So much of our lives are spent cooking and eating that we should focus on enjoying both those activities and also making them as accessible as possible. Because of the seasonality of so many foods, it can be hard to enjoy your favorite fruits or veggies all year, but with a few simple food preservation methods, you can keep food tasting delicious all year round.
Food Preservation Benefits
Whether you’re looking to cut costs from your grocery bill or incorporate nutrient-dense foods into your cooking more often, food preservation offers many benefits.
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Extend Shelf Life
That bag of produce at the bottom of your fridge never lasts more than a week or two at best, but when you can those items or preserve them in other ways, they can last months or even years depending on what they are.
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Reduce Harmful Bacteria
Storing food incorrectly for long periods of time can lead to bacteria growth like E. coli, but when you use proper food preservation methods, the risk of bacteria growth is reduced to near-zero.
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Ensure Product Quality
Instead of munching on mushy fruit or dry carrots, consider preserving them before they get to that point. Not only can texture and flavor be preserved, but their nutritional benefits can be locked in during the food preservation process, too.
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Keep Your Gut Happy
A variety of fruits and vegetables is one of the top ways to keep your gut microbiome healthy with all the nutrients that it needs, food preservation helps you do this easily. Additionally, fermented foods are great for your gut, and fermentation is one of the top food preservation methods.
Preservation Methods
Depending on what foods you’re working with and how you want to use them, there are many ways to preserve your favorite foods. Here are some of our favorites:
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Canning
Canning is a classic home food preservation tactic. Canning methods heat up canning jars that are filled with fruits, vegetables, and other items, causing the lids to seal completely and getting rid of any bacteria.
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Dehydrating
Cooking items on a low temperature for a long time will remove moisture, preserving them for a long time. You can do this with all your favorite foods using special dehydrators or simply a low temperature on your oven.
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Freezing
Probably the easiest food preservation approach, you can freeze bags of pre-made dinners or throw meats, cheeses, fruits, veggies, and even bread in your freezer to keep them good for a long time.
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Fermenting
To get deliciously flavored pickles, kimchi, or sauerkraut, you’ll need saltwater, time, and whatever spices you’d like. It’s great for your gut and making food last!
Cooking with Preserved Foods
Once you’re ready to pull that slow roast out of the freezer, throw it in a Comfee Electric Pressure Cooker for one of the best simple weeknight dinners. Or, blend up frozen fruits and vegetables with a Comfee Personal Blender for a nutritional start to your day. However you decide to incorporate more nutrient-dense foods into your routine, Comfee is here to help.
