K-State Research and Extension

Food preservation has evolved over the years. With the knowledge of what foodborne illnesses can occur, it is important to use proper procedures and tested recipes to prepare safe preserved foods. Many resources abound on this topic. Below are links to K-State food preservation publications.

• How-To Guide to Water Bath Canning and Steam Canning
• How-To Guide to Pressure Canning
• 10 Tips for Safe Home-Canned Food
• Sassy Safe Salsa at Home
• Preserving Apples
• Preserving Cherries
• Preserving Cucumbers
• Preserving Green Beans
• Preserving Peaches
• Preserving Peppers
• Preserving Strawberries
• Preserving Sweet Corn
• Preserving Tomatoes
• Preserving Vegetables
• What's Your Elevation?

Other useful resources:

• National Center for Home Food Preservation
• USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning
• KSU Rapid Response Center
• University of Wisconsin

Jerky

Jerky is a nutrient-dense meat that has been made lightweight by drying. Because most of the moisture is removed, it is shelf-stable – can be stored without refrigeration – making it a handy food for backpackers and others who don't have access to refrigerators. Learn more about jerky and preparing in safely from the publications below.

• Food Safety of Jerky
• Jerky
• Leathers and Jerkies

According to FoodSafety.gov, this year, one in six Americans will get sick from food poisoning.  

Keeping food safe is a challenge and education is important to learn how to handle food safely. Many people do not think about the safety of food until a foodborne illness occurs. A number of different publications and resources prepared by K-State Research and Extension, as well as other reputable organizations, are available in this section.

These publications are to guide you and keep you from being that one in six.  If you can't find what you are looking for, please give the Extension Office a call. 

Food Handling

Do you practice good food safety practices at home? You can find information to make your next meal at home much safer in the following publications.

• Are You Storing Food Safely?
• At Home Safe Food Handling: It's in Your Hands
• Back to School! Check Your Steps
• Food Safety Education
• Food Storage and Shelf Life
• Got Leftovers? Tips for safely savoring foods a second time around
• Kitchen Companion: Your Safe Food Handbook

Barbecue and Grilling

Having a barbecue is a fun way to gather family and friends. Don't spoil the fun and give your guests foodborne illness. Use these resources to provide the safest food possible.

• Food Safety While Hiking, Camping & Boating
• Handling Food Safely on the Road
  
• Barbecue and Food Safety
  
• Foodborne Illness Peaks in Summer - Why?

Beef

• Beef from Farm to Table
• Color of Cooked Ground Beef and Doneness
• Corned Beef
• Fresh Ground Beef Color: A Consumer Guide
• Focus on Ground Beef
• Meat Product Labeling and Marketing: What Do All Those Words Really Mean?
• Veal from Farm to Table

Dairy Foods

• Food Safety and Raw Milk
• Raw (Unpasteurized) Milk
• The Dangers of Raw Milk
• Myths about Raw Milk
• Unpasteurized Milk Sales in Kansas 

Farmers Market

• Food Safety for Kansas Farmers Market Vendors: Regulations and Best Practices

Holiday Meals

The holidays bring together family and friends. These special occasions typically involve food. To prevent giving the gift of foodborne illness, use these resources to prepare holiday meals safely.

• Countdown to the Thanksgiving Holiday
• Holiday or Party Buffets
• Hotline Answers "Panic Button" Food Safety Questions
• Roasting Those "Other" Holiday Meats
  
• Cooking for Groups: A Volunteer's Guide to Food Safety
• Poultry Preparation

Lamb Products

• Lamb from Farm to Table

Picnics

• Eating Outdoors, Handling Food Safely
• Perfect Food Safe Picnics!

Pork Products

• Ham and Food Safety
• Fresh Pork from Farm to Table
• Sausages and Food Safety
• Hock Locks and Other Accoutrements

Tailgating

• Keep Food Safety in Mind When Tailgating
• How to Keep Food Safe When Tailgating
• Tailgating Tips: Be on the "Offense" Against Foodborne Illness
• USDA Food Safety Advice for Tailgate Parties
• Food Safety on the Move

Temporary Food Stands

Fairs bring a lot of people together for fun, food, and more. While foodservice operations are temporary at county fairs, they still must operate in compliance with guidelines from the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Here are some useful resources.

• Food Handling Guidelines for Bake Sales
• Food Handling Guidelines for Temporary Food Stands
• No Bare-Hand Contact
• Date Marking
• Handwashing
• All other fact sheets

Turkey, Chicken, and Eggs

• Don't Wing It!
• Poultry & Turkey Preparation
• Chicken from Farm to Table
• Ground Poultry and Food Safety
• Poultry: Basting, Brining, and Marinating 
• Egg Products and Food Safety
• Shell Eggs from Farm to Table

Miscellaneous Topics

• Care & Handling of Deer from Field to Table
• Care & Handling of Game Birds from Field to Table
• Cupboard Storage
• Donating Safe and Nutritious Food to Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens
• Food Handling Guidelines for Bake Sales
• Food Labeling for Kansas Food Producers and Processors
• Food Safety - Disasters & Power Outages
• Freezing Baked Goods
• Refrigerator and Freezer Storage
• Volunteer Quantity Cooking Safety

What's For Dinner?

From delightful desserts to savory suppers, a little creativity and one canned ingredient can turn an ordinary dish into an extraordinary meal. Even your favorite “go-to” recipes deserve an upgrade, so simply choose a category to learn how you can stretch a meal, boost flavor, cut prep time or increase nutrition by adding just one canned ingredient. It’s that easy!

Cook Once, Eat for a Month!

Preparing a month of meals in a single day seems like a daunting task, but it can be done.  This method of cooking has many benefits. First, it saves money.  Providing a healthy meal is another benefit of this cooking method.  Perhaps the greatest benefit of this method is how it can encourage the family to eat meals together.

 Publications

• Choose Foods that Lower Your Risk of Cancer
• Choose Wisely: For Health & Wealth
• Count on Nutritious Carbohydrates
• Fixing Funky Foods
• Focus on the "Stars": Cooking Healthy for the Holidays
• Gluten and Your Gut's Good Health
• Healthy Choices When Eating Out
• Healthy Snack Recipe Booklet
• Healthy Whole Grains
• Simple Seasonal Meals
• You Are What You Eat

• Stay Tuned for Future StoryWalk® Events
   
  StoryWalk®® is an innovative and delightful way for children — and adults! — to enjoy reading and the outdoors at the same time.   Laminated pages from a children's book are attached to stakes, which are installed along an outdoor path. As you stroll down the trail, you're directed to the next page in the story.

  

  StoryWalk® Books Available

   

  • Click Clack Boo
  • Feast for 10
  • Giraffes Can’t Dance
  • Handa’s Surprise
  • How Did That Get in My Lunchbox?  The Story of Food
  • Ice Cream Bear
  • If You Give a Cat a Cupcake
  • If You Give a Moose a Muffin
  • Let’s Eat
  • Milk Comes from a Cow
  • Seven Silly Eaters
  • The Enormous Potato
  • The Popcorn Book
  • Too Many Tamales
  • We’re Making Breakfast for Mother

          Financial Books

  • A Chair for My Mother
  • Alexander Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday
  • Berenstain Bears & the Trouble with Money
  • Curious George Save His Pennies
  • If I Made a Million
  • Ox-Cart Man
  • Sheep in a Shop
  • The Penny Pot
  • Those Shoes

          Character Ed Books

  • A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue
  • Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully
  • Have You Filled a Bucket Today
  • My Mouth is a Volcano
  • Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun
  • The Berenstain Bears Kindness Counts

  Contact the Extension Office to request a StoryWalk®
  

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