It's lunch time, there you are hunched over your desk stomach rumbling trying to get the company report done by two o'clock. The thought inherent in your head is that there is no way of getting the work done while still managing to squeeze in lunch, well, shelf stable meals offer the best best remedy for the conundrum you find yourself in. These are basically foods that would normally require refrigeration but have been processed to increase shelf life.
There are a number of ways by which these foods are prepared. These techniques range from simple methods such as dehydration to complex processes such as hydrogenation and ionization.
Understanding how these different techniques work can help us in determining their implications to our health. Dehydration has long been applied since the process is pretty straightforward. Just as the name suggests, the food is drained of all moisture. Bacteria and fungi cannot continue thriving in such dry environments thus their death is imminent. Foods that are mostly desiccated include fruits, vegetables, meats and fish.
Transforming fats and oils through hydrogenation to cub rancidity is also commonly practiced. This method is generally aimed at maintaining food by replacing the specific ingredient that is speeding up the rate of decay. In this case fat undergoes hydrogenation since it usually becomes rancid very quickly if not properly stored. Sterilization is also another technique that aims at destroying invasive pests and delaying the rate of ripening of fruits by ionization.
These three techniques can all reduce the rate of decomposition tremendously without having a huge effect on the color, taste and texture of food. The essence behind preservation is to enable us to use food for extended time periods other than the normal expiry periods of fresh food.
Preserved meals are very convenient alternative food choices. An office worker could get more done by carrying canned food for lunch thereby minimizing time spent moving around in search of a restaurant. All this while still getting the required nutrition.
Households also keep a wide variety of preserved foods either for ease of preparation or as a contingency measure for scenarios where fresh food would not necessarily be available. This habit is widely common amongst doomsday preppers who foresee a global catastrophe as inevitable. Picnics and barbecues are also an ideal time to bring along preserved ready to eat meals.
Despite these benefits derived from shelf stabilized meal plans, certain dangers exist in attempting to prolong their longevity. Concerns have been raised on the health effects of hydrogenation of fats. This process usually produce trans fats that are general high in cholesterol. Due to this, strict laws have been instituted against selling hydrogenated products without informing the consumer. This law requires that all hydrogenated products be labeled. The safety of consuming irradiated foods has also triggered research into the associated health concerns. Although it is still debatable whether sterilization poses a huge health concern, its effects on the chemical makeup of food cannot be ignored.
In summary, the final decision of choosing preserved meals rests solely on the hands of the consumer. This choice should however be made from an enlightened perspective.
There are a number of ways by which these foods are prepared. These techniques range from simple methods such as dehydration to complex processes such as hydrogenation and ionization.
Understanding how these different techniques work can help us in determining their implications to our health. Dehydration has long been applied since the process is pretty straightforward. Just as the name suggests, the food is drained of all moisture. Bacteria and fungi cannot continue thriving in such dry environments thus their death is imminent. Foods that are mostly desiccated include fruits, vegetables, meats and fish.
Transforming fats and oils through hydrogenation to cub rancidity is also commonly practiced. This method is generally aimed at maintaining food by replacing the specific ingredient that is speeding up the rate of decay. In this case fat undergoes hydrogenation since it usually becomes rancid very quickly if not properly stored. Sterilization is also another technique that aims at destroying invasive pests and delaying the rate of ripening of fruits by ionization.
These three techniques can all reduce the rate of decomposition tremendously without having a huge effect on the color, taste and texture of food. The essence behind preservation is to enable us to use food for extended time periods other than the normal expiry periods of fresh food.
Preserved meals are very convenient alternative food choices. An office worker could get more done by carrying canned food for lunch thereby minimizing time spent moving around in search of a restaurant. All this while still getting the required nutrition.
Households also keep a wide variety of preserved foods either for ease of preparation or as a contingency measure for scenarios where fresh food would not necessarily be available. This habit is widely common amongst doomsday preppers who foresee a global catastrophe as inevitable. Picnics and barbecues are also an ideal time to bring along preserved ready to eat meals.
Despite these benefits derived from shelf stabilized meal plans, certain dangers exist in attempting to prolong their longevity. Concerns have been raised on the health effects of hydrogenation of fats. This process usually produce trans fats that are general high in cholesterol. Due to this, strict laws have been instituted against selling hydrogenated products without informing the consumer. This law requires that all hydrogenated products be labeled. The safety of consuming irradiated foods has also triggered research into the associated health concerns. Although it is still debatable whether sterilization poses a huge health concern, its effects on the chemical makeup of food cannot be ignored.
In summary, the final decision of choosing preserved meals rests solely on the hands of the consumer. This choice should however be made from an enlightened perspective.
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