Food Preservation Methods

Discussion Cooking Methods: How many ways can you think of to prepare raw food to eat safely? What if you had no electricity to help you? In ancient times cooking was done in various ways, many of which centered on the fire. With the discovery and use of fire, humans were able to cook foods. Hawaiians couldnt heat anything over an open fire because they did not possess metal containers an ipu would burn. Instead, theyd heat stones and place them into or onto things. Hence the imu (cooking pit). Contrasted to todays methods, ovens, stoves and microwaves, these older methods seem rather primitive. But are they? Modern preservation methods: Canning process of preserving food by heating and sealing it in containers for storage preserving food for times of need risk of botulism poisoning botulism bacteria is most resilient to heat due to endosperm coating Freezing & freeze-drying creating environment where bacteria cannot grow bacteria on food is still there, just dormant upon thawing, bacteria will resume replicating freeze-dried foods last months to years examples of uses are strawberries in muffin mixes, sea food, fruit juice Ancient preservation methods: Fermentation Drying extends shelf-life oldest method of ancients noticed milk will dehydration turn into a solid or use of sun to dry foods semisolid yogurt and extend use yeast can be used to foods may also be dried create wine and beer over fires or with smoke some foods are better from fire when fermented (rice, milk, chocolate, coffee) Curing (salt) packing salt around food pulls out moisture without water, food becomes inhospitable for bacteria no bacteria = decreased spoilage (but we still have to deal with molds) Dehydration longer storage smaller size and weight recirculated air will not dry food more air moving over food the quicker it will dry sun dry, room dry, oven dry, dehydrators Irradiation food is exposed to a controlled amount of radiation to destroy organisms responsible for spoilage helps food maintain chemical make-up after exposure, microorganisms cannot reproduce or make toxins increased radiation increases preservation effect

Discussion Disaster Preparedness: What would you do if our island was cut off from fresh food and water by a hurricane or other natural disaster leaving us without electricity for many days? Which methods above would help us?
Ka Hana Imi Naauao A Science Careers Curriculum Resource Go to: www.cds.hawaii.edu/kahana Images retrieved May 26, 2009 from: http://www.store.elmerguzman.com/images/pf-103.jpg & www.mentalfloss.com/ blogs/archives/11980