Home food safety and storage

Featured Resources

There are Dangers Lurking in Your Flour

Many don’t realize that raw flour can transmit foodborne illnesses. This publication outlines the risks of flour-based crafts and steps you can take to keep people safe.

Stephanie A. Smith, Rachel Beck | Jan 2022 | OSU Extension Catalog

You Can Prevent Foodborne Illness

What is a foodborne illness? What causes it? How can you reduce your risk of getting it? Known causes of foodborne illnesses, practicing good personal hygiene, cooking foods adequately, keeping foods at safe ...

Val Hillers, Mary Aegerter, PhD, Carolyn Raab, PhD, Sandra McCurdy, PhD, Dong-Hyun Kang, PhD | Apr 2009 | OSU Extension Catalog

Safely Canning Foods: Pressure Canners, Pressure Cookers and Electric Pressure Cookers

This illustrated fact sheet explains the difference between pressure canners, pressure cookers and electric pressure cookers. Pressure canners are recommended for food preservation but pressure cookers and electric pressure cookers are not.

Jeanne Brandt, Nellie Oehler | Jun 2023 | OSU Extension Catalog

Pickling Fish and Other Aquatic Foods for Home Use

Preserving seafood with vinegar or citrus juices is one of the easiest food preservation methods known, but can yield a dangerous product if not properly prepared. Fish with high oil content (Chinook salmon, ...

Kenneth S. Hildebrand, Jr | Apr 2009 | OSU Extension Catalog

Proper Egg Handling: From Farm or Grocery Store to Table

From the chicken to the table, this publication provides an easy-to-follow overview for those handling, storing or consuming eggs.

Stephanie A. Smith, Rachael Beck | Dec 2022 | OSU Extension Catalog

Big Game from Hunt to Home

Describes techniques to handle game in the field, to butcher, and to store meat.

Dana Sanchez, Joy Waite-Cusic | Mar 2023 | OSU Extension Catalog

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USDA and FDA Food Safety Hotlines

USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854

Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET (English or Spanish).

FDA Food Safety Hotline at 1-888-723-3366

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM EST, closed Thursdays 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM EST

Learn more

Storing Food for Safety and Quality

Proper food storage ensures that the food you bring home remains safe to eat and retains its high quality. Learn about storing meat, vegetables, fruit, leftovers, home-preserved food and more.

Photo: USDA (Cropped from original)

Latest Resources

Foods that do not freeze well: Some foods don't take well to freezing: lettuce and cabbage lose texture, egg whites get tough and cooked macaroni becomes mushy. Learn more about which foods to keep out of the freezer.
Stop germs: Wash your hands: Washing hands can keep you healthy and prevent the spread of respiratory and diarrheal infections.
Preserving peppers: With so many varieties of peppers grown in Oregon, it is fortunate that they can be preserved to enjoy all year long by canning, freezing, drying or pickling. Here's a how-to guide for all four preservation methods.

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Become a Master Food Preserver!

Master Food Preservers are trained and certified volunteers who assist OSU Extension Service in their efforts to provide up-to-date food safety and preservation information to Oregonians. After a comprehensive, hands-on training, volunteers serve as a local community resource providing food preservation information to community members.

Learn more

Survival Basics: Food — How to Stock Up and Prepare for Natural Disasters

Scientists say that a major earthquake could hit the Pacific Northwest in the next 50 years. When disaster strikes, you will need a variety of healthy foods at hand. Being able to feed yourself and your family will help you keep calm, keep an optimistic outlook and make good survival decisions. This resource will help you gather and store life-saving food provisions.

Also, see: Survival Basics: Water to explore a variety of methods for purifying and storing water for an extended emergency.

Learn the survival basics for food

Photo Credit: Mikhailov Studio - Adobe Stock (Cropped from original)

Latest News

Equipment program expands preservation access in Columbia Gorge

Borrowable dehydrators and canning tools help Gorge residents save money and reduce waste.

Lauren Kraemer | Feb 2026 | Impact story

‘Library of Things’ food preservation collections benefit Oregonians

Library of Things collections provide free equipment rentals to library patrons for limited time periods, allowing bulky or expensive pieces of equipment to circulate through the community to be shared and enjoyed by many residents.

Jared Hibbard-Swanson | Nov 2025 | Impact story

OSU Extension food safety and preservation helpline opens for the season

After Oct. 10, the helpline will remain open and will be checked weekly for voice messages.

Grace Xue | Jul 3, 2025 | News story

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Local, regional and community food systems

Food security

Home food preservation

Nutrition and healthy eating

Recipes

Family emergency preparedness

Upcoming Events

Mar 12

Hands-On Fermented Kimchi

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Newport, OR

Mar 21

Food Dehydration

10:00 am - 2:00 pm Myrtle Point, OR

Apr 11

2026 Fertilize Your Mind 22nd Annual Garden Seminar

9:00 am - 3:30 pm North Bend, OR

Apr 11

Knead to Know: Sourdough 101

10:00 am - 12:00 pm Roseburg, OR

Meet Our Experts

Cindy Brown

4-H/FCH-SNAP Program Coordinator

Contact me for questions on 4-H youth development and healthy living programming in Sherman County as well as healthy living topics such as MyPlate, gardening, food preservation and food storage!

Sarah "Sarita" Contreras

Food Security and Safety Outreach Coordinator

Contact me with questions about Food Security and Safety from Marion and Yamhill counties

Stormi Dykes

Education Program Assistant 2, Community Food Systems

Contact for questions about Lincoln County Master Gardener™ and Home Food Safety & Preservation programs.

Jared Hibbard-Swanson

Food Security and Safety Manager

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