How To Preserve Food - Fruits

Fruits are a great addition to ones diet and not only are they vitamin-rich, they taste great. Unfortunately, like any other food, they are prone to spoiling. Preserving these sweets is a great way to prolong your enjoyment of eating them.DryingThis is one of the most practiced methods in food preservation since ancient times. Removing most of the moisture from fruits prevents them from rotting so quickly so they stay around longer. Thinly-sliced fruits can be air dried outdoors under the sun but this can take longer than drying them using machines such as a dehydrator, which can be easily purchased in local stores or online, or even an oven.Canning/BottlingThis method involves cooking the fruits to kill the bacteria and then storing them in sterile, airtight bottles which are then boiled again for further sterilization and to kill whatever bacteria may remain on the bottles. The acids that fruits contain help in prolonging their shelf life so those which lack acidity may require preservatives to be added to it during the cooking process. However, once a bottle is opened, it is best to consume it right away or refrigerate it afterward, as its exposure to air can make it spoil quickly.JellyingAlthough this method does not retain the fruit in its natural state due to the many other ingredients added to the jelly-making process, it allows us to enjoy the fruits in a different and yet still very delicious way known as marmalade or jam. Aside from adding ingredients to enhance the taste and other preservatives during cooking, gelatin, agar or flour is added to give the fruits that gel-like consistency.SugaringSugar in syrup form is commonly used to preserve fruits such as pears, pineapples, and peaches. Another preservation method that uses sugar is by cooking fruit pieces in it and then allowing it to cool and crystallize. This is the method used for candied fruits.FreezingFreezing is one way to extend your fruits' shelf life so you still get to have a taste of them even when they're no longer in season. Fruits are best frozen when they are properly ripened, not when they are either unripe or overripe. Fruits such as bananas, apples and other fruits with low acidity tend to darken when frozen as is. To avoid this, simply add lemon juice to the fruits prior to freezing and the acid will work its wonders in preserving the food and preventing discoloration.
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