Preserving
Make the most of each season by preserving what’s abundant now. Whether you want to ferment vegetables, make jams and syrups, pickle your harvest or preserve herbs, you’ll find practical guides and recipes here to help you enjoy seasonal food for longer.
New to preserving? Start with the basics or explore the different preserving methods below.
PRESERVE THIS MONTH
What to Preserve in November
November is when I’m just as likely to open a jar as fill one. But there are still pumpkins to pickle in a sweet-and-sour brine, pears to bottle in cinnamon syrup, and crisp red cabbage to ferment with orange and spices.
If you feel like putting up one more batch before winter, here are a few ways to make the most of what’s in season. I’d start with the red cabbage. A spoonful adds a welcome crunch to a plate of roast potatoes.
Fermented Red Cabbage with Orange and Spices
Give fermented red cabbage a seasonal twist with orange and warming spices. This colourful ferment pairs the cabbage’s tangy crunch with fragrant citrus and cinnamon—a delicious addition to winter salads, sandwiches and hearty meals.
How to Preserve Quince: 5 Easy Methods for Beginners
Quince may seem intimidating at first—hard, tart, and inedible when raw—but this golden autumn fruit transforms into something magical when preserved. Whether you’re making fragrant quince paste, jewel-toned jelly, or simple quince compote, preserving this heirloom fruit is easier than you think. In this beginner-friendly guide, you’ll discover simple techniques to capture quince’s unique flavour and fill your pantry with homemade preserves that will last for months.
Sweet-sour pumpkin
Let’s be honest: there comes a point every autumn when we hit “peak pumpkin spice”. You know, when even your neighbour’s cat seems to wear a pumpkin spice collar. But wait: before you swear off anything pumpkin for the rest of your life, let me introduce you to this...
EXPLORE PRESERVING
Explore Preserving Topics
Choose a preserving method and find practical guides, recipes and troubleshooting advice to help you preserve seasonal ingredients with confidence.
Fermentation
Learn the basics of fermentation, troubleshoot common problems and find recipes for turning seasonal ingredients into flavourful ferments.
Pickling & Preserving
Find practical recipes and guides for pickling vegetables and preserving fruit and other seasonal produce in jars.
Jams, Jellies & Syrups
Turn seasonal fruit, flowers and herbs into homemade jams, jellies and syrups to enjoy long after their season has passed.
Herbs & Other Preserves
Explore simple ways to dry, freeze and preserve herbs and other seasonal ingredients that don’t quite fit into the preserving jar.
KEEP IN TOUCH
More Seasonal Ideas, Straight to Your Inbox
Follow the seasons with me. Get practical gardening, preserving and recipe ideas, new projects and occasional inspiration for making more of what each season has to offer