The Wilmington morning star., 1943-11-29
PREVENT FOODS
FROM FREEZING
Thousands OF Dollars
Worth OF Canned Pro-
ducts Ruined By Cold

6Q L1llS WulIC4 Ny r. ~
from freezing, by storing it in
dry place, and by keeping it in
the dark, says Pauline E. Gordon,
Extension specialist in home man
agement and house furnishings at
N. c. State College.
She points out that proper stor-
age of vegetables and fruits is
one of the most important points
in food conservation and that food
which is worth the time and work
of canning, deserves the kind OF
storage that will keep it sound.
She cites the work Of j. F. Cabe
of Clay county and his wife in
food conservation through canning
and good storage of more than 300
quarts of food. The Ca es former
" lived in the Chatuge reservoir
area, which is now under water,
but at present they are relocated
on farm just few miles out
of Hayesville.
Cabe took salvaged materials
from his old home and built an
excellent storage for Mrs. Cabe.
He insulated the walls, roof, and
doors of the food storage closet
and made floor of cement. There
are strong, well-spaced shelves
and, in fact; it meets all the re-
quirements of good storage, ac-
cording to Miss Gordon.
Cabe was not satisfied with pro-
viding good storage for his own
canned food so he helped his ten
ant build "bank'' storage unit in
the side of the hill next to his
home. The roof and front of this
unit was well insulated and a con-
crete floor was made. Miss Cor
don pointed out that this type OF
unit is not as good as the Cabe
closet because it is hard to keep
the stored food thoroughly dry.
Cabe's neighbors, who had been
losing large amounts of canned
vegetables and fruits from freez-
ing and dampness,. became inter-
ested in his storage closet and
two of them asked Cabe to help
them build storage closets just
like his.
Miss Gordon says that conve-
nient, freeze-proof, thoroughly dry
and dark storage place for canned
foods is needed in every farm
home. 1t is also needed for eggs,
potatoes, pumpkins and other
foods. "Give me the foods that
were lost in North Carolina last
winter from freezing and from
dampness and l will feed many
thousands of soldiers or peoples
who have just been freed from
Axis domination. Just think of
how many sweet potatoes we lost.
II these could have been saved,
they would have fed a small ar
N.Y. the home management spe-
cialist said.
She pointed out that the freez-
| ing of canned food does not make
it unfit to eat but that when a jar
is cracked, the food spoils and is
lost. On recent trip she inspect
ed storage closet and noted 3
small hole in the door. She recon-
mended that it be closed up i'm
mediately and then the farmer
, wife told her that this hole in the
door caused them to lose about s.
or Sc worth of canned food las
winter.
In another closet she noted a de
fective ventilator. which had no
+ been repaired and the housewife
told her that all of the canned
food on the top shelf was frozer
last winter because of this lacl
OF attention in making the close
snug.
j, Where insulation material is no,
available, Miss Gordon suggest
ed that one or more layers O.
cardboard be tackled to the inside
walls OF the storage room to give
additional protection.
I Manufacturers have cautioned
housewives to keep their canned
food in thoroughly dry place be-
cause it has been necessary te
use substitute materials in max.
ing rubbers and lids for jars and
IN making tin cans. Rust due te
dampness can cause exceptional
~ large losses to canned foods
and under present conditions ev.
cry ounce of food should be con.
served. Conservation is one Of
the big jobs in the Food Fo,
freedom fight, according to Miss
| Gordon.
She also suggesed a "hlackout
Tor the storage room. If there is a
window. it should have shade
and the shade should be drawn SO
as to keep the room dark. When
exposed to light, canned foods
1ade and become less. attra ctive
They also lose some of their vita.
minis.
"A last suggestion Miss Gordon
made was that, regardless of whe.
Their the storage unit be a closet
a cellar, Or an outside building #
pc conveniently located so as to
save the homemaker as MANY
steps as possible.
-V-