UCCE Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra

You have seen us at the County Fair! You may have even attended one of our FREE Food Preserving classes. UCCE Master Food Preserver volunteers are agents of the University of California and work through the UC Cooperative Extension to educate the community on the safe practices of food preservation, including pickling, sausages, preserves and much more.

This website is designed to help you find information about food safety and information about your local Master Food Preservers.

• Questions About Food Preservation?
• Need a speaker for your organization?
• Interested in attending a food preservation class?
• We provide FREE Pressure Canner Dial-Gauge Testing - should be done annually! Call our office to arrange a time to drop off your dial-gauge (or entire canner). One of our volunteers will test it and document the status. 

Have You Purchased A New Mirro Weighted Gauge Canner?

But that’s not how the redesigned canner works. Unfortunately the canner was updated but the canning instructions were not. The Mirro weighted gauge canner now hisses once every 15-20 seconds instead of rocking continuously when it is at pressure. That’s kind of important to know.

There are several other differences between the instructions and actual operating procedures. Click here to download updated instructions for steps 10-17 to make sure you operate your new Mirro weighted gauge canner correctly.

Canning on Smooth Cooktops

UCCE Master Food Preserver volunteers are frequently asked about canning on smooth cooktop stoves.  It depends on the manufacturer's recommendation. Get more information from the National Center for Home Food Preservation about preserving on smooth cooktop stoves.