Avoid these ten potentially deadly canning mistakes, as well as other food-specific mistakes that you'll want to avoid. This will keep your food fresh, healthy, and safe to eat.
Freeze-dried foods are extremely popular among backpackers and culinary masters, and now freeze-dryers are available for home use. But is a home freeze-dryer the appliance for you? Here is some information designed to cut through the advertising hype and
Since 2000, Extension has been warning consumers about canning cakes and breads. While this process has much appeal, it does not destroy the organism that causes botulism.
Learn how to the traditional British dessert of lemon curd. Canned, it has a shelf life of 3 to 4 months. If you don't mind the darkening that occurs, it can last up to 1 year.
Follow specific proper canning guidelines for chicken, beef, seafood, and others. These guidelines will ensure your food is safe to eat.
Canning salsa is a great way to use your tomatoes. Learn how to correctly and safely can salsa with this approved recipe.
Pieces of food taken from the drying trays are not always uniformly dry. To condition, place cooled dried fruit loosely in large plastic or glass containers, about two-thirds full.
Some essentials are needed to cook with the main food staples in long term food storage. These mostly are used to make breads from stored grains. The cooking essentials include salt, baking powder, baking soda, and yeast.
Making jerky safely requires either the use of curing salts (containing nitrite) or enough heat in an oven or dehydrator so that the heat will kill organisms before they multiply.
Moisture and temperature are the two critical factors in optimal food storage. Moisture - the humidity in the storage environment should be low. If dried foods pick up moisture from the storage area, molds and bacteria can grow. This can lead to spoilage
A few packaging methods for your food storage and food that is being preserved. Methods including foil pouches, glass canning, and plastic bottles are discussed.
Congratulations! You are now the owner of a new freeze-dryer; or you are ready to make the purchase! While the freeze dryer itself is a major investment in food preservation equipment, you will want to make certain you are prepared with a few other items
Freezing is a simple, quick way to preserve foods. Fruits freeze well and retain their distinct fruit flavor. Texture is usually softened somewhat by freezing, but serving partially frozen fruit with ice crystals will compensate for texture changes.
Crispness is a hallmark of a good pickled vegetable. That crispness comes from the vegetable’s natural pectin.
Lately, some people have been advocating some very potentially hazardous food preservation and storage practices on foods meant for room temperature storage.
The proper methods of drying are one of these four methods: Air drying, sun drying, oven drying, or dehydration. Learn how to properly do each of these methods.
The proper methods of drying are one of these four methods: Air drying, sun drying, oven drying, or dehydration. Learn how to properly do each of these methods.
Learn the value of drying foods at home, the nutrition that you will have from dried foods, and how to set yourself up for success while drying.
Apples are a favorite fruit of many people for eating out of hand, in fresh salads, or in a wide variety of cooked products. Here's how to preserve Apples
Instructions on preserving apricots from USU Extension.
Learn how to safely preserve berries through a variety of methods, such as canning, freezing and other methods.
Learn how to preserve cherries through a variety of methods such as freezing, canning, and drying. Also find recipes for cherry pie filling, cherry raisins, jam, and more.
Did you know that there are many ways to preserve your chiles? This resource offers the resources you need to learn how to freeze, can, dry, and store your chiles!
How to dry, bottle and freeze corn by Utah State University Extension faculty.
Learning how to select, can, freeze, dry, and store grapes doesn't need to be complex! USU Extension has all of the resources that you need to preserve your grapes in the way that you prefer to do so.
The process of selection, preparation, freezing, canning, drying, and storage of peaches to enhance preservation and storage.
The most popular variety is Bartlett pears available the first two weeks in September in Utah. If they are to be transported or not processed immediately, pick while slightly green and allow them to ripen in a cool, dark place.
There are many good bean varieties for sale in local gardening outlets and through seed catalogs. Most grow well in Utah. Pod shape, size, and color vary among varieties. Here is a list of some potential varieties and plant types that have performed well
Pomegranates are great for canning, freezing, storing, and more! USU Extension has the resources to guide you through the process, as well as teach you how to make syrup and jelly.
Most varieties of summer squash do well throughout Utah. All squash prefer organic, rich, well-drained, sandy soils for best growth.
Learn how to safely preserve tomatoes through a variety of methods, such as canning, freezing and other methods. Also find recipes to use while preserving tomatoes, such as tomato juice or tomato sauces.
Preparing and handling venison comes in a variety of important steps! This resource offers instructions and information on canning, handling, drying, recipes, storage, and more!
USU Extension has the resources for you to prepare, freeze, steam, can, pickle, dry, and store your zucchini!
Understanding when hydrated wheat is ready to use is very important. This resource offers insight into safe instructions to do so.
This article discusses the basic principles of pressure canning.
Only in recent years has the amount of sugar consumed in the American diet been questioned. About half of the total energy consumed in the average U.S. diet is from carbohydrates.
Canned foods can either be purchased commercially or home canned. Home canned foods should be canned using research-tested recipes and processes like those found in the USDA Complete Guide to Canning or in Extension publications.
Non-fat dried milk (NFDM) is suitable for short and long term emergency food storage. It is made from non-fat, grade A, milk that has been dried by spraying into hot air or heated on a drum. The process removes nearly all of the water prohibiting the grow
Legume (Bean) varieties such as: Adzuki, Black, Black-eyed, Black Turtle, Garbanzo, Great Northern, Kidney, Lentils, Lima, Mung, Navy, Pink, Pinto, Small Red, Soy, and Split-pea can all be dried and stored.
Storing eggs safely is important for your health and that of your family.
Sugars are simple carbohydrates that provide an excellent source of calories for energy. Sugars also add the sweet taste to many of our most delicious foods. Sugar can be stored in dry form (crystals) or in a liquid form (syrup –including maple syrup).
If the supply of safe water is cut off during an emergency, it is important to have water stored. Learn how to store water safely and where you can find an emergency source if needed.
Article on storing wheat from Utah State University Extension.
White rice, more commonly known as polished rice is a main food source for over half of the world’s population. Rice is an excellent addition to home food storage because it’s versatile, high caloric value, and long shelf life. Families should store about
You can determine when the product is dry by feel or by calculation of the amount of water remaining in the product.
Fermenting foods is perhaps the oldest food preservation method and has grown in popularity in recent years due to their touted “gut”, probiotic, and other additional health benefits. Fermenting at home is an inexpensive way to control what goes inside yo
Due to the lack of definitive research into the safety of steam canning the Utah State University Extension program currently agrees with the present USDA and National Center for Home Food Preservation recommendation against usin
Canning never improves the quality of the food you are preserving. Come learn the general guidelines for best results when canning vegetables.
Choose fresh, tender vegetables. The fresher the vegetables, the more satisfactory the final product. Tips on selecting, preparing, and freezing vegetables.
Electric Programmable Pressure Cookers, such as the "Instant Pot, are being used for small batch pressure canning. This fact sheet explains research showing why this is a food safety hazard, with a high risk of producing home canned foods that could devel
It is known that heat at the temperature of boiling water can destroy “almost” all microorganisms - yeast, molds, and most bacteria - are easily killed at this temperature. The only microorganisms that survive are the bacteria that form protective spores,
Extra precautions must be taken when canning on surfaces such as a camp cooker or a smooth cook-top.
A food storage program is essential to provide for ourselves and our family members in an emergency. The biggest motivator most adults have is to avoid hearing a hungry child cry. Even the most “macho” man is distraught if he cannot provide food or bevera
Choosing the right food packaging is vital to your business's success! Here are the most common types that can work for your restaurant or brand.
Whether you are a restaurant owner, a food manufacturing company owner, or a chef looking to start an online food delivery service, you must have realized that food packaging is not something you can afford to take lightly.
Your buyers will judge the quality of your food from the package, and you must keep abreast of the constantly evolving trends in the food packaging industry to grab their attention.
If you are looking for trusted and innovative ways to package your food products, you’ve come to the right place. This article will explore why food packaging is so important, various types of packaging for food, and how you can choose the right ones for your business.
The main goal of food packaging is to provide a practical means to contain a portion of food. However, there are other essential functions of food packages including:
Food items that are not consumed immediately can rot quickly if they come in contact with air, heat, and moisture. So they need to be preserved in containers that keep them free of contamination and damage at all points in the retail process. Packaging ensures food safety and prevents physical damage.
On the other hand, faulty packaging can affect the quality and taste of food, thus reducing the shelf life of the product. This is why food businesses conduct extensive research to find the best packaging solutions that can protect the food from dust, chemical reactions, and light.
Packaging labels on food products help brands communicate important information to customers. This includes the brand name, food type, ingredients, and the expiry date of the product.
The food label is also used to display crucial health and safety information. This is particularly important for consumers with allergies and skin conditions who must avoid specific ingredients to remain healthy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires all such products to display the list of ingredients used in the food item on the package.
Food containers can be designed to have features that make the handling, consumption, and preservation of food items easier for customers.
For example, aseptic cartons are used for liquid food like soup, dairy products, and beverages. These are sterilized packages that are designed to prevent microorganisms from entering the container. This keeps the product fresh and ensures a longer shelf life.
Food packaging plays a huge role in helping to differentiate your brand from similar products on the same shelf. Customers often make their purchase decisions based on the appearance of the product, and the logo, colors, and style of food packaging are a bigger marketing tool than most business owners realize.
Packaging builds brand recognition and ensures customers can distinguish your product the next time they visit the supermarket.
There are a plethora of food packaging options and as such, we won’t be able to cover each of them in this article. Instead, we will focus on the primary packaging materials that are eco-friendly and avoid materials like plastic bottles, cans, plastic containers, aluminum cans, trays, skin film, and wrappers that are in most cases, not so eco-friendly.
There is a lot of hype about flexible pouches from both food manufacturers and consumers, and there are a few reasons why we love this packaging material so much.
Food manufacturers love it because it is lightweight and cheap which leads to lower shipping costs, and environmentally friendly which helps them score points with eco-conscious customers.
Customers love the flexible packaging material because it often comes with clear windows, allowing them to see the product within the package before making a purchase decision. They can also feel the texture of the food with their hands – to an extent – by touching the flexible container.
noissue’s Custom Stand Up Pouches are FDA-approved and food safe. They are made from recyclable materials that ensure the package can go back into circulation once used. The pouches come with features like degassing valves to keep oxygen from getting inside and spoiling the food, press-to-close zippers, and tear notches for retail display.
Custom stand up pouches can store snacks, dry goods, and more to keep them fresh, easily accessible, and recognizable!You can use these resealable pouches to package food items like bagged salad, potato chips, sweets, and candies. You can customize your pouches with your brand’s logo, graphics, and product information.
Although glass requires careful handling, companies continue to use it for food packaging because it boasts an air of luxury when compared to other types of packaging materials. It is also transparent, which allows buyers to see what’s contained within.
Glass containers are easy to recycle and reuse making them an eco-friendly packaging material. But one major drawback is that it breaks easily. Broken glass can be harmful to store staff and consumers.
The impermeable nature of glass bottles means they are primarily used for liquid foods such as juices, wines, beers, pudding, pickles, or jams.
Recyclable sandwich bags are the perfect eco-friendly replacement for the countless plastic sandwich bags that usually end up in landfills and oceans. They are paper bags that do a good job of keeping your food fresh until you are ready to eat. Many are freezer-safe and can be kept in short-term freezer storage.
noissue’s Custom Sandwich Bags are made from recycled fibers and recycled Kraft paper. Their stand-up design allows for eating straight from the bag — making them the perfect takeout essential. You can use also them to package food items like snack crackers, chips, or packed fruits.
For takeout orders, be sure to add a tamper-evident sticker to your sandwich bags, so customers know that they're receiving their food fresh.
Paperboard boxes are made from a paper-based material that boasts superior attributes to ordinary paper. Depending on its method of production, paperboard can be made from Kraft paper, Glassine, sulfite paper, or parchment paper. These materials are thinner than cardboard but thicker than paper.
This enhanced rigidity helps explain why it is one of the most commonly used materials in processed food packaging. It currently has a 34% market share when it comes to usage as a packaging material.
Paperboard is fully recyclable and you can use it to package all sorts of food products, including snacks, pasta, cereal, canned beverages, and much more.
Most of the wrapping papers you will find in supermarkets and food joints are made from non-recyclable materials like polyethylene plastics. Compostable wrapping papers are different. They are made of materials that decompose naturally.
noissue’s Custom Food Wrapping Paper is 100% compostable. It is made of FSC-certified paper and printed with water-based food-safe inks that ensure you can promote your brand on your product packaging without worries.
noissue Custom Food Wrapping Paper by @pearlandhornThe wrapping paper is the perfect addition to any takeout box or plate and can be used to wrap bread and most baked goods.
This is the type of wrapping paper you should use to pack greasy or wet foods. It can provide a non-sticky surface because it has been coated with wax which acts as a moisture and grease barrier.
Although traditional wax paper cannot be recycled because of the wax or silicone coating that grants its barrier properties, the noissue Custom Wax Paper is 100% recyclable after use. It is made from FSC-certified acid-free paper and coated with food-safe wax.
Use custom wax paper to protect and personalize pastries on display at your restaurant or cafe!It is available in a range of sizes, and you can use them to wrap greasy food items like sandwiches, cheese, and more.
Corrugated cardboard boxes are mostly used for secondary packaging in the food packaging supply chain.
Each box will hold multiple units of the same type of food product to make the transportation and distribution process much easier. The boxes will then be placed on pallets and wrapped together to secure them for shipping.
Regular slotted container shipping boxes are ideal for stacking, storing, and shipping packaged products.Nonetheless, they can still be used to deliver food items like frozen seafood, snacks, and beverages directly to the end-user. They are also one the most frequently and successfully recycled packaging materials in the world.
A paper bag is not just a better option for the environment, it is also stronger and more durable than the standard plastic bag. They are sturdy enough to stand upright on counters for consumers to easily load the bag and durable enough to be reused.
noissue’s Custom Food Delivery Paper Bags are made from 100% recycled fibers and are recyclable and reusable. They come with handles for easy carry, making them perfect for both your takeout and delivery needs. You can use these eco-friendly bags to package confectionery, gourmet foods, and small groceries.
Tip: Wrap your burgers and sliders in branded food-grade paper before placing them into custom delivery bags!
The eco-friendliness of this type of packaging depends on the type of material used in its production. Clamshells made from styrofoam are not recyclable, while those made from plant-based materials are biodegradable and eco-friendly. Clamshells made from plastics are recyclable, although this is not always done.
noissue’s Custom Clamshell Takeout Containers are made with sugarcane fiber. They are petroleum-free, tree-free, and commercially compostable.
You can use clamshell containers to package hot and cold foods, including chicken wings, BBQ ribs, salads, sandwiches, and other foods.
Just like wrapping paper, most coffee bags are not recyclable. This is because they are made by combining aluminum foil and polythene plastic to create a multi-layered structure that is compact enough to preserve the quality of the coffee beans.
Fortunately, more companies are starting to offer sustainable custom coffee bags which are usually made from kraft paper. There are recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable options.
noissue’s Custom Coffee Bags are recyclable and compostable once you remove the tin ties. Made from recycled kraft paper, these bags are customizable and use FDA-certified food-safe lining. You can use them to package tea bags and leaves, coffee grounds and beans, tea leaves, and even small baked goods.
Custom coffee bags can also be used to store whole beans and tea leaves!
You can opt for a resealable coffee bag if you need a superior way to keep coffee beans fresh and safe from accidental spillage. noissue’s Custom Resealable Coffee Bags come with customizable features that can get you the exact packaging you need. These features include:
Billions of pizza are sold each year, and when most people are done with their delicious pizza, they simply dump the boxes in the trash. This makes pizza boxes a major contributor to environmental pollution. Especially, boxes that are made of corrugated plastic or wax-coated cardboard.
Compostable pizza boxes give brands the opportunity to reduce the negative impact of the containers they use to sell their products. The noissue Stock Pizza Box is made with B flute corrugate, and it is both compostable and recyclable. You can also use them to package cookies and brownies.
Personalize your pizza boxes with branded stickers and a safety seal for extra security!Packaging materials come in different shapes and with traits relative to their properties. The right packaging material for your product will be the one that best helps to maintain the flavor, shape, and texture of your product over an acceptable timeframe. Consider the following:
The food packaging industry is constantly evolving to meet the demands of customers. Recent trends in the industry are leaning towards packaging solutions that can engage with customers emotionally, while also eliminating harmful plastic packaging.
noissue can help you stay ahead of the curve. Check out our complete range of food packaging products that will meet and exceed your containment, sustainability, and branding needs.