Food Preservation Series in Kane County
Build confidence in the kitchen with our Food Preservation Series!
Preserving food at home allows us to enjoy homegrown, locally purchased, or seasonal foods throughout the year. Safe food preservation methods stop or slow the natural spoilage process to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria while preserving the nutritional value, taste, color, and texture of some of our favorite foods. These processes can help make the most of a bountiful harvest, provide individuals and families with access to seasonal food in off-seasons, support local producers, and prevent excess food from going to landfills.
Learn safe, effective methods to preserve fruits and vegetables:
- Dill Pickles: Wednesday, July 22 from 4-6 p.m.
- Salsa: Wednesday, August 26 from 4-6 p.m.
- Apples: Wednesday, September 23 from 4-6 p.m.
Cost per person: $50 per session or $125 for the three-part series.
- This includes some fresh produce to take home to help participants get started with their own food preservation journey. If signing up for the three-part series, an additional take-away will be provided.
- Taste testing of products will be available during sessions. A signed waiver will be required to do this.
Where: Kane County Extension office, 535 S. Randall Road, St. Charles
Registration required and space is limited!
Special note: Food preservation is not a new concept. Some families have recipes and processes that have been passed down for generations. However, home food preservation involves a significant amount of science and chemistry to ensure the product is safe to eat. Even small variations in a recipe's measurements or processing times can impact quality and lead to an unsafe product. Always use a scientifically tested recipe and follow its processing directions exactly. Tested recipes have been extensively researched to ensure that their density, viscosity, pH, processing times, and methods destroy harmful microorganisms to result in a consistent, safe product.
Questions: Contact Extension Educator Christine Birns at cbirns@illinois.edu or 630-584-6166
- If you register and are unable to attend, please contact us and let us know ahead of time. Refunds only will be issued if the event is cancelled. Please note that we are unable to provide refunds for attendee cancellations.
- If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please notify at registration or call or email the program contact. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs.
TO REGISTER: Continue as a guest by completing the form below, or log in with your Extension account (if you have one).