Home canning is a delicious food trend that’s seen quite a comeback in recent years, and it makes a great way to use up fresh produce before it has a chance to spoil. Here are a few safety tips that will help you to can your fruits and veggies safely.

1. Be aware of the safety hazards. Many first-time home canners don’t realize that there are deadly food poisonings associated with incorrect canning methods. Botulism is the most common one, and it comes from a bacteria found in soil that produces a toxin when sealed in a jar. Luckily, there are preventative measures to kill these bacteria before canning.
2. Throw out your old canning recipes. Those old family canning techniques are likely a botulism risk waiting to happen. Keep up with the latest techniques to keep yourself and your family safe.
3. Don’t stray from the recipe. Canning recipes aren’t just created to preserve the taste of your foods; they’re also meant to protect you against illness. Resist the urge to add extra herbs or a pinch more sugar, as this can threaten the pH levels in your jar.
4. Use a pressure canner. In recent years, it’s become apparent that the only way to stay completely safe while canning meats or low-acid vegetables is by using a pressure canner. This heats the food to 240 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature that can only be reached in a pressure canner.

Don’t Botch It: Home Canning Safety Tips [Home Food Safety]
Home Canning: Keep Your Family Safe! [FoodSafety.gov]
Home Canning and Botulism [CDC]
Safety Tips for Home Canning [About.com]

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Despite its casual-sounding name, D.C.'s Minibar is anything but a place to grab a burger and a beer. It’s actually the most exclusive eatery in Washington, where patrons scramble for months to get reservations for a seating at the restaurant’s six-foot bar. If you get a coveted spot, prepare to be served 25 or so mini-courses of unrivaled culinary inspiration. The restaurant is a product of the gastronomic inventiveness of Chef Jose Andres, who combines tastes, textures, and temperatures in a way that defies description, but is sure to amaze your palate. Minibar is located inside America Eats Tavern. At $150 a person, not including drinks, it’s an experience worth the price.

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/nagarazoku

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