Can It!

The MSU Teton County Extension Office will be offering food preservation education in September.  Jane Wolery will explain the science of home food preservation, including the latest research and USDA recommended canning methods in a two-hour, lecture-style class.  The class will also include the opportunity to taste a variety of home canning.  Class will be held Thursday, September 29 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the Choteau United Methodist Church.  Registration is required and may be limited.  To register, contact MSU Teton County Extension Office at 466-2491 or tetonext@3rivers.net. The lecture class will be appropriate both for people who are new to home canning and those who have ample experience. 

For those individuals who want to build their confidence with hot water bath or pressure canning (particularly those new to canning), Wolery will be providing supervised kitchen lab time by appointment during the week of September 26-39.  During this practical application for canning, students will provide their own equipment, jars and food while Wolery guides them through the process of canning a USDA approved recipe of the student’s choosing.  The practical application class will be held at the Choteau United Methodist Church kitchen.  Those using dial gauge pressure canners will be required to have the gauge tested for accuracy prior to the lab experience.  Testing is offered free of charge, by appointment through the MSU Teton County Extension Office.

Wolery encourages all home canners to use proper food preservation methods and to follow the latest recommended guidelines.  Some suggested resources include the So Easy to Preserve 5^th Edition Cookbook and videos (available in all Teton County Libraries), the 2009 USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning (available on the web) and the MSU Extension Montguides available at your local extension office or at www.msuextension.org.