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)

Browse all resources

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

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.
Preserving summer squash: Any home gardener who has planted summer squash such as zucchini knows that harvests can be prodigious. Although not suitable for canning by themselves, there are several ways to preserve summer squash for later use.

Browse all resources

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

OSU Extension food safety and preservation helpline opens for the season

Starting July 7, the toll-free helpline, 800-354-7319, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Grace Xue | Jul 3, 2025 | News 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 | 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

All News

Explore more resources

Local, regional and community food systems

Food security

Home food preservation

Nutrition and healthy eating

Recipes

Family emergency preparedness

Upcoming Events

Nov 8

Preserve Your Harvest: Bacon Alchemy - Where Science Meets Flavor

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

Nov 8

Intro to Water Bath Canning (Full)

11:00 am - 2:00 pm Camas Valley, OR

Nov 15

Master Food Preserver Program Presents: Tuna Canning + Cranberry Orange Chutney Canning Class

9:00 am - 2:00 pm Newport, OR

Jan 24

Cheese Making

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

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

Elizabeth "Lizzie" McDougal

Southern Willamette Valley Food Security and Safety Outreach Coordinator

Have a question? Ask Extension!

Ask Extension is a way for you to get answers from the Oregon State University Extension Service. We have experts in family and health, community development, food and agriculture, coastal issues, forestry, programs for young people, and gardening.

Ask us a question

Do you have any Easter egg safety tips?

Q: When eating decorated eggs for the Easter holiday, what should I keep in mind to make it safe for my family? Are there alternatives to using the store-bought color dyes?

A: View answer | View all featured questions

See More Questions