Food preservation helps in stopping or to slowing down the growth of bacteria, fungi or yeast and other micro-organisms in the food to prevent spoilage. Retaining the nutritional value and flavor of the food is an essential aspect of food preservation process. Different types of food require different methods of preservation. Increased shelf life of food helps in reducing the cost of production. Here’re some methods of preserving foods properly. Read on.
Complexity Level: Moderate
Time Required: 20 minutes
Resources Required:
1. Air-tight bags or containers
2. Salt
3. Sugar
4. Vinegar
5. Oil
6. Dry Plastic bags to store in refrigerator
Instructions:
There are various ways to preserve food articles. Some of the commonly used methods are as follows:
1. Drying: This is one of the methods of food preservation in which water content in the food is removed by drying it. It hinders the growth of micro-organisms in food. It enables the use of food for longer periods. Water is usually removed by evaporation. It is also removed by drying in air, sun or wind.
2. Refrigeration: Refrigerators are used to slow down the growth of micro-organisms in eatables. It helps in storing foods such as fruits, vegetables and dairy products for longer periods, especially during hot weather.
3. Freezing: Freezing is also one of the most frequently used preservation methods, both at commercial and domestic level. It is used to preserve a wide variety of foods. It ensures that the food is safe for consumption for longer period i.e. many months. Cold storage houses are one of the examples of it.
4. Vacuum packing: It is done with the use of air-tight containers or bags. It strips micro-organisms of oxygen gas which avoid their growth. It can be used to store spices.
5. Salt: Salt can also be used as a preservative. It dries moisture from food. Food articles like meat and tamarind can be stored with the help of salt.
6. Sugar: It can be used for preserving fruits. Some of the ways of preserving the food using sugar are by making jams or jellies. Fruit juice concentration is also one of the methods. It is about removing most of the water content from the juice and still retaining most of its nutrients, taste and color. Water is added to the concentration to make the juice.
7. Artificial Additives: There are some artificial additives which can be used as preservatives. By adding them, the growth of micro-organisms can be prohibited for a long period of time. Some of the common examples can be citric acid in fruit drinks, vinegar in pickles or antioxidants.
8. Canning: In this method, food is processed and then packed in air-tight containers. All the micro-organisms present in the food are removed through processing. Then, by packing processed food in air-tight containers, growth of micro-organisms is restricted.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can food preservation processes destroy the nutrients present in the food articles?
Yes, there is the possibility of the loss of nutrients in food preservation processes. Methods like drying or freezing may lead to nutrient loss.
Quick Tips:
- Store food in cool and dark place to save nutrients.
- Before preserving the food, clean the container or bag in which you are going to store the food. Make sure container or bag is completely dry before you use it.
Things To Watch Out For:
- Some of the preservation techniques may destroy enzymes which are found naturally in food.
- The salt method can be lethal for the child.
