FOOD PURCHASING, PROCESSING, PRESERVATION AND SAFETY

SUB-TOPIC:         HOW TO KEEP FOOD SAFE

FOOD PRESERVATION AND STORAGE

         Food preservation is caring for or treating food in such a way that it will be kept in good condition for a long period. Preserved food can be stored for a longer period than raw food.

 METHODS OF PRESERVING FOOD

•         Solar or sun drying: This is drying by merely spreading the foodstuff in the sun on a mat or concrete floors e. g. cassava, maize, melon, etc.

•         Smoking: Such food as fish, meat, and some root crops are preserved by smoking. In some cases, the smoked food items are later subjected to solar or sun drying.

•         Freezing: The water content of the foodstuff is frozen and then sublimed under a vacuum. Heat is supplied by conduction or radiation. Examples of food dried by these methods are fish, meat, and vegetables.

•         Canning: this is the preservation of food by sealing it in air-tight containers and applying heat. It is commonly used for fruits and vegetables.

FOOD STORAGE

Food storage involves keeping preserved or purchased food in a safe condition and a suitable facility for use.

FOOD STORAGE FACILITIES

•         Plastic food containers: they are suitable for storing liquids such as palm oil, flour e.g. cassava, yam, wheat, dried grains and pulses e.g. maize, beans, rice, ground food ingredients e.g. egusi, ogbono, others such as sugar, salt e.t.c.

•         Food store: it is also a place for storing food. It is often part of the kitchen

•         Food storage cupboards, cabinets and shelves

•         Refrigerators and freezers: food spoilage can be prevented by storing foodstuffs under cold conditions. This is because the bacteria or microorganisms that cause food spoilage are generally inactive under very cold conditions.

IMPORTANCE OF PROPER STORAGE OF FOOD

•         It prevents food from spoilage

•         It prevents loss of nutrients

•         It helps the homemaker to save money

•         It saves time and energy to go to the market always.

Evaluation:

•         State four methods of preserving food

•         Outline four storage facilities

•         state the importance of proper storage of food.