Question

Explain how natural preservatives helps the food to store for longer time?

Answer 1

Natural preservatives:
Some naturally available materials like salt, sugar and oil are used as food preservatives.
1. Addition of salt:
It is one of the oldest methods of preserving food. Addition of salt removes the moisture content in the food by the process of osmosis. This prevents the growth of bacteria and reduces the activity of microbial enzymes. Meat, fish, gooseberry, lemon and raw mangoes are preserved by salting. Salt is also used as a preservative in pickles, canned foods etc.
2. Addition of sugar:
Sugar/Honey is added as a preservative to increase the shelf life of fruits and fruit products like jams, jellies, squash, etc. The hygroscopic nature of sugar/honey helps in reducing the water content of food and also minimizing the process of oxidation in fruits.
3. Addition of oil:
Addition of oil in pickles prevents the contact of air with food. Hence microorganisms cannot grow and spoil the food.