8 Ways to Preserve Food At Home Without Using Chemicals

Very often, we make the common mistake of overshopping for food or cooking extra due to which we are left with extra food. Instead of throwing all of this away, we must learn to preserve this food at home. Now, one of the most common factors that stop people from preserving food is the usage of preservatives and chemicals. Today we will discuss eight ways you can preserve your food at home without using any kinds of chemicals.

Also Read: What Are The Common Methods Of Food Preservation?

1. Food Drying

Drying food is the best way to restrict any bacterial growth in the food. Dehydration is one practice that has been used by common people since ancient times. It refers to drying food by removing any kind of moisture content from the food. The most simple way of removing moisture from food is sun drying but that does not apply to a lot of food these days. Sun drying is also a very time-consuming process. There are a lot of products in the market including electric food dehydrators and freeze-drying products that speed up the process of removing moisture from the food. Some common foods that can be preserved by using food drying methods are spices, vegetables, fruits, pulses, meat and fish.

2. Freezing

Freezing doesn't require you to have any kind of special equipment other than a fully functional freezer. It also helps in retaining the freshness and the flavours of the food and doesn't make the food taste old. The best way to preserve food by freezing it is to keep it in a freezer bag and remove all the air from it. Make sure that you seal the bag before keeping it in the freezer as it helps in preventing the formation of ice crystals. Try to consume the food within six months of freezing it. 

3. Canning Food

This is a technique that was introduced in the 1800s, by a French Cook. This involves packaging food in big jars of cans, and then heating them at high temperatures to destroy the growth of microorganisms that lead to the rotting of food. During the heating process, another important thing that takes place is the removal of air out of the jars and the cans and the formation of a vacuum seal. This process is also called a water bath. This process is ideal for foods that are highly acidic, including citrusy, fruits, pictures, chutneys, salsa, and other foods with high vinegar content. 

4. Freeze Drying

Freeze drying is a process in which the food is dehydrated at a low temperature. In this process, the ice is removed by sublimation which means that ice is turned into vapours. This can be done with the help of a lot of options like using the freezer or doing it in a dry ice freeze dryer unit. The process is not very time-consuming and can be done in less than 24 hours. 

5. Preservation with Salt and Sugar

Most people don't know that before proper industrial freezing came onto the scene, people would preserve their food by using salt and sugar. Sometimes a mixture of both. Salt and sugar reduce the water content naturally and also prevent the growth of microorganisms in foods like meat, fruits and vegetables. Some of the most common foods are preserved with the help of sugar or jams and jellies. Salt is used to preserve pork, beef and bacon among many others. 

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6. Fermentation 

Fermentation is a process in which microorganisms like bacteria and yeast turn carbohydrates into alcohol or other organic acids. This is an anaerobic reaction. This might sound gross but some of our favourite food items, including cheese, yoghurt, Kombucha and Kimchi are prepared using this reaction. The process is also used in making a lot of bread, one of the most famous being sourdough bread.

7. Pressure Canning

This is another type of canning process in which you can preserve food using high temperatures. This process can be only used on foods that are low in acid such as vegetables, seafood, pulses, soups and dairy products. This process will require you to use some special equipment otherwise it won't be possible for you to gain food at such a high temperature.

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8. Olive oil Preservation

Other than being an amazing substitute for unhealthy cooking oil, Olive oil is also used in preserving food as it isolates food from the outer air. This prevents any kind of microbial growth and the food gets sealed. Olive oil is used in the preservation of a lot of fresh herbs, fish and vegetables. Storing vegetables such as garlic, chilli, and mushrooms using a refrigerator is recommended as these are low in acids and might promote bacterial growth.

These are some simple ways through which you can preserve food at home, without using much equipment. All of these methods have been proven to extend the shelf life of the products.