Storing and Preserving Garden Produce For Dummies®

How to enjoy your healthy harvest year–round – and cut your food bill The grow–your–own movement has taken Britain by storm, but growing your own produce is only half the story. You′ll also want to know how to store what you grow so you can enjoy it all year round. Storing & Preserving Garden Produce For Dummies fills you in on everything you need to know and walks you step by step through the best methods. Discover clamping, freezing, drying, salting, smoking, pickling, fermenting, jamming and more! Keep the fruits of your labours – get to grips with dozens of mouthwatering ways to preserve an array of tree fruits, berries and fruiting vegetables Veg out – discover easy storing and preserving techniques for a wide range of veggies and herbs, along with delicious recipes you can make with your homemade products Go wild – get expert guidance on finding, enjoying and storing an array of wild–growing delights, such as blackberries, dandelions, nuts, sorrels, nettles, mushrooms and lots more Open the book and find: How to choose the best fruits and vegetables for preserving Ways to identify suitable equipment you already own Tips on buying items you need Essential health and safety rules Step–by–step instructions for an array of preserving methods Methods for storing fruits and vegetables Recipes for relishes, chutneys, jellies, jams, marmalades and cordials Advice for when foraging in the wild for storable foods Go to Dummies.com for videos, step–by–step examples, how–to articles or to shop! Learn to: Get the best out of your home–grown produce Choose from a variety of storing and preserving methods Make your own delicious jams, chutneys and more Preserve and store your produce safely

Introduction 1 Part I: Understanding Preserving 7 Chapter 1: Experiencing the Good Life with Good Reasons 9 Chapter 2: Equipping Yourself and Your Kitchen 21 Chapter 3: Preserving Garden Produce Safely 33 Part II: Discovering Storing and Preserving Methods 51 Chapter 4: Boxing, Bagging and Clamping: Cool Storage Options 53 Chapter 5: Preserving With Sweetness: Jams, Jellies and Syrup 71 Chapter 6: Using Vinegar to Preserve Your Produce 87 Chapter 7: Freezing and Refrigerating Home Produce 103 Chapter 8: Drying, Salting and Vacuum–Packing Your Produce 117 Chapter 9: Drinking Up Time: Imbibing Your Own Liquid Refreshments 129 Part III: Working with Home–Grown Fruits 149 Chapter 10: Enjoying Outstanding Orchard Offerings 151 Chapter 11: Making the Most of Your Berry, Berry Good Soft–Fruit Harvest 177 Chapter 12: Storing and Enjoying Fruiting Vegetables 199 Part IV: Keeping and Eating Garden Vegetables 223 Chapter 13: Going Underground: Rootin’ Around with Root Vegetables 225 Chapter 14: Making Room for Legumes: The Bean Harvest 247 Chapter 15: Harvesting the Best of the Rest 259 Part V: Preserving and Using Herbs, Eggs and Wild Extras 281 Chapter 16: Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme: Enjoying Glorious Garden Herbs 283 Chapter 17: Enjoying Eggs All Year Round 305 Chapter 18: Going Wild in the Country 323 Part VI: The Part of Tens 345 Chapter 19: Ten Pointers for Perfect Preserving 347 Chapter 20: Ten Troubleshooting Tips 353 Chapter 21: Ten (or So) Ways to Take Storing and Preserving Further 359 Index 369

Pammy Riggs is a well–respected figure in the farming and food industry. She owns and runs the award–winning Providence Farm in Devon and has been a hands–on farmer and small–scale food producer for over 20 years. She has taught a variety of food–related courses around the UK, including the poultry–keeping course at River Cottage. She is the author of Keeping Chickens For Dummies and is a columnist for Country Smallholding magazine.