food-preservation
Keeping edibles fresh
Food preservation encompasses methods for keeping food edible longer by slowing spoilage from bacteria, mold, or oxidation.
Traditional techniques include salting, smoking, drying, pickling, and fermenting.
Modern methods add refrigeration, canning, and vacuum sealing.
The development of food-preservation techniques allowed civilizations to survive winters and famines.
Glass containers for preserving
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
- pressure canningHeat-sealing foods in jars
- water bathHeated vessel within vessel
- vacuum sealAirless container barrier
tomatoes · lids · headspace · processing time · home canning · shelf life · acidity · jam
Bacterial food preservation method
- kimchiFermented Korean vegetables
- sauerkrautLacto-fermented cabbage
- picklingAcid preservation process
- brineWater saturated with sodium
cultures · probiotics · miso · tempeh · kefir · kombucha · crock · salt
Excessive fluid loss
- jerkyCured meat snack
- biltongCured dried meat snack
- dried fruitDehydrated edible plant matter
- raisinsDried grape snack
stockfish · pemmican · freeze-drying · apricots · dates · mushrooms · herbs · bacalao
Structure for preserving with fumes
- cold smokingCuring food below cooking temperature
- hot smokingSmoking food with heat
- wood chipsFragmented lumber pieces
- hickoryDense North American hardwood
mesquite · smoked salmon · lox · bacon · ham · kippered · fish smoking · brisket
Rapid sub-zero preservation
- freezerSubzero storage compartment
- blanchingBriefly boiling then cooling
- ice crystalsSolid water formations
- frozen vegetablesProduce preserved by cold
freezer burn · vacuum packing · chest freezer · thawing · cold chain · frozen berries · temperature control · frost
Preservation using sucrose
- nitritesNitrogen-oxygen salt compounds
- corned beefBrined, cured brisket
- gravlaxRaw salmon, salt-cured
- pancettaItalian salt-cured belly
prosciutto · dry cure · guanciale · salt box · curing salt · pink salt · coppa · salt cod
mason jars
Glass containers for preserving
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
- pressure canningHeat-sealing foods in jars
- water bathHeated vessel within vessel
vacuum seal · tomatoes · lids · headspace · processing time · home canning · shelf life · acidity · jam · pickling
lacto-fermentation
Bacterial food preservation method
- kimchiFermented Korean vegetables
- sauerkrautLacto-fermented cabbage
- picklingAcid preservation process
brine · cultures · probiotics · miso · tempeh · kefir · kombucha · crock · salt · lactic acid
dehydration
Excessive fluid loss
- jerkyCured meat snack
- biltongCured dried meat snack
- dried fruitDehydrated edible plant matter
raisins · stockfish · pemmican · freeze-drying · apricots · dates · mushrooms · herbs · bacalao · dried shrimp
smokehouse
Structure for preserving with fumes
- cold smokingCuring food below cooking temperature
- hot smokingSmoking food with heat
- wood chipsFragmented lumber pieces
hickory · mesquite · smoked salmon · lox · bacon · ham · kippered · fish smoking · brisket · smoke ring
flash freezing
Rapid sub-zero preservation
- freezerSubzero storage compartment
- blanchingBriefly boiling then cooling
- ice crystalsSolid water formations
frozen vegetables · freezer burn · vacuum packing · chest freezer · thawing · cold chain · frozen berries · temperature control · frost · defrost
sugar curing
Preservation using sucrose
- nitritesNitrogen-oxygen salt compounds
- corned beefBrined, cured brisket
- gravlaxRaw salmon, salt-cured
pancetta · prosciutto · dry cure · guanciale · salt box · curing salt · pink salt · coppa · salt cod
food-preservationfood spoilage
Deterioration rendering meals inedible
decomposition · rotting · putrefaction · perishing · spoiling
food, foods, foodie, foodies, foodstuff, foodstuffs, preserve, preserves, preserved