OSU Extension Food Safety

06/02/2026

Thinking about tweaking a canning recipe? Be careful!

Approved canning recipes are tested for safety, and even small additions or deletions can change the processing time needed to make food safe. Ingredients that thicken a recipe or create a denser consistency can prevent heat from reaching all parts of the jar, increasing the risk of foodborne illness.

Want to add your favorite seasonings or special ingredients? Do it after opening the jar when reheating or serving. And remember—some recipes simply taste best when made fresh rather than canned.

For safe home canning, always follow tested recipes exactly as written. For questions related to home canning, contact your local OSU County Extension office.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

05/16/2026

Christi Evans, Assistant State Extension Specialist tells us why this matters?

• Canning is a science requiring tested recipes
• Safety depends on precise acidity, ingredients, and processing times
• AI-generated recipes may omit critical safety steps
Key reminders for clients:
• AI is helpful for general cooking ideas
• Do NOT use AI for canning or food preservation
• Always rely on research-tested recipes
Trusted sources:
• USDA
• National Center for Home Food Preservation
• Extension materials
As AI becomes more prevalent, helping clients distinguish between safe and unsafe uses is essential.

04/23/2026

📢 Join us for an upcoming webinar on DUO Eligible Value-Added Foods!

OSU Extension is partnering with the Oklahoma Local Ag Collaborative and Hunger Free Oklahoma to host a DUO Eligible Value-Added Webinar on May 20th.

Learn how to create food products that meet Double Up Oklahoma (DUO) standards—without added salt, sugar, or fat—and better understand eligibility requirements.

✨ What you’ll learn:
• Overview of DUO eligibility guidelines
• Tips for producing and preserving DUO-compliant foods

This webinar is perfect for producers, food entrepreneurs, and organizations interested in developing DUO-eligible products.

🔗 Register here: tinyurl.com/DUOVALUEADDED

04/03/2026

Eggs are a big part of Easter fun, but don’t forget to keep them safe to eat!

Keep Eggs Cool:
- Always store eggs in the refrigerator (40°F or below)
- Don’t leave eggs out for more than 2 hours

Handling Hard-Boiled Eggs:
-Refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking
-Use within 1 week
-Keep them chilled until ready to eat

Decorating Eggs Safely:
- Use food-safe dyes if you plan to eat them
- Wash hands before and after handling eggs

Keep Easter fun AND safe because food safety matters!

02/20/2026

As a general rule, when in doubt, throw it out. Ensure water is safe, food is uncontaminated and medications are intact before use. These essentials are critical for protecting your family, livestock and overall recovery.
Learn more:

After a wildfire, the safety of water and food as well as medications are at the top of the priority list for affected families.

01/28/2026

Severe weather is as much a part of Oklahoma’s history as the Land Run of 1889. Residents are familiar with tornadoes, ice storms, wildfires, blizzards, floods and more. When Mother Nature unleashes her wrath, Oklahomans know to be prepared.
Read more at https://bit.ly/3Z4xC3W

01/21/2026

❄️Winter Storm Food Safety: Be Prepared for Power Outages ❄️

With a winter storm warning in effect and possible power outages, now is a good time to review food safety basics to help keep your family safe.

BEFORE THE STORM:

✅ Freeze containers of water to fill empty space and help keep your freezer cold. A full freezer will keep food cold for about 48 hours (24 hours if half full).

✅ Keep appliance thermometers in your refrigerator and freezer. If the power goes out, this will help you determine whether food stayed at a safe temperature (40°F or below).

✅ Have coolers and ice or freezer packs ready to help keep foods cold if needed.

✅ Have shelf-stable foods on hand that don’t require refrigeration or cooking.

DURING A POWER OUTAGE:

✅ Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed.
A refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it remains unopened.

AFTER AN OUTAGE:

✅ Check the temperature of the refrigerator and freezer with an appliance thermometer. Foods are generally safe if the temperature remained 40°F or below.

✅ If you do not have an appliance thermometer, check foods individually. Refrigerated foods must be at 40°F or below; frozen foods should still be frozen or have ice crystals.

✅ When in doubt, throw it out.
Perishable foods (meat, poultry, seafood, milk, leftovers) should be discarded if they were above 40°F for 2 hours (or 1 hour if temperatures are above 90°F). Do not taste food to determine safety.

Staying informed and prepared can help prevent foodborne illness during winter weather events. Stay safe and warm!

12/15/2025

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Class II recall on more than 3,000 cases of salad dressings, sauces, and condiments produced by Ventura Foods, LLC because they may contain black plastic pieces — a potential choking hazard or risk of internal injury. These products were distributed to delis, cafeterias, and other food-service locations in 27 states, including Oklahoma.

Official FDA Recall Information: https://bit.ly/4pAywk3

What You Should Do:
-Check your fridge and any prepared foods you’ve purchased (especially at deli counters or salad bars).
-Do not consume any recalled products or foods made with them.
-Discard them or return for a refund at the place of purchase.

12/01/2025

Thinking about preserving eggs at home?
Here’s what you need to know to keep them safe:

🥚 Water glassing eggs is not a safe, recommended method of home food preservation.
🥚 There are no approved home canning directions for eggs.

For best quality and safety, store eggs in their original carton in the refrigerator and use within 3 weeks.

If you need to keep eggs longer, freezing is the only safe, recommended option.

Pickled eggs can be made at home, but they must stay refrigerated at 40°F or below. They should never sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

How to freeze eggs:
• Break each egg separately into a clean saucer
• Mix yolks and whites gently (don’t whip air in)
• To prevent grainy yolks, add ONE of the following per 1 cup of whole eggs:
— 1½ Tbsp sugar
— 1½ Tbsp corn syrup
— ½ tsp salt
• Strain to improve uniformity
• Package with ½-inch headspace, seal, label, and freeze.

11/24/2025

Don’t wash your turkey! Rinsing meat or poultry spreads germs and increases the risk of cross-contamination.