Jul 25 2010
5 Ideas For Too Many Fruits & Vegetables
Every spring and summer we plant our gardens full of delicious fruits and vegetables. Once it is time for harvesting however you may find that there is more than you know what to do with. If you’ve got more green beans than you can eat, fortunately you don’t have to let them go to waste. There are countless ways to use up the extra fruits and vegetables from your garden.
Share it With the Neighbors. The people you know are the first place to turn to. You can give them fresh or you can preserve it and give them the preserves. Either way, they will likely appreciate the gift of food.
Try Freezing It. If you have the freezer space, freezing is another good option. You can avoid freezer burn by making sure that your canisters are properly sealed prior to freezing. Most frozen fruits and vegetables can stay good for three to six months when frozen.
Home Canning. You could also consider canning your food in jars. You can learn the basics of home canning rather easily to make all sorts of things. This can also be a lot of fun to do, especially if you get your friends and family involved in the action.
Try Drying It. Dehydrating is another great low cost way to save your food. It also makes for great make ahead appetizers. There are really unlimited dishes you can make when you dehydrate fruits and vegetables!
Make a Donation. You could also try giving it to a local food bank. Check with your local organizations to see what programs they have you can get involved in. This is a fantastic idea for helping others around you without letting your harvest go to waste.
There are many things you can do with your excess fruits and vegetables. Best of all, all of these ideas are good tasting and fun to do!
