The Best Choices for Long-Term Food Storage
Convenience is a normal part of our relationship with food. We purchase take out food, prepared meals and other, short use-by dated foods. However, in certain parts of the world food is less easily come by, and with the advent of more extreme weather across the planet, more and more people are investigating ways to store food for the long-term. Does this Spark an idea?
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Food Storage Containers
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Storage containers are an age-old, tried and tested form of food storage. The rule of thumb with using large storage containers is to never reuse a container that didn't previously contain food. Larger storage containers are better for the obvious reason that they contain more; this is preferable in terms of 'stocking up.' These containers need to be airtight, so if you are reusing a container, make sure that it has the correct lid. On a practical level, choosing large, square containers will mean being able to fit more on to one shelf.
Canning
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Canning is a highly successful way of preserving foods. Canning is an effective form of food storage as it removes all microorganisms from the container. The process is a simple one: the food is placed into a container and then heated up (usually in boiling water) to kill off any microorganisms and seal off any air in a vacuum. The method that uses boiling water is suitable for preserving tomatoes, preserves (jams, marmalade etc.), jellies and pickles. However, for preserving meats, fish, vegetables and poultry, the safer form is pressure canning. This involves the container being placed in 2 to 3 inches of water, placed in a pressure cooker and heated to 240 degrees F.
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Food Dehydrations
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Dried fruits are an extremely popular dehydrated food. This is a simple and effective form of food storage and preservation. The process involves removing moisture and microorganisms from foods. It can be done by leaving food in the sun, if the humidity and temperature is correct, or it can be done in a food dryer. This is an appliance which dehydrates your food. It is recommended that you buy a food dryer which has a temperature dial on it, for better control.
Food Sealer Vacuum
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Vacuum-packed food is an excellent way of preserving foods. This form of storage involves removing air from the bag/container containing food. The removal of air means the removal of microorganisms which means the food is preserved longer. This technique involves the use of a food vacuum sealer, available from most homeware stores, and allows you to vacuum store foods in either bags or plastic containers. In an emergency situation, this may not be the best method as it does involve an electricity powered appliance, and in an emergency, the electricity may not be on; however it is an excellent way of storing dehydrated foods.
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References
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