Martha Stewart's Cooking School Season 2 Episode 11 Preserving

Martha Stewart's Cooking School season 2 episode 11, titled "Preserving," focuses on the art of preserving food through various methods such as canning, pickling, and jam-making.

Martha begins the episode by discussing the importance of food preservation in history, especially during times of scarcity or when certain foods are only available during certain seasons. She then goes on to teach various techniques of food preservation that can be used to extend the shelf life of fresh produce.

Martha starts by explaining the process of making fruit preserves, specifically strawberry jam. She talks about the importance of using fresh fruit and sugar in the correct proportion, while also demonstrating the proper method of removing the stems from the strawberries. She then cooks the jam to the right temperature and shows how to properly sterilize jars to store the jam, as well as how to correctly seal the jars.

Next, Martha moves on to water bath canning, a preservation technique that involves cooking jars of food in a large pot of boiling water. She demonstrates how to preserve pickles, starting with properly preparing the cucumbers and brine solution. She then heats the jars in boiling water and transfers them to a cooling rack to seal.

Martha also highlights another method of pickling, called refrigerator pickling. This involves a slightly different process using a vinegar-based brine that does not require canning. Martha shows how to prepare a batch of refrigerator pickles using vegetables such as carrots, radishes, and cauliflower.

Throughout the episode, Martha emphasizes the importance of maintaining proper sanitation and hygiene when preserving food to avoid any contamination or foodborne illnesses. She also explains the science behind the preservation methods and how they work to prevent food from spoiling.

The episode concludes with Martha discussing the versatility of preserved foods and how they can be used in a variety of recipes, such as incorporating pickled vegetables into a salad or spreading jam on toast.

Overall, "Preserving" is a practical and informative episode that teaches viewers the art of food preservation with clear instructions and visuals. Martha's expertise and passion for cooking and food preservation shine through, making this episode a must-watch for anyone interested in preserving food.