Registration open for online food preservation course
For those interested in learning how to safely preserve food at home, a University of Wyoming Extension educator will help teach an online course in collaboration with the University of Idaho Extension.
The six-week course, titled “Preserve@Home,” is organized by Idaho extension educators. It is offered annually.
This year, the course runs from January 16 through February 27, 2025. Real-time discussions occur every Thursday at 1 p.m. Mountain time.
Food preservation can help consumers reduce food waste, create high-quality food products and gain more control over food additives, such as salt or sugar.
The Preserve@Home course presents one lesson each week. Topics are foodborne illnesses; spoilage and canning basics; canning acidic food using a boiling water bath; canning low-acid foods with a pressure canner; canning specialty foods, such as jellies, salsas or fermented foods; and drying and freezing foods.
The course teaches current research-based food safety practices that may be relevant to participants of all experience levels.
“Not all of the practices on the internet are safe for consumers,” said Vicki Hayman, a course instructor and UW Extension community vitality and health educator. “We’re teaching current USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) guidelines — properly preserving food, whether it’s canning, freezing or drying.”
Preserve@Home is a non-credit course and cannot be taken for college credit, but participants have the opportunity to earn a certificate of completion.
Registration for the course costs $35 and closes on Monday, Jan. 13. Registration can be completed online at https://bit.ly/register-preserve.
For more information, contact Hayman at vhayman@uwyo.edu or 307-746-3531.