My wife and I are getting more and more into prepping, and one area I really want to break into is food preservation. We have a garden going, and I know we’re going to have more than we can eat, so I’d like to save some over. However, whenever I start doing research into canning, it becomes very complicated very quickly, and a little overwhelming. What are some good ways to get some practical food preservation accomplished for the uninitiated? Currently, I’m looking at fermentation as a good way to preserve some of our vegetables, but without canning them, they are only safe in the fridge. I do know that it varies somewhat depending on the specific foods, so maybe include details like that a well.
The best thing to do as a beginner is follow proven preservation recipes that won’t get you sick or killed.
https://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html#gsc.tab=0
I made some wild blackberry jam following their recipes without knowing anything beforehand.