Food Storage and Preservation

We need food items like wheat, rice, and pulses throughout the year. However, crops are harvested only at certain times of the year. So, we must store and protect the food from one season until the next season to ensure we have enough food.

Different foodstuffs are grown in different places. These foods must be kept fresh while being transported from farms to people in different areas. For example, eggs, milk, and milk products must stay fresh while being transported from farms to the people who buy them.

• Food protection: Prevention of food spoilage by microbial growth and infestation by pests is called food protection.
• Food preservation: The use of various preservatives to prevent, for a long period of time, food spoilage due to internal factors is called food preservation.

Fruits and vegetables are available in large quantities in certain seasons, and they taste best during those seasons. To prevent them from spoiling, we use preservation methods so we can enjoy them all year round.

In many households, foods such as papads, jams, pickles, onions, fish, and masalas (spices) are prepared and preserved for long-term use, often lasting an entire year.

• In modern times, preserved food items like jams, pickles, and spices are also readily available in the market.
• To reduce frequent visits to the market, food is often stored at home for several days.
• When food prepared for a meal is not fully consumed, preservation methods are used to store the leftovers, allowing them to be safely consumed later.