10 Best Food Preservation Methods with Examples

All of us get our energy from food but food poisoning or spoilage is the leading cause of illness in people. Also, we do find ourselves in precarious situations when our food spoils, which leads to food waste. To stop this, the food must be preserved in several ways. Continue reading to learn about some food preservation methods with examples.

What is food preservation?

“Food preservation is a technique used to prevent food contamination by microbes, food poisoning, and food spoilage.”

One strategy to shield food from unwelcome microbial growth is food preservation. Once the food is prepared, we cover the rice and curry with lids to store it and keep insects and flies away.

We are shielding it from any illness that they might cause by doing this. This is a transient state. On the other side, food preservation is done to keep food fresher for longer.

Justifications for food preservation

The following are justifications for food preservation:

• Certain seasonal commodities, such as fresh maize, mangoes, and certain vegetables, can be kept for use during off-season periods.
• Food must be stored in some farming villages when there is an abundance of products to be sold in cities or during times of food crises.
• Food deterioration can be avoided through preservation.
• Foods that have been preserved stay fresh for extended periods.
• Food preservation aids in transforming food into a format that is ideal for marketing and transportation.

Reasons for food storage

1. To save money by purchasing food in bulk.
2. It saves time and energy of going to the market always.
3. It ensures that there is always food in the house.

Factors Affecting Food Storage

Each food has an expiration date. To store food as long as possible while keeping it safe is the goal. Foods’ shelf life and quality are impacted by:

• Food quality to be stored: Before being preserved, food should be in good condition; for example, roots and tubers shouldn’t have any wounds.
• Moisture content: Foods that have a high moisture content are more likely to spoil and provide an environment that is favorable to bacterial attacks.
• Temperature: Although fresh fruits and vegetables require 5°C to 10°C, meat and fish require 0°C to retain their nutritional value. Other foods, on the other hand, demand a greater temperature.
• Types of food packaging: How food is packaged has an impact on how it is stored. Certain foods require plastic packaging, whereas others can be wrapped in tin or sac sacks.
• Food preparation: Food that is undercooked has a high rate of spoilage.

10 Best Food Preservation Methods with Examples

Compared to raw food, preserved food can be kept for a longer time. There are various ways to preserve food. Typical techniques consist of:

• Low-temperature preservation
• Refrigeration
• Freezing
• Drying
• Smoking
• Canning
• Sterilization
• Dehydration
• Radiation
• Chemical Method

1. Low-temperature preservation

Many goods can be kept longer on the shelf by being stored at low temperatures. Low temperatures generally slow many of the physical and chemical reactions that take place in food and decrease the growth rates of microbes.

2. Refrigeration

Many foods can have their shelf lives extended by being stored at temperatures lower than 4 °C (40 °F). Meats, eggs, dairy products, and fresh produce are among the items that are frequently kept chilled.

Certain foods, like tropical fruits like bananas, become ruined at cold temperatures. Furthermore, refrigeration can only postpone the deterioration of food; it cannot enhance its quality.

One problem that has been resolved by contemporary mechanical refrigeration is food dehydration from moisture condensation. This is achieved by using appropriate packaging techniques and humidity control devices inside the storage chamber.

3. Freezing

This method of food preservation involves rapidly freezing food by placing it in a freezer. A temperature of zero degrees Celsius (0°C) or lower may be required for high-quality frozen food. Meat, seafood, tomatoes, and other foods are a few examples of foods that can be frozen.

4. Drying

Certain foods and herbs can be prepared using this technique. It entails using an oven, air drying, sun drying, or a food dehydrator to dry the food. Herbs ought to be dried in a warm environment as opposed to in direct sunlight. Dried foods include things like beef, dried veggies from the garden, and basil, among others.

5. Smoking

Meat and fish are among the foods that can be preserved using this technique. It entails laying the fish or meat over a fire so that the heat and hot smoke from the fire will dry it. Foods that are smoked for preservation include crayfish, smoked fish, pork, etc.

6. Canning

This includes preparing the produce—such as fish, meat, peas, etc.—in a particular oil or paste and canning it in an airtight can under stringent hygienic guidelines. Examples of this include baked beans, sweet corn, and sardines.

7. Sterilization

This process is used to get rid of bacteria from food. For example, sterilizing milk at 100°C eliminates germs.

8. Dehydration

It is the procedure for extracting water from food. It is the easiest approach and eliminates water to keep food from spoiling.

9. Radiation

Another name for this process is cold sterilization. UV, X, and gamma radiation destroy every undesirable microorganism found in food.

10. Chemical Method

The two main preservatives that have been used for millennia to stop microbiological growth are salt and edible oils. For this reason, we smother pickles with extra oil. Salting refers to the process of salt preservation. Fruits can be kept fresher for longer when salted. Salting is another method for preserving meats and seafood.

Sodium metabisulphite, vinegar, and sodium benzoate are a few more artificial preservatives. Another popular preservative in jams and jellies is sugar. Sugar is an effective humectant. It inhibits microbial development by lowering the moisture content.

Summary

Foods are preserved to prevent food spoilage due to microbes and to maintain the food’s nutritional content. In addition to saving money when food is bought in bulk, storing food also saves time and energy compared to daily market trips.

Many factors can affect the quality and shelf life of food, such as temperature, moisture content, and type of food packaging. A food store is a space or location designed to keep food products near the kitchen.

One way to take care of this room is to sweep it every day, fumigate it, etc. On the other hand, fitted cupboards, cabinets, and shelves in contemporary kitchen designs offer ample space for storing food products, small cooking equipment, and other necessities.

Cleaning regularly and organizing food products correctly are two ways to keep these storage facilities maintained. It’s also possible to keep food cold by storing it in a refrigerator or freezer to prevent spoiling.

Recommendations

• 8 Harmful Effects of Plastic Water Bottles on Humans
  .
• Climate Change in Ethiopia – Effects, Overview
  .
• Deforestation in Ethiopia – Causes, Effects, Overview
  .
• Water Pollution in Cambodia – Causes, Effects, Overview
  .
• 17 Environmental Impacts of Water Scarcity