Food preservation aims to protect food from microbial growth and spoilage in order to extend its shelf life. There are various methods of food preservation that have advantages like increased availability and safety of foods. Common food preservation methods include use of chemicals like salt and sugar, application of heat or cold, drying, canning, irradiation, and pasteurization. Each method helps control microbes through different techniques like dehydration, high temperatures, or chemical inhibition to preserve foods for longer periods.
2. What is FoodPreservation
• Foodpreservationis one of themethodsto
protectfoodfromunwantedmicrobial
growth.
• Afterthefoodis produced, we store and
protectby coveringthericeand currywith
lidsto keep awayfliesand otherinsects.
• By this, we are protectingit fromany
infectioncausedby them.
• Thisis a short-termcondition. Food
preservation, on theotherhand,is doneto
preservefoodfor a longertime.
3. Advantages of Food Preservation
Food preservation can result in several advantages, some of which are substantial. These include:
§ Increased shelf-life
§ Decreased hazards from microbial pathogen
§ Decreased spoilage (microbial, enzymatic)
§ Inactivation of anti-nutritional factors
§ Ensured round the year availability of seasonal foods
§ Perishable foods that can be transported to far-off distances from the site of production
§ Increased availability of convenience foods (e.g. Ready-to-serve beverages, Instant mixes etc.)
§ Increased variety of foods, some with enhanced sensory properties and nutritional attributes.
§ Preservation in some cases produces a different form of the products which are of great importance in various
cuisines.
§E.g. raisins, squash and wines made from grapes.
5. Methods of Food Preservation :
1. Chemical Method
2. Sugar
3. Heat and Cold Methods
4. Strong Concentration and Chemical
5. Oil and Vinegar
6. Common Salt
7. Dehydration
8. Irradiation
9. Pasteurization
10.Smoking
11.Canning
12.Sterilization
13.Lyophilization.
14.Radiation
6. Chemical
Method
Salt and edible oils are two main preservatives which are used since ages to prevent microbial growth.
This is why we add extra oil to pickles.
Preservation by salt is known as salting.
Salting helps to preserve fruits for a long term.
Meats and fishes can also be preserved by salting.
Other synthetic preservatives include vinegar, sodium benzoate, sodium metabisulphite, etc.
7. Sugar
Sugar is another
common
preservative used
in jams and jellies.
Sugar is a good
moisture
absorbent.
By reducing
moisture content, it
restrains the
microbial growth.
8. Heat
and
Cold
Methods
• Heating at high temperature
kills all bacteria.
• Heating is done in canning
industry before packing and
sealing the food.
• Since, microbes do not grow
or multiply below the freezing
point of water.
• Cold treatment is used for
preservation of fishes and
vegetables.
10. OIL AND
VINEGAR
Oil has an ability to stop the
moisture from entering the food
and thus it acts as a barrier for
moisture.
In pickling oil plays a vital role as
pickles have to have a shelf life of
several years.
Vinegar and all other citric juices
can be used as an antioxidant as a
preservative.
12. DEHYDRATIO
N (DRYING)
Drying is one of the oldest techniques
used to hamper the decomposition of
food products.
Vegetables and fruit are naturally
dried by the sun and wind.
13. IRRADIATION
o Irradiation of food is the exposure of food to ionizing radiation. The two types
of ionizing radiation used are beta particles (high-energy electrons) and
gamma rays.
o Treatment effects include killing bacteria, molds, and insect pests, reducing the
ripening and spoiling of fruits, and at higher doses inducing sterility.
14. PASTEURIZATIO
N
Pasteurization is exposing (a food, as milk, cheese, yogurt, beer, or wine) to an elevated temperature for a period of time sufficient to
destroy certain microorganisms, as those that can produce disease or cause spoilage or undesirable fermentation of food, without
radically altering taste or quality.
15. Smoking
Smoking prevents
dehydration in
fish and meat
and thus
prevents
spoilage.
The wood smoke
contains a large
number of anti-
microbial
compounds that
slow the
rancidification
of animal fats.
16. Canning
The food contents are sealed in
an airtight container at high
temperatures.
Meat, fish, fruits are preserved
by canning.