Penn State Extension, Lancaster County, will offer two home food preservation workshops.

The "Pressure Canning" workshop will be held on Monday, Aug. 21, from 1 to 3 p.m., and the "Introduction to Drying" workshop will be offered on Wednesday, Aug. 30, from 10 a.m. to noon. The programs will take place at the Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster.

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in home food preservation. Canning and drying are methods of food preservation that allow people to enjoy seasonal foods all year long. While these methods of home food preservation have existed for centuries, much has been learned about the science behind safe canning and drying methods.

In the upcoming workshops, Penn State Extension educators will explain the scientific reasoning behind today's recommended methods for preserving products while dispelling food preservation myths and unsafe practices of the past.

In the canning worship, attendees will learn the science behind pressure canning recommendations as well as the basics of using a pressure canner based on current USDA canning guidelines. Pressure canning is the only safe way to can low-acid foods such as vegetables and meats. To register for the workshop by Monday, Aug. 14, visit http://www.extension.psu.edu/home-food-preservation-pressure-canning or call 877-345-0691.

In the drying workshop, participants will learn various methods of drying, including oven drying, using a dehydrator, microwave drying and air drying; pretreatment steps such as blanching and using anti-darkening soaking solutions to ensure a quality product; food safety considerations when processing jerky; what to look for when buying a dehydrator; and ideas for using dehydrated foods.

To register for the drying workshop by Wednesday, Aug. 23, visit http://www.extension.psu.edu/introduction-to-drying or call 877-345-0691.

Alternately, "Introduction to Drying" will be offered as a live webinar on Monday, Sept. 25, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Register by Friday, Sept. 22, by visiting http://www.extension.psu.edu/home-food-preservation-introduction-to-drying or calling 877-345-0691.

Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. Those who anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided should contact Stacy Reed at 717-394-6851.