Preserving saves you money
If you can make seasonal food last longer by preserving it you will be quids in. Especially if that seasonal food is cheap because there is a glut of it at the moment, or it’s in the reduced section.
You can preserve food in loads of different ways, the easiest way is to bulk cook a load of food and freeze it in portions.
You don’t need special equipment to try these ways out:
- Drying – try thin apple or beetroot slices on a lightly oiled baking tray in the oven on very low for 8 hours.
- Pickling – cook up chopped apples in vinegar, add spices and you have chutney.
- Curing in salt – sliced lemons (with peel but wash first) into salt makes amazing salted lemon to use in Moroccan meals.
- Soaking in alcohol – an excuse to buy that Rumtopf jar that is in the charity shop, or just bung some fruit in a half empty bottle of something strong
- With sugar – the more traditional way of making jams and jellys doesn’t need a thermometer to test for set. You pour a tiny bit out onto a cold plate and push it with a clean finger. If it wrinkles it is done.
Cleaning jars
If you have a dishwasher you can take the jars out (carefully) while they are still hot.
If not, you need to wash them in hot soapy water, rinse and rinse again and put them in a low oven until they are dry.
Be careful not to touch the insides once you have done this!
There is a possibility you have too many jars, if that is the case read this post: https://www.less-stuff.co.uk/jam-jars-declutter/
Need ideas?
My favourite ever preserving book is the “Good Housekeeping” Complete Book of Home Preserving
We have some super simple recipes for Super Simple Anything Jam and Spicy Pear Chutney in the Eco-Friendly Autumn book.
Join in with the conversation in the less-stuff Facebook group to share your ideas. I’d love to hear how this works for you.
Countdown to Cosy is a collaboration with The Frugal Family – check out what they are up to on their website www.thefrugalfamily.co.uk