Food Preservation
It is the process of storing and handling food properly so as to stop or slow down its spoilage.
Reason for Preserving Food
- To reduce food wastage
- To prevent it from being spoilt
- For easy transport
- To make food available when out of season.
Methods of Food Preservation
Food preservation is classified into;
- Traditional methods
- Modern methods
Traditional Methods
They include;
- Smoking- forms a coat
- Drying- reduce moisture
- Salting- reduce moisture
- Use of honey- prevents oxygen
- Use of ash- reduce moisture
Modern Methods
- Canning-killing germs and preventing oxygen
- Refrigeration- low temperature
- Freezing- low temperature
Drying is both traditional modern method of preserving food. It is also the cheapest method of food preservation.