boils the water and generates steam Follow these steps for successful pressure canning: that escapes through the petcock or vent port. When 1. Put 2 to 3 inches of hot water in the canner. Place steam first escapes, set the timer for 10 minutes. After filled jars on the rack, using a jar lifter. Fasten the venting for 10 minutes, close the petcock or place the canner lid securely. counterweight or weighted gauge over the vent port 2. Leave the weight off the vent port or open the to pressurize the canner. petcock. Heat at the highest setting until the steam flows from the petcock or vent port. 3. Maintain a high heat setting, exhaust the steam for The food level and liquid volume of raw-packed jars 10 minutes, and then place the weight on the vent will be noticeably lower after cooling. Air is exhausted port or close the petcock. The canner will pressurize during processing; do not open the jar to add more during the next 3 to 5 minutes. liquid. Check for sealed lids as described below. 4. Start timing the process when the pressure reading Testing jar seals on the dial gauge indicates that the recommended After cooling the jars for 12 to 24 hours, remove the pressure has been reached or when the weighted screw bands and test seals with one of the following gauge begins to jiggle or rock. options: 5. Regulate the heat under the canner to maintain Option 1: Press the middle of the lid with a finger or a steady pressure at or slightly above the correct thumb. If the lid springs up when you release your gauge pressure. Quick and large pressure variations finger, the lid is unsealed. during processing may cause unnecessary liquid losses from the jars. Weighted gauges on Mirro Option 2: Tap the lid with the bottom of a teaspoon. If canners should jiggle about 2 or 3 times per it makes a dull sound, the lid is not sealed. If the food minute. On Presto canners, they should rock slowly is in contact with the underside of the lid, it will also throughout the process. cause a dull sound. If the jar lid is sealed correctly, it will make a ringing, high-pitched sound. 6. When the timed process is completed, turn off the heat, remove the canner from heat if possible, and Option 3: Hold the jar at eye level and look across the let the canner depressurize.