I am a food Preservation Coach at https://preservingguide.com. I'll help you grow your love of food preservation - even if you have no experience at all.
What's In Season in May for Preserving
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May is such a good month for preserving. The mix is hard to beat, with sweet berries, cherries, citrus, fresh greens, and a long list of vegetables that are ready for the freezer, dehydrator, pickle jar, or canner. This is the month to watch strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, apricots, lemons, and limes. If you love making jam, jelly, syrup, or fruit leather, now is a great time to stock up. Rhubarb is also worth grabbing while it's looking good. It freezes well and makes an easy jelly or sauce. On the vegetable side, May is full of preserving favorites. Asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, garlic, herbs, kale, leeks, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard, and turnips all give you plenty of options. Some are best pickled, some freeze beautifully, and some are perfect for dehydrating for later use. A few good May preserving ideas:
A quick note for safe preserving, not every food in season is meant for canning the same way. Fruits like bananas, avocado, and plantains are better suited to freezing or dehydrating than home canning. For vegetables, always use tested methods and recipes, especially for low-acid foods. If your goal this month is to fill the pantry without overthinking it, start with the easy wins: berries for the freezer, herbs for the dehydrator, cucumbers and radishes for pickling, and greens for blanching and freezing. A little work now makes summer and fall meals so much easier. May doesn't last long. If something on this list is your family's favorite, this is a good time to preserve a little extra while it's in season. Happy Preserving! |
Preserving Guide
I am a food Preservation Coach at https://preservingguide.com. I'll help you grow your love of food preservation - even if you have no experience at all.
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