Enhancing Food Flavors through preservation
Humans have been preserving food since our very earliest days. Initially, the techniques were crude but as society developed, the mechanisms for preserving became increasingly refined and frequently had the ability to enhance the flavor and appeal of the food. In some cases, these traditional preservation techniques actually increase the nutritional value of the food as well.
Initially, food preservation was done in the home. Knowing how to smoke, cure, dry, ferment, salt, pack in fats or oils, preserve with sweeteners, pickle and steep in alcohol were abilities elemental to survival. In recent years, these food preservation skills have become the domain of artisans and food manufacturers, though they’re also experiencing a revival on an individual level.
Smoking, Curing and Drying
These three techniques are all designed to in some way remove water from food, in order to stave off the growth of bacteria and slow down the degradation process. When food is smoked as a way of preservation, it is typically done with the combination of smoke and heat. There are other forms of smoking, and while they can add a great deal of flavor and interest, they aren’t as effective as preservation methods.
Fermentation
Though most people don’t think about it often, much of what we eat has been fermented. The list includes yogurt, cheeses, vinegar, beer, bread, wine, soy sauce, deli-style dill pickles, salami and cured meats like salami, chorizo and pepperoni. It works by transforming the sugars in the foods into acidic compounds that enhance flavor and aid in preservation. In many cases, the fermentation process also increases the availability of vitamins and nutrients in the food and makes it more easily digestible.
Salting
Salting or salt-curing is another method for removing the water from food so that it is resistant to molds, bacteria and yeasts. Salt has the ability to draw moisture from just about anything and so becomes an effective preservative. .
Preserving with Fats and Oils
Fats and oils are another medium that both repel water and create an effective seal against the onslaught of microorganisms.If these products are then sealed in fat, they can last for several months.
Preserving with Sugar
One of the more common and accessible preservation methods for the home cook, preserving with sugar means simply to either cook chopped seasonal fruit with sugar until it is thickened and jammy or pack washed fruit into clean jars, cover with a sugar syrup and then seal.
Pickling
So much of safe preservation has to do with managing oxygen, water and acid. Submerging food in vinegar effectively addresses all three. Nearly any fruit or vegetable can be pickled and in many cases, the addition of a vinegar-based brine greatly improves the flavor of the pickled item.
Preserving with Alcohol
Alcohol is both highly acidic and inhospitable to bacteria, mold and yeast. That makes it an ideal preservation medium for many of the same foods that a vinegar brine works well with.
