10 Food Preservation Methods You Can Try At Home

No matter how smartly you spend on groceries, there is a dire need to learn the basic food preservation methods. Preserving food at home does not necessarily need to be complex and detailed. Rather, they can be as simple as chilling your food so that it remains good for a longer period of time. Food preservation tricks will not only work in favor of your budget but will also help to decrease the percentage of food wasted each year. In this blog, we will discuss some simple home food preservation techniques and tips. As a beginner’s guide, all these steps will be discussed in detail. Here are the 10 food preservation methods you can try at home.

Importance Of Food Preservation

Food preservation methods are the steps you take to prepare the food for long-term storage. Although food preservation is a necessary skill, not everyone knows the right ways to conserve food. With the increasing food production at the domestic, as well as commercial levels, preventing food wastage is not only a personal but also a social responsibility.

Food preservation methods are ways in which we can prevent the formation and growth of pathogenic bacteria in the food. Moreover, we can also keep the food at its best quality and maintain its taste, color, and texture through these methods. An added benefit of preserving food is saving money, As food is stored for a long period of time, extra spending on grocery items can be avoided.

1. Freeze It

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Among the 10 easy ways to preserve food in your kitchen is freezing it. Be it vegetables, fruits, broths, or fully cooked meals, everything can be preserved in frozen form for days, weeks, and even months. Freezing works by slowing down the process of chemical reactions and minimizing the activity of microorganisms. As the temperature lowers, the harmful bacteria and enzymes enter a dormant state. As a result of this, the food’s flavor, texture, and nutritional content are easily maintained.

2. Canning

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Canning is a trusted food conservation method that is used all around the globe. This method is not only used at homes but it is also used at the industrial level by many food brands. To can food, it is packed in a jar and heated up to a temperature that kills harmful bacteria. After the jar cools down, the air is removed, and a tight seal is formed. This seal will stop the bacteria from sneaking back into the food. In this way, the chances of food getting spoiled are eliminated. Canning vegetables and fruits at home also nullify the effect of harmful enzymes that cause food contamination.

3. Water Bath Canning

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Water bath canning is considered to be one of the easiest food preservation methods because it does not require too much effort or complicated instruments. All you need for this preservation technique is a large stockpot and a canning rack. Along with that, you will need your mason jars.

In this process, you are required to fill the jars with food and remove air bubbles from the jars. Next, you have to cover the jars properly with lids and process them in boiling water. After the boiling process, you can cool down the jars and check their seals.

4. Vacuum Packing

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Here is another food preservation method that is very similar to canning. Vacuum packing works by halting the oxygen supply to bacteria by creating an airtight atmosphere. As bacterial growth stops due to oxygen shortage, there are minimum chances of food contamination. Through this method, the food life can be extended as compared to the regular shelf life of pantry storage or refrigeration. Moreover. the best part about vacuum packing is that the taste of your food will remain the same. Moreover, the food remains protected from germs, dirt, molds, and other environmental impacts.

5. Pickling – Ancient Food Preservation Technique

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Pickling is a food storage method that has been used for centuries. In this method, the food is preserved in an acidic solution. This can be done by using vinegar or through fermentation. The most common method of pickling is by using vinegar. In this procedure, the fruits and vegetables are placed in water, salt, and vinegar. It is recommended to make the vinegar brine in a glass jar so that the harmful impacts on the environment can also be minimized.

As far as fermentation pickling is concerned, it is a natural fermentation process that creates an acidic solution. Fermentation works by inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria and at the same time, supporting useful bacteria. As a result, the natural sugars in the vegetables will be converted into lactic acid. If we compare the two pickling processes, fermentation pickling is much slower as compared to vinegar pickling.

6. Food Preservation In The Form Of Jams & Marmalades

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A person who has a good knowledge of food preparation methods also knows the basic food preservation methods. Sugaring is a food preservation method that involves cooking and gives scrumptious end results in the form of jams and marmalades. Nothing can beat homemade jams and marmalades. Moreover, there is no better way of preserving leftover fruits than making a jam. The main ingredient in this method is sugar. A lot of sugar is added to the fruits which prevents them from spoiling. To make a jam, you require the right proportions of fruit, sugar, acid, and pectin. Pectin will help to create a gel-like consistency in the jam and the acid and sugar will play their role by slowing down the harmful bacterial growth.

To make a jam, the fruit and sugar are cooked together at a high temperature. The cooking process will kill all existing microbes in the fruit. Moreover, the high sugar concentration will prevent further microbial growth. The jams can be refrigerated in jars for extended time periods.

7. Salting

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Just like sugaring, salting is also a commonly known food preservation method. This process works by drawing out the food’s water content which results in diminished or zero bacterial growth. During this process, the salt added to the food can even destroy bacterial cells. However, if such a stage is reached, the food is likely to become unappetizing.

Salting further consists of 2 types. The first type is dry curing. During this process, food, such as meat is coated in salt and left to dry. As a result, all the water is drawn out from the meat.

The second type of salting is wet curing. Wet curing involves making a salt and water solution and then adding food to this solution.

8. Drying

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Food drying methods are a great way to preserve it for longer time periods. As the food dries, the growth of bacteria, yeast, and mold is inhibited because there is no moisture left in the food. Prehistoric people are known to have sun-dried seeds so this preservation method is passed down to us from our ancestors.

Some foods that can be best stored through the drying method include vegetables, fruits, legumes, spices, fish, meat, and of course, seeds.

9. Food Preservation Through Freeze Drying

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Freeze drying is a process that takes place at an extremely low temperature. In this process, the dehydration of the food is done through freezing. The water content of the food is removed in the form of ice through sublimation. As the ice turns into water vapor, it can be easily eliminated. If done in the freezer, this method can take several weeks. Therefore, it is recommended to use dry ice or a modern freeze-dryer unit for this purpose.

10. Infusing

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Infusing is another food preservation method that is not very commonly known. In this method, a solution is made by mixing herbs in a liquid and giving the properties of that herb to the solution. The infused liquid is then used to preserve food and even medicines. The solvents used for the solution include water, vinegar, oil, alcohol, glycerin, and honey.

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The 10 food preservation tricks discussed in this blog can be easily used at home. If you find this blog helpful, make sure to let us know!