Question

Paheli watched her grandmother making mango pickle after she bottled the pickle her grandmother poured oil on top of the pickle before closing the lid paheli wanted to know why oil was poured.

Answer 1

Preservation of food items

1. Oil and vinegar are used to prevent spoilage of pickles as bacteria are not able to grow in such an environment. This method is used to preserve vegetables, fruits, fish, and meat.
2. Sugar can reduce the moisture content of the food which will inhibit the growth of bacteria and will prevent it from spoiling. This method is used to preserve jams, jellies, and squashes.
3. Common salt is also used to preserve food like meat and fish. They are layered with dry salt to cut out the growth of bacteria.
4. The attack of microbes are prevented is by selling dry fruits and vegetables in airtight packets.
5. The oil used in the pickle forms a layer between air and pickle to protect it against the bacteria in the air. This will help to increase the life of the pickle and doesn’t allow the bacteria to destroy the pickle.