Month: November 2023

Freeze-Drying: Consider This

What is the difference? Food Dehydration, Freezing, and Freeze-Drying 

Freeze-dried food in jars

Have you ever wondered the difference between dehydration, freezing, and freeze-drying food?

One of the oldest methods of preserving food for long-term storage is drying or dehydration. Later, with the invention of electricity, we incorporated refrigeration and freezing, with freezing as another method for long-term food storage. Today, freeze-drying is growing in popularity as the “newest” long-term food choice alongside dehydration, freezing, and other familiar practices like canning. What we would like to discuss is the difference between dehydrated, frozen, and freeze-drying as they relate to long-term food storage. 

In some cases, it can seem remarkably similar, by design or marketing, that drying, freezing, and freeze drying are all the same in processing, packaging, and longevity. However, there are key differences.  

Drying or dehydration is the mechanical method of removing water and moisture content from solid food through the application of heat, varying between 90°-140° Fahrenheit and according to processing recommendations. When deciding the method of drying or dehydration, a food-grade dehydrator is the most common equipment used. As with any form of food preservation, storage is a factor to consider before starting. After processing, dried, or dehydrated food should be allowed to cool for 30-60 minutes, then packed loosely in food-grade containers, sealed tightly, and stored in a clean, cool, dry, dark space. 

Freezing is the preserving of food by lowering the temperature to inhibit microbial growth, with best results below temperatures of 0° Fahrenheit, -18° Celsius. You need to consider the space and location when choosing freezing as your storage method. Most refrigerators will include a freezer section, but in most cases, those preserving with this method will buy a standalone deep freezer to increase storage ability. You also need to consider your electrical wattage ability depending on the size of your unit. For the best quality freeze food as quickly as possible and allow head space when storing in freezer-grade packaging to allow for food expansion during the freezing process.  

Freeze dryer machine

Freeze-Drying (Lyophilization) is the mechanical method where extreme cold is applied rapidly to food between -30° Fahrenheit and -50° Fahrenheit. At this point, the machine introduces slight heat to produce water vapors, a process called sublimation. These water vapors are removed through a powerful vacuum pump system. Freeze-drying can only be completed with a manufactured home or commercial freeze-drying unit. After your system has completed the automated cycle, remove the food from trays and store in approved food-grade Mylar® bags or glass jars. Packaging should include proper single-use oxygen absorbers to ensure the best quality and increase shelf life. As with all long-term storage, food should be stored in a clean, cool, dry, dark location.  

In summary, consideration should be made for need, cost, space, and location when choosing any long-term food storage practice, and always source reliable accredited information. 

Stay tuned for more information on our Freeze-Drying: Consider This blog series.   

References 

Herringshaw. (2015). Drying fruits and vegetables. Ohioline. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/HYG-5347 
Herringshaw. (2015). Food preservation: Freezing basics. Ohioline. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5341 
Hirneisen, A., & McGeehan, N. (2023, May 24). Let’s preserve: Freeze-drying. Penn State Extension. https://extension.psu.edu/lets-preserve-freeze-drying 

Written by:  

Sofia Carter, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, The Ohio State University Extension, Champaign County, and 
Laura Halladay, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, The Ohio State University Extension, Greene County. 

Reviewed by: Ohio State University Extension, Food Preservation Team.  

Photo credit: Laura Halladay, Extension Educator, The Ohio State University Extension, Greene County. 

The Family Table – Not Just for Holidays

a child at a place setting across from an adult at a table filled with serving platters

As we enjoy some extra family time together around the table over the holiday season, it is not just benefiting our taste buds. Family mealtime is something that is a good practice all year long. Eating together helps children grow and develop, improves family relationships, and ensures that all participants eat healthier diets, higher in key foods and nutrients.

Recognizing the decline in family meals, with about 1/3 of families with teenagers eating only  12 meals together per week, the American College of Pediatricians promotes the  ‘Family Table’, or eating together as a family at home, as benefitting child’s well-being beyond the nutrition aspect of a balanced meal. Children who eat sit down meals with their families:

  • Have improved language development
  • Do better in school
  • Are less likely to use drugs, alcohol or tobacco
  • Have a better body image
  • Show less tendency for violence and risky behaviors

As early as 1943, researchers noted the sociological and cultural benefits of the family table. Eating together is good for our mental and social health. Families who share meals on a regular basis:

  • Have more shared values and traditions
  • Express better problem-solving skills
  • Display improved family relationships and experience less family tension
  • Have better and more regular communication
  • Create more structure to their day, allowing children to feel secure and improving individual time management
  • Spend less time in front of a computer, phone of television screen
  • Have adults with less stress and depression symptoms and greater self-esteem

Of course, in addition to meals benefitting our development, mental health and well-being, family meals also improve the food/nutrition intake of those participating. Such benefits include:

  • Children learn basic meal-planning and preparation skills.
  • Toddlers eat more nutrient-dense foods and show less picky eating behaviors at the table
  • Overall increased intake of fruits, vegetables and dairy foods, as well as fiber, vitamins A, B, C and E
  • Fewer issues related to food sensitivity or allergies
  • Family members with decreased risk of obesity and related health conditions

Creating a family table does not have to involve elaborate menus or holiday décor. There are many simple tips to implement family meals in a way that fits the lifestyle and culture of most any family. Start by simply eating together as a family whenever you can, even if just 2 of you are home.  Plan a menu that involves 3 or more food groups from MyPlate. Do some meal prep on the weekends or days when you have more time available, such as cooking lean ground beef or turkey and freezing for use later in casserole, pasta sauce or tacos. Involve children in age-appropriate meal preparation to ease the workload on busier days and help them learn basic kitchen skills. Table setting and cleaning vegetables are easy for even the youngest family members.  

Keep easy healthy options from various food groups on hand. Items like bagged baby carrots or spinach, fresh fruits, unsweetened applesauce, whole grain bread or tortillas, canned tuna and black beans can all be used with no cooking required. Canned or frozen vegetables, tomato sauces, boil in bag  or instant brown rice, and whole grain pasta can all be made in minutes.  Dairy is usually easy to incorporate.  A glass of low fat milk or cup of vanilla yogurt is a simple addition to any meal.

Sources:                                                                                                                                                                                  Healthy Meals Together with Family. Johns Hopkins University and Health System. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/family-meals-can-they-make-you-healthier

The Benefits of the Family Table Position Statement. American College of Pediatirics. February 2021. https://acpeds.org/position-statements/the-benefits-of-the-family-table.  

Author:  Jennifer Little, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Hancock County. 

Reviewer:  Megan Taylor, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences/4-H Youth Development, Union County

Food Safety for the Holiday Season

Thanksgiving table with roasted turkey, sliced ham and side dishes

 

With many different holidays approaching, it is important that we do our best to keep our family and friends safe. Having large holiday dinners is fun, exciting, and a great way to spend time with our family and friends, but a case of food poisoning can ruin any celebration. To keep your family and friends safe, follow these tips from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help prevent food borne illness during the holidays:

  • Keep foods separated
  • Cook food thoroughly
  • Keep food out of the “danger zone”
  • Use pasteurized eggs for dishes containing raw eggs
  • Do no eat raw bough or batter
  • Thaw your turkey safely
  • Wash your hands

At your family gatherings, there are some individuals who are at high-risk for food poisoning or foodborne illness. The group of individuals who are more likely to get sick and have a more serious illness because they have an inability to fight germs are:

  • Adults aged 65 and older
  • Children younger than age 5
  • People with weakened immune systems
  • People who are pregnant

People who are listed in the above group should avoid eating undercooked or raw beef, chicken, pork, turkey, eggs, and seafood, raw or lightly cooked sprouts, and raw milk and cheeses.

When serving foods at your holiday parties or get togethers, follow the two-hour rule. When you have food sitting out, the rule is for any perishable food items (meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, cut fruit, some vegetables, and cooked leftovers) to be thrown away if they have been left out for two hours or more.

Proper storage of leftovers is an important factor in food safety. The CDC lists the proper way to store and reheat leftovers.

Storage and Reheating Leftovers:

  • Divide leftovers into smaller portions or pieces for faster cooling, place in shallow containers, and refrigerate or freeze.
  • Leftover foods should be refrigerated at 40°F or below as soon as possible and within 2 hours of preparation. It’s OK to put hot foods directly into the refrigerator in small portions.
  • Leftovers should be reheated to at least 165°F before serving. This includes leftovers warmed up in the microwave.
  • Learn how long food can be stored safely in the refrigerator and freezer.

Do your part in keeping your family and friends healthy this holiday season by following these simple tips for food safety!

Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, November 30). Food Safety for the Holidays. Centers   for Disease Control and Prevention.                 https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/communication/holidays.html

U.S.D.A. Food Safety and Inspection Service. Danger Zone” (40 °F – 140 °F).            https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-               basics/danger-zone-40f-140f

U.S.D.A. Food Safety and Inspection Service. Let’s Talk Turkey-A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a         Turkey |Food Safety and Inspection Service. (n.d.). https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-              food-handling-and-preparation/poultry/lets-talk-turkey-roasting

Author: Megan Taylor, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences/4-H Youth Development, Union County

Reviewer: Jennifer Little, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Hancock County

Sound Off for Inclusion of Families NOW

A new era of The National Career Clusters® Framework is lifting off, and your voice is needed to shape its future!  The National Career Clusters Framework serves as an organizing tool for Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, curriculum design and instruction. Designed to help learners discover their interests, passions, and empowers them to choose the educational pathway that can lead to success in high school, college and career. You have the opportunity to share your thoughts on the National Career Cluster® Framework now!

Click here to read the article that explains the image below titled, Rationale for Establishing a Family and Consumer Sciences Career Cluster

Rationale for Establishing a Family and Consumer Sciences Career Cluster

Now make time to sound off by completing The National Career Clusters® Framework National Implementation Survey by December 1, 2023. It is a 10-question multiple choice survey with 3 opportunities to enter your support statements for inclusion of Family and Consumer Sciences as a CTE Career Cluster in the future.

Including the study of families = increases work-life balance

Written by: Margaret Jenkins, Assistant Professor, Family and Consumer Sciences, OSU Extension Clermont County, jenkins.188@osu.edu

Reviewed by: Beth Stefura, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, OSU Extension Mahoning County, Stefura.2@osu.edu

References:

  1. American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences https://www.aafcs.org/home
  2. Advance CTE
    https://careertech.org/what-we-do/career-clusters/
  3. Say Yes to FCS video
    https://youtu.be/Kya5u4KE72g?si=WhWXZzqxgG-sXUGV

Holiday Shopping Tips and Spending Triggers!

Le the shopping begin sign

The holiday marketing blitz is on!  Festive commercials, emails and text messages may put you in the holiday spirit but also affects your holiday budget.  The continuous exposure to festive commercials, fantastic bargains or limited-edition gifts encourages you to spend money.

Marketing techniques trigger spending.  During the holidays, retailers will group items together to create overspending.  For example, a sweater will have a scarf displayed by it creating the need to buy both the sweater and the scarf.  An electronic item, a television for example will have two models displayed beside each other.  One television is a great model and the second one is superior and 30% more in cost.  Often shoppers spend the additional 30% without realizing this is a spending trigger.  This will quickly ruin your holiday budget.  Be aware of this additional holiday triggers:

  • Holiday music plays in the stores while you shop.
  • Seasonal scents
  • Gift sets
  • Mark up prices and offer holiday coupons.
  • “Back in stock”
  • Bulk pricing – 2 for 1 deal 

No matter which holidays you celebrate many feel pressured to make them perfect.  Social media images of picture-perfect holidays can create unrealistic expectations that are impossible to live up to. It’s important to focus on what’s important to you and your family. Your decorations, your traditions, and your happiness are more important than photos posted on social media sites.

Make a list-check it twice. Create a holiday spending list.  Include gifts, food, and holiday baking in your spending plan.  Black Friday and Cyber Monday also may be spending triggers.  Often, we forget we are buying gifts and will purchase items for ourselves.  Stick to your gift list.

To effectively manage your money this holiday season, unsubscribe from marketing emails and text messages and be aware of holiday ad triggers. Nothing is a bargain if you do not need it, or it was not on the list. Have a wonderful holiday season!

Written by:

 Beth Stefura, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, OSU Extension Mahoning County, stefura.2@osu.ed

Reviewed by: Margaret Jenkins, Assistant Professor, Family and Consumer Sciences, OSU Extension Clermont County, jenkins.188@osu.edu

References

Dealing With Holiday Depression and Stress – Cleveland Clinic

Holiday Gatherings With Family: Tips for Holiday Stress and Anxiety (webmd.com)

Compulsive Spending: What You Need to Know | Psychology Today

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/five-step-spending-plan-avoid-holiday-debt/

Savvy Shopping

a long grocery receipt on top of a selection of grocery items

With holidays being right around the corner, money may be getting tight. One way to help save money is through savvy grocery shopping. Groceries can be expensive, but there are ways to help lower the costs. Using a grocery list, shopping the weekly ads, and buying in bulk are a few ways to cut costs at the store.

One research study showed that grocery shopping using a list can help shoppers better navigate their food environments. There are many reasons to use a shopping list. Among them, a shopping list can serve as a memory aide, help limit impulse purchasing, and optimize your shopping trip.  

Using a grocery list can also help you stick to a meal plan that fits into your budget. You can put in the work before you go to the store to better understand what you will be spending at the store. Many stores have weekly ads that show what is on sale for the week. If you don’t receive these ads in the mail, look for them in store or online. Use them to plan your meals for the week using what is on sale.

In addition to their weekly ads, many stores now have additional online tools or apps that can help you save money. For example, Kroger, Meijer, and Giant Eagle all have loyalty programs where you can clip digital coupons, access discounts, and earn points towards fuel.

For more tips and ideas related to meal planning, cooking, and shopping on a budget, check out the Shop Simple with MyPlate app. A few additional money saving tips include:

  • Buying products in bulk or buying larger packages instead of individually packaged or smaller size items.
  • Purchasing produce that is in season, as it is usually less costly than produce that isn’t growing at the time. If you’re not sure what is in season, there are online guides to reference what is currently growing.
  • Opting for frozen or canned items instead of fresh. Frozen and canned fruits and veggies contain the same nutrients as their fresh counterparts. Just make sure keep an eye out for added sugars, salts, and sauces in canned and frozen products.
  • Choosing store brand or generic products over brand name options. Many times, the store brand alternatives are made using the same ingredients as the name brand ones.
  • Ordering online and using curbside pickup instead of going into the store if you tend to be tempted to buy unneeded extras. When shopping in store, avoid shopping when you are hungry to reduce the chance of picking up foods that you don’t need.

If you’re really trying hard to stick to a budget, bring a calculator to the store and add up your grocery bill as you add items to your cart. Make a shopping list, stick to it, and use these tips to save money on groceries.

Written by Brittany Reid, Dietetic Intern, Marshall University

Reviewed by Jenny Lobb, MPH, RDN, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Franklin County

Helping Kids Count Their Pennies

Kids are never too young to learn about money and finances. While preschool age kids (3–5-year-olds) are too young to understand concrete financial concepts, you can still set the foundation for financial literacy at this young age. One concept that young children can start to understand is that you need money to buy things and that you can earn money by working. Another concept is that sometimes we want things that cost more money than we have, so we need to save up to buy them. Around the theme of planning is that sometimes we need to plan ahead to have what we need. And a great one for around the holidays is that we have things that we want and that we need, and sometimes we must make choices about what we want and what we need.

Child with piggy bank

When it comes to talking about money, keep it simple. Short simple explanations or examples will help children start to grasp these concepts. Having conversations around these financial literacy themes as they come up in daily life will help young children start to understand these concepts. For example, when grocery shopping or buying something at the store, have a conversation about something you are buying that your family needs and something that your family might want. When my husband and I leave our house in the morning, we explain to our young children that we are going to work to earn money, a concept that they are beginning to understand. Having these ongoing real-world discussions and sharing examples in daily life can help bring these concepts to life.

Books with themes around money can also make an impact. The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) has a list of books that share themes around money like making decisions, spending, earning, sharing, borrowing, prioritizing, and setting goals. Many of these books also have guides that parents, grandparents, teachers or caregivers can use while reading the book to help encourage children to think about these money themes and spark discussion. Books like “A Bargain for Frances,” “Just Shopping with Mom,” and “How Much is That Doggie in the Window?” all have guides available for free to help in discussion. The CFPB also has other resources to facilitate talking about financial concepts to children of many ages.

Other activities can also help in understanding financial concepts. Activities like adding money to a piggy bank can help in conversation about earning and saving money. Role playing games like playing restaurant or ice cream shop can spark different roles and give life to concepts on buying and paying for food and services. There are also online games and apps around financial literacy for young children as well. One of my favorites for young children is Peter Pig’s Money Counter and many from U.S. Mint.

Talking about money and financial literacy topics at a young age can help children in the future with their decision making and critical thinking skills and can set them on a strong financial literacy foundation.

Written by: Katie Schlagheck, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension, Ottawa & Sandusky Counties

Reviewed by: Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension, Franklin County

Freeze-Drying: Consider This 

freeze-dried vegetables in jar with oxygen absorbersDo you want to reduce your food waste? Would you like to have shelf stable foods in case of emergency? Do you like to prepare healthy snacks? Do you enjoy camping, hiking, or hunting? If you answered yes to one or all these questions, freeze drying may be for you!  

What is Freeze-Drying? 

According to the FDA: “Lyophilization or freeze-drying is a process in which water is removed from a product after it is frozen and placed under a vacuum, allowing the ice to change directly from solid to vapor without passing through a liquid phase. The process consists of three separate, unique, and interdependent processes: freezing, primary drying (sublimation), and secondary drying (desorption)”. Through the process of sublimation, many of the food products retain their original texture, flavor, and nutrients once reconstituted.  

What Can Be Freeze-Dried 

Almost any food can be freeze-dried. The foods that work best with freeze-drying are: 

  • Fruits 
  • Vegetables 
  • Dairy foods including cheese, milk, yogurt, ice cream 
  • Proteins including poultry, seafood, red meat, eggs 
  • Mixed foods including casserole, soup, lasagna, quiche 

Foods that do not freeze-dry well: 

  • Foods high in fat content 
  • Foods high in sugar content 
  • Baked goods including breads, muffins, cake 

Storing Freeze-Dried Foods 

Once you have a freeze-dried product, storage becomes a consideration. Iowa State University suggests, “The storage container must eliminate oxygen, light, and moisture. In order of long-term to short-term storage, the following containers may be used: Mylar® bags, vacuum-sealed canning jars, #10 cans, vacuum sealed bags, and PETE re-sealable containers”. PETE bags and glass Mason-type jars are the most readily available storage options. If you wonder what PETE 

pete mylar food storage bag

bags are, they are made of polyethylene terephthalate, a food grade, non-toxic, and typically opaque silver pouch. For long term storage,  oxygen absorbers are required. Oxygen absorbers are materials in a pouch that removes oxygen from space around food particles. Oxygen absorbers extend the shelf life of products by preventing color change and reducing the growth of microorganisms. While this term may be new to you, you have seen them in purchased items like baked goods, cheeses, pet foods, and seasonings. Freeze-dried foods that will be stored for no more than a few months (for example, fruits that you plan to snack on soon), can be stored in food storage containers or Mason-type jars without oxygen absorbers. 

Oxygen absorbers can be found in many sizes varying from 20cc to 2000cc. (The “cc” stands for cubic centimeters as it related to amount of oxygen absorbing capacity). According to Utah State University, “A quart container will need one 50cc, a gallon container and #10 can will need 300cc of oxygen absorption and a 5-gallon container will need three of the 500cc packet”. Once purchased, oxygen absorbers should be used within 6 months to 1 year. Store unused oxygen absorbers in an airtight glass jar for up to 6 months.  

Overall Safety of Freeze-Dried Food 

For the highest quality, all home preserved foods should be stored in a cool, dry location. This includes foods that are home canned, dehydrated, and freeze dried. Labeling is even more important for freeze-dried foods because you cannot see what is in your PETE pouch. Always include date, preparation method (raw or cooked), product name, amount (for some foods like soup), and directions or notes, for example, how a tomato is sliced, or how a food is seasoned.  

While freeze drying can sound exciting, there is a financial investment to get started. The cost range to purchase a home freeze dryer is between $2,000 and $6,000. Other considerations are machine location, supplies for storage, electric use, noise, temperature, accessories, and time needed to complete the process. Stay tuned for more information on the Freeze-Drying: Consider This blog series.  

Resources: 

Utah State University: https://extension.usu.edu/preserve-the-harvest/research/buying-a-home-freeze-dryer-what-to-know-before-you-go 

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: https://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/answerline/2023/06/13/preserving-by-home-freeze-drying/ 

Written by:  Lisa Barlage, Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Ross County and Megan Taylor, Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Union County. 

Reviewed by: Ohio State University Extension, Food Preservation Team. 

Photo credit: Laura Halladay, Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Greene County.