Preserving shortening
I’ve read you can preserve solid shortening, thereby extending shelf life by melting and pouring in jars and vacuum sealing. Do you know if doing this with liquid oil like olive oil would be effective in preserving it?
Franki Johnston
Hot Springs, Arkansas
You can do this, but solid shortening unopened stays good for years. After it’s opened, it usually stays good for many months. I haven’t done liquid oil, but if you heated the oil and poured it into hot, sterile jars, it probably keep the oil from becoming rancid in time. But then, I’ve never had olive oil go rancid, even in an opened container that’s been around a long time. — Jackie
Homemade V8 juice
My Mom would like to make a combination of fruit and vegetable juice, much like the new V8 Juice Infusions. She and I both make our own tomato juice, so that part’s easy. What would be a good tool for juicing fruit? (I use a Vita-Mix but Mom doesn’t have one.) Can you suggest any recipes?
Carol Elkins
Pueblo, Colorado
I’m buying the juicer that Emergency Essentials sells. It’s in the catalog this month for $109. My friend, Jeri, has a similar one and she always gets MUCH more juice than I do using the old simmering and jelly bag method. Sorry, but I don’t have any recipes for mixed tomato/fruit juices. Try online. Do be sure if you’re canning it, to use the processing time for the fruit or tomato juice requiring the longest processing time, for safety. — Jackie
