Because food is so important to survival, food preservation is one of the oldest technologies used by human beings. In this article, we’ll look at all of the different preservation techniques commonly used today. I¬n certain cases, a preservation technique may also destroy enzymes naturally found in a food that cause it to spoil or discolor quickly. An enzyme is a special protein that acts as a catalyst for a chemical reaction, and enzymes are fairly fragile. By increasing the temperature of food to about 150 degrees Fahrenheit (66 degrees Celsius), enzymes are destroyed.
Key Takeaways:
- While harvesting fresh food from your garden might not be in the cards for the next few months, there’s no reason you can’t still eat fresh food from the garden.
- Some are easier than others, some are safer than others, and some plants can only be preserved in certain ways.
- For those of you who don’t have enough sunlight or heat to properly sun-dry your harvest, the oven is your best friend.
“Food preservation techniques have been around just about as long as we humans have, and they’re still some of the best ways to make sure that you have food long after your gardening season is over.”