The Oklahoma State University Extension county director told workshop participants in Hulbert that safety precautions are extremely important when it comes to canning and preserving food.
Hulbert Community Library recently co-hosted an event with Tulsa County OSU Extension led by Jan Dawson, who was on hand June 20 to share information on how to properly sterilize jars, how to make sure equipment is working properly, various safety precautions and storage methods.
The workshop offered information for both beginners and longtime canners, and attendee Sharon Gifford, a member of the Oklahoma Family and Community Education Woodall Club, said she thought Dawson gave a lot of important information to new canners.
“It’s not all about this, it’s just a quick overview of the basics,” Gifford said.
Gifford has been canning for years, but learned some new things at the workshop.
“The new one [I learned] “Not having to boil the lids. When I was a kid and I was with my mom, we always had to boil the lids, so we had to poke the lids with a magnetic stick because the water was so hot,” Gifford said.
Dawson said the group seemed very receptive and he found they were primarily concerned with food safety.
Dawson provided some basic information, such as cooking times for different methods, types of gauges, and the need to follow recipes, which is the main thing Dawson wants attendees to take away from the event: deviating from USDA-approved recipes is one of the most common mistakes in canning and can lead to serious health issues.
“[I hope] “They’ll use USDA-approved recipes for canning, rather than listening to Pinterest or what their friends say,” Dawson says.
Besides learning that people have tried to can in their dishwashers — a method that goes against OSU Extension and USDA guidelines — Hulbert Community Library Manager Ashley Rouse said she found it interesting that people are not allowed to can in colored glass jars or jars with designs other than the classic jars.
Rouse said library staff decided to host the workshop because they wanted to offer a class that the community could enjoy. Rouse said this will not be the last OSU Extension workshop of the summer, and another one will be held in July.
“Some people live in Hulbert but want to live on their own, far away, so they come to us and express interest in homesteading.[related] These are kind of farm themed,” Rouse said.
Dawson said anyone with additional questions about canning can contact their local OSU Extension office or visit www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/blogs/usdas-complete-guide-home-canning .
What’s next?
Hulbert Community Library will again host an emergency water supply workshop presented by OSU Extension on July 18 at 4:30 p.m.
