Customer Reviews

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Preserving Food

5 star:		(9)
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With the exponential growth of home and community gardens, farmer's markets, and the trend to eat locally and save money, this book could not have arrived at a better time. Reading Karen Brees' step by step instructions is like having your mother, grandmother, or aunt looking over your shoulder and guiding you to make the perfect pickls, jams, tomato sauce, or jerky. She even includes her email address in case you run into a problem! Safety in regard to preparation and storage is emphasized throughout the book. You can rest assured knowing where your food came from and how it was safely processed, with love and attention to detail. Techniques covered include freezing, canning, pickling and fermenting, drying, salting, and root cellaring. Procedures take advantage of modern tools and equipment. Recipes are included. Karen includes plenty of pointers and trouble shooting guides to build your confidence in the kitchen. Highly recommended!

I absolutely love many things about my "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Preserving Food". As a I have preserved fruits, vegetables, sauces, meat, and jams for over 15 years, I found the cover picture attractive and enticing. I then liked what I saw in the Contents at a Glance section. I found the headings and subjects underneath easy to follow. The humor of the cartoons added a smile to my work. I also found many answers to some of my canning procedure questions that I had hoped that I had figured out through the years. Such as head space and water to sugar ratio. There is so much more I could cover in my review, but I will let others' have their say. This is a number one beginner and expert Preserving Food book. Buy and enjoy. Ardis Rolland Boll

I have always enjoyed putting up food I've grown because I know where the food comes from, how fresh it is, and what is or isn't on it (pesticides, fertilizers, etc.). In the past I've used the directions from booklets that came with the canning jars I've purchased, but Karen's book is the most comprehensive book I have ever read/owned on the subject. It is fun and easy to read, and I especially like the recipes, the "safety check" notes, and the "preserving pointers" she includes in each section. Whether you are a beginner or you have done this for years, this book is for you!

This is a clear, concise, well formatted book, especially for the beginner.
I found the preserving tips and safety checks very useful. It is convenient to have so much
information in one volume. I found the storage guide for frozen foods a real help.

I'm sure I am not a typical person when it comes to preserving foods. In fact, let me just say right off that I am a true novice in this area. However, I have read other books by the author, Karen Brees, and know her to be an excellent writer so decided I'd see if she could make a book on Preserving Food the least bit interesting.

I began by flipping through the pages, then found myself reading a paragraph or two, then finally, got so interested in the book I couldn't put it down. ME not being able to stop reading a book on this topic? Correct! I learned so much and so fast and the author just walks you through this most helpful guide. I'm a new convert and next on my list, preserving some foods I love!

Joyce Norman
Author (Birmingham, AL)

I have wanted to do this for years but never took the time to learn. This book provided all the basics I needed to get started and now it is a handy reference throughout the year.

I learned the basics of food preservation many years ago but have not actively practiced preserving for many years. This book presented the basics in an easy format with great tips. I now have the time to do some fun things and found the book to provide recipes that are not time consuming. My friends are appreciating my efforts to give them some home preserved items from dried fruit to relishes.

The book is fun and easy to read. When I am looking for a diversion from everyday life, I find that the "Idiot"s Guide..." allows me to direct my attention to some new things to try. The book is a nice gift for consumers who want to increase their skills without a lot of technical detail.

This is my first book on how-to preserve food.
It is very informative and has great recipes, I am not done reading it but so far so good.

Out of all the canning and preserving food books I went through, this was in the most fun to read and most informative!