FOOD PRESERVATION

AND SAFETY
Learning Objectives: To be able to:

 say the meaning of preservation and safety.

 mention different storage/preservation methods.
 Keywords
 Preservation
 Safety
 Appearance
 Freshness
 Perishable
 Food Preservation

Food preservation is a way of making food items

retain their quality and nutrient for a very long time
through different methods such as drying, smoking,
salting, cooking, frying, grinding and dehydrating.
 Food Safety

Food safety is a way of making food items free from

spoilage or containing harmful substances such as
mould, poisons, or toxins that can harm individuals
eating them, Food safety can be achieved through good
preservation and storage.
 Preservation
This is a method of keeping food items in a very good
condition with the aim of preventing the spoilage of the food
item in terms of its nutrients. Preservation may affect its
freshness and the original nature or appearance of the item
being preserved.
Preservation does not replace storage, a preserved can still be
stored such as dry fish, yam flour, cassava flour, plantain
chips.
 Storage
Storage is the keeping of food items safe for use when
needed.
Differences between preservation and storage
Storage Preservation
 Food can be stored fresh or dry.  Most foods are preserved through processing e.g
 cassava, yam flour
Food can be stored in small quantities.
 Preserved food can be kept in large quantity since it is
lighter in weight.
Preservation methods
There are different methods of preserving food.
They include:
 Smoking
 Drying
 Frying
 Salting
 Parboiling
 Milling
 Canning
 Dehydration
Storage methods
The following may be used for food storage:
 Cupboards
 Food shelves
 Calabashes
 Air tight containers
 Plastic bottles
 Refrigerators
 Freezers.
Types of food we store
Perishable or fresh foods Non-perishable or dry foods
Meat  Flour
Fish  Rice
Eggs  Beans
Leaf vegetables
 Sugar
Root vegetables
Butter
Fruits Storage - Best stored well in airtight containers.
Bread
Oil
Tubers

Storage - Best stored in a cold place, such as

an ice box, refrigerator or freezer.
Food safety
Food can be kept safe temporarily or permanently.

 TEMPORARY safety of food can prevent the food from losing taste, changing colour, loosing flavor, taste
and quality or carrying hidden germs that can cause infection or injury to human health. It involves the
following; cooking of food, keeping food in functional refrigerators and freezers with electricity, roasting of
food, frying and steaming.

 PERMANENT safety is required when food items are to be kept or stored for a long time before use. This can
be achieved through different storage methods which include: bagging, bottling, canning and storage in drums,
kegs, plastic containers, etc.