The number of ways in which one can preserve and store food, for emergencies on a small and a large scale is simply mind-boggling!! food storage needs are based on basic survival instincts which the human mind has ingrained deep inside and as man has evolved, the methods of food storage have also evolved to a very great degree.
Food left untreated becomes rancid and gets discolored because of oxidation processes, as in the case of brinjals, apples and potatoes and other fruits and vegetables. Harmful micro-organisms act on food and spoil their taste, color, texture if left out for more than a certain number of hours. The food becomes uneatable after that as it gets totally spoilt and rotten because of bacterial action.
There are many methods to preserve food and some of them are canning, spray-drying, freezing, dehydrating etc. Some foods require to be sealed well after the preservation process is complete, some such as grains, cereals can be stored as they are after drying is complete in godowns or granaries. Some require to be preserved in solutions of brine and canned to maintain freshness of taste. Some are salted and pickled and stored in glass bottles, some are preserved in sugar syrups and some in alcohol. Some have a shelf life of a couple of years, some have a shelf life of many years.
Posts Tagged ‘food storage’
Jan
27