Wednesday 28 November 2018

Methods Used To Preserve Shelf Stable Meals Minnesota

By Rebecca Jackson


Preserved foods are common in many places. Shelf stable meals are ready-made foods preserved for use after a long time. They can even go for about three years and maintain their edibility. There are various preservation methods that one can use to preserve the meals for a long time. The following are preservation methods for shelf stable meals Minnesota to consider.

Canning process. Canning is suitable for preserving processed foods and their end products. Foods preserved using this process can last for three to five years. Free-dried products can even last for thirty years without spoilage. There is two canning process that one can adopt. One can use the boiling water process or pressure method. The boiling process is ideal for fruits whereas the pressure method is ideal for different types of meats.

Aseptic processing method. This method is common with milk products and juices. The content uses an ultra-high temperature system in sterilization. Also, one can also use a direct transfer of heat procedure that relies on steam injection or infusion. Sterilization of the container used in the container relies on radiation, hot water, heat, and chemical sterilizers.

Use of retortable pouches. Retortable pouches is a new preservation method that is quickly replacing the canning process. It can handle most foods that rely on pasteurization. The food is preheated at a high temperature for a few minutes before packaging. The pouches have a design that keeps off air from the outside which can spoil the food. Foods that relies on this process include those used in space exploration, field camping, and military services.

Acidification process. This process is a combination of heating and the use of acid. Its primary targets are sour foods especially fruits with higher PH. They include purees, pasteurized products, and juices. The heating process can go to about ninety-one degrees and the acidity level lowered to approximately 4.6 Ph. The use of acid in this process reduces the temperature required during the heating process.

Lowering the water content. Water available in foods supports the growth of yeast and mold. However, reducing the water activity to approximately 0.65 according to the standard water unit in foods. The process relies on dehydration, the addition of salts and sugars. For that reason, products such as beef jerky, jams and raising can last for a long time.

Freeze drying. This process is common with meals for backpackers, military and astronauts. Food is quickly frozen, and the ice turned to water vapor by removing food in a vacuum resulting in a dehydrated product. It maintains the original shape of a product and maintains quality in the product as well. Its primary applications include biological methods such as bacteria and yeasts, biomedical and food processing.

Although there are advantages of these processes, there are a few setbacks for using shelf foods. To start with, some additives used in the process can irritate some users. It also lowers the level of nutrients primarily through the freezing process and heating in high temperature. Also, most foods produced through this process cannot meet the requirements of multiple servings.




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