Food contamination scandals, the rising cost of food, organic eating, better nutrition, bulk discounts at big retailers - all these factors contribute to the upsurge in interest in preserving food.
While there are many books on canning, freezing and pickling foods - few are as comprehensive as The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Preserving Food by Master Food Preserver Karen Brees. Relying on over 40 years of expertise in preserving food, Brees shows readers how easy and beneficial food preservation can be with detailed, step-by-step instructions on the most effective ways to preserve including:
* Pickling
* Canning
* Freezing (both single foods and ready-to-eat meals)
* Drying
* Smoking and Salting
In addition she offers dozens of specific recipes for the preservation of everything from fruits to meat, special instructions for preserving food for people on sodium or sugar restricted diets, information about science behind food preservation, cooking and preserving from small individual portions to bulk buying.