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 Peer reviewed (Orange level)

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 Peer reviewed (Orange level)

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 Peer reviewed (Orange level)

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 Peer reviewed (Orange level)

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 Peer reviewed (Orange level)

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 Peer reviewed (Orange level)

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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

Home pasteurization of raw milk: Raw milk can be a source of dangerous microorganisms that pose serious health risks. Home pasteurization kills harmful bacteria and is a good safeguard against the risk of illness. Here's how to do it.
Preserving mushrooms: The savory goodness of mushrooms isn't confined to those fresh from the saute pan — they can be preserved by canning, freezing, drying and pickling. Here's a guide to expanding your mushroom repertoire.
Preserving tomatillos: The tomatillo, a native of Mexico, looks like a green tomato but its flavor is closer to a tart, green apple. They can be preserved much like tomatoes and used to make salsa verde, the green sauce in many Mexican dishes.

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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

‘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 | Jan 2025 | Impact story

Soaking method affects food safety of 'sprouted' snack ingredients

An Oregon State University study published in 2021 found that soaking raw ingredients – usually grains, nuts or seeds – to make "sprouted" foods lowers the risk of salmonella growth on these increasingly popular healthy snack foods.

Joy Waite-Cusic | Nov 2024 | Impact story

Hybrid Master Food Preservation certification diversifies volunteer program

The 2023 Master Food Preserver certification course was offered in a hybrid format to improve accessibility of the course.

Jared Hibbard-Swanson | Mar 2024 | Impact 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

Jun 25

Master Food Preserver Program Presents: Pressure-Canning Vegetables

5:15 pm - 7:15 pm Newport, OR

Jun 28

Preserve Your Harvest: Master the Art of Jam & Jelly Making

9:00 am - 1:00 pm Oregon City, OR

Jun 28

Pickling

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

Jul 12

Preserve Your Harvest: Pressure Canning Low Acid Foods

9:00 am - 2:00 pm Oregon City, 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!

Jared Hibbard-Swanson

Food Security and Safety Manager

Glenda Hyde

Associate Professor of Practice, Family and Community Health; OSU Extension Service Extension Disaster Education Network Delegate

Contact me with questions about food safety and preservation, managing stress and emergency/disaster preparedness

Buffy Rhoades

Family & Community Health Education Program Assistant

Contact me with questions about food preservation or volunteering in Clackamas County.

Have a question? Ask Extension!

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Are retort pouches safe for pressure canning?

Q: I’ve seen several items online recommending the use of retort pouches for pressure canning. Is it safe?

A: View answer | View all featured questions

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