The Modern Pioneer Pantry: A Complete Guide to Preserving Food

Fill your pantry, save money, and eat healthier using time-tested methods from Mary Bryant Shrader of the Mary’s Nest YouTube channel.

There is no better way to preserve food than by using the methods our predecessors used. Canning, preserving, pickling, and drying have been used for centuries to make fresh food last longer and preserve garden harvests. Now, as grocery prices continue to rise, people have realized that these methods, when done properly and safely, can preserve fresh food for months and even years, which means less waste, a well-stocked pantry, and a bounty of delicious and healthy food.

Fans of Mary Bryant Shrader’s YouTube channel and website love her positive, encouraging approach to teaching complex topics in a way that is both entertaining and richly informative. In her first book, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook, Mary shared tips for cooking traditional foods and using simple ingredients to make healthy meals more economically. Now, in The Modern Pioneer Pantry, Mary goes in depth and teaches you how to use water-bath canning, pressure canning, pickling, fermenting, freezing, dehydrating, and drying to preserve everything from fruits and vegetables to salads, jams and jellies, pickles, and so much more.

In addition to in-depth instruction for each method and over 115 recipes, you’ll learn how to use Mary’s unique Four Corners Pantry approach to ensure your home will stay well stocked and food will never go bad. You’ll also learn how to source inexpensive ingredients, get the most out of your garden (or the produce section at your local supermarkets), and create a pantry that will be a source of pride and also nutrient-rich food for your family. Each chapter also includes a scannable QR code that links to instructional videos on the Mary’s Nest website.

Mary Bryant Shrader is a self-described ＂former New York City girl＂ who discovered the simple life with her husband in the Texas hill country. She’s a modern pioneer in the kitchen who has spent the last twenty years teaching friends and fans alike how to make nourishing recipes using traditional methods and whole, seasonal ingredients. Her mission is to teach her followers how to make nutrient-rich meals using traditional ＂pioneer＂ techniques like fermenting, canning, and drying. She provides detailed instructions for teaching traditional cooking techniques, such as making bone broth, sourdough bread, cultured dairy, rendering animal fats, and soaking and sprouting grains. Fans of Mary’s and her Mary’s Nest YouTube channel and website have come to love her encouraging, helpful demeanor and her familiar way of greeting every viewer with her ＂Hello, Sweet Friends!＂ salutation.