Trying to get away from eating processed foods....?!
I know it's a lot of quesitons and I want to thank you all in advance!
Answers: And would like to make a huge crockpot full of spaghetti sauce and jar it to eat later on but I have never jarred anything in my life... how to I get the mason jars to seal and keep the air out so it won't spoil? How long will something jarred last and will it still have nutrients in it after being re-opened? Can you do this to other foods as well??
I know it's a lot of quesitons and I want to thank you all in advance!
When I make lots of food in advance, i.e. pasta sauce, I prefer to freeze it then jar it... I think it tastes so much nicer!
I know this isn't answering the question, but... :3
You need the "Ball Blue Book of Canning." You can check out their website online, but there's nothing like having a book to curl up w/ and read all about it, IMO. Pics too.
if you buy spaghetti sauce in a jar...it's usually not 'processed'. There are some GREAT organic brands that don't use the pesticides, etc..Paul Newmans, Muir Organic, heck, Ragu makes an organic sauce now, but I've never had it. Anyhow, to answer your question, make sure you sterilize your jars, lids and seals (dishwasher on HIGH HEAT), fill your jars with your sauce, and place into a boiling pot of water that will cover jar until the seal seals (the button will invert). OR...you can put your sauce into freezer bags/containers and freeze up to 6mo. Good luck!!
Spagetti sauce freezes very well. Check Americas Test Kitchen and other cooking sites for how long to freeze different foods.
As far as nutrients go, don't microwave your food. The microwave breaks down your food, destroying nutrients and will cause it to spoil quicker.
you should freeze it!
it last for soo long!
put it in one of those zip lock bags.
that's what my mom does :]