Making jams and chutneys to store in the pantry to get you through the scarcity of the winter months can seem to be very out-of-place in our lives today. But having and using food-preserving skills in the modern world is still relevant. What is different, as is the case for many such skills, is how you do it and the reasons why.
It is no secret that the ability to preserve food has been an essential skill throughout human history. In a world where food was often scarce, those who could lengthen the shelf life of their supplies had a significant advantage. Today, in a time of abundant food, preserving skills are still useful. Most people no longer need to worry about putting up enough food to last through the winter. But, preservers can take advantage of seasonal produce and enjoy the flavour of fresh fruits and vegetables year-round. In addition, many people find that homemade preserves have a richer flavour than their store-bought counterparts.
For those who enjoy cooking, preserving is a way to create unique and flavorful ingredients for use in recipes. And if you like to be prepared for anything, preserving skills offer a measure of security in an uncertain world. In a time when power outages and natural disasters are becoming more common, knowing how to preserve food can be a useful skill.
Whether for practical reasons or simply for the love of tasty food, learning to preserve is still relevant in the modern world.
Additionally, even if you don’t plan on preserving food yourself, it’s still useful to know the basics of food preservation. Understanding how different preservation methods work can help you make better choices when purchasing preserved foods. It can also help you extend the shelf life of foods you have at home.
Preserving Puts You In Charge of Your Food
You may think that preserving food is just another form of cooking when you look at the individual steps. But you will find that preserving food is a great way to further your creativity and expand your cooking skills too.
Growing your own produce and then preserving it lets you gain ultimate control over the quality and origin of the food. In today’s world mass-produced food from huge industrial operations dominates our sourcing foods. But doing things yourself means that you don’t have to meet price points or a create product that suits the market, just you.
With more people gardening or working an allotment at certain points in the year they have a glut of fruits or vegetables. Preserving your homegrown or seasonally-bought produce can turn a into a harvest that lasts. This can bring you pleasure throughout the year and you can get to enjoy the spring/summer tastes in winter.
If you don’t have the chance to grow your own , you can still select where and when you buy. Then you become solely responsible for what you create with it- to your own tastes and requirements.
Preserving Food Adds Big Flavour
Making a spiced plum transforms it into something unique a new flavour completely of its own. It’s like that with other fruit and vegetables too. You can transform cucumbers into into pickled gherkins or add them to a chutney. Peaches take on a whole new life when you bottle them in syrup.
The vinegar in pickles and chutneys gives it a piquancy and lip-smacking deliciousness. This in turn enhances the meal that you get to enjoy it.
You don’t only get to influence the flavours of foods by using preserving methods. The texture changes too. Drying food concentrates its flavour and makes it chewier. Freezing locks in the flavour and texture of food so it’s just as good as when it was first made.
Talking about freezing – it’s our modern method of preserving food. You can freezer many foods for months with great benefit and convenience. But other methods of preserving food, create a unique taste that you can’t get in any other way. This can enhance, lift and transform food, adding so much more than just freezer storage!
Extends the shelf life of the food.
This must be one of the enduring reasons supporting the relevance of food-preserving skills in the modern world.
This is because the processes and ingredients involved in preservation prevent the growth of microorganisms in food. As a result, canned food can be stored for longer periods without spoiling. Then you can enjoy seasonal fruits and vegetables all year round.
Preserving retains the quality of food in terms of colour, texture, flavour & nutrition value. Preserved fruits and vegetables are often just as nutritious as their fresh counterparts. In some cases even more so – e.g. canned tomatoes have more lycopene—an antioxidant that has been linked to lower rates of cancer—than fresh tomatoes.
Serving up preserves adds variety to your meals
Food preservation abilities are also important in today’s world since it allows consumers to enjoy a wider selection of foods. You may, for example, make your own pickles, jellies, and jams using these skills. This can enable you to mix flavours and create unique meals that aren’t available in supermarkets or anywhere else.
Making preserves decreases wastage of food
If you preserve food, you can reduce wastage and save money in the process. There is something to be said for using the highest quality of ingredients to make preserves. But this is only part of the story.
Making some jam from fruit that may look good but lack flavour, and would otherwise be thrown out, can give it another life. An economical deal on leftover vegetables can be an exciting basis for a lively chutney.
Preserving Foods Supports Food Security
The issue of food security depends on a wide range of factors that can include geography, climate, economics, and traditions amongst others. The ongoing relevance of these factors in our modern world make it important to acknowledge that for many people both basic and advanced food preservation skills do play an essential role in ensuring a reliable food supply.
Where you can access food easily and regularly may seem far away from this need. This is probably one of the most common challenges to the relevance of food-preserving skills in the modern world.
But, a tamer version of this purpose for you may be using these skills to ensure that there is always something enjoyable on hand. Not only for special occassions but also during periods of scarcity due to shortages or prices skyrocket.
Enjoying a bottle of your favourite jam under these challenging circumstances can taste both nectar and hope for the future.
Preserving Skills Epands Your Cooking Skills
Encourages adventure in food preparation, taste, and presentation skills.
These skills enable people to cook healthier meals at home. As we know, home-cooked meals typically contain fewer preservatives and unhealthy additives than those purchased from a restaurant or grocery store. In the same way, making your own condiments to go alongside the meal can ensure you know what they contain.
Learning how to use your sweet or vinegar preserves in creative ways in baking, sauces, marinades, and even drinks can be exciting and fun.
Just imagine putting together a cheese board featuring your homemade pickles and chutneys – this is a much higher quality experience that you can buy.
Sharing
Sharing your preserving results with others is a great way to show your appreciation towards them. If you’re looking for a unique gift, why not try pickling or preserving some of your favourite fruits and vegetables? These make wonderful gifts that will be sure to impress. Even the Queen prefers this!!
Pickling and preserving are also great ways of show off your culinary skills and creativity. So get creative, and have fun sharing your results with others!
It is the case that food preservation remains a relevant skill in the modern world for many reasons, some of which I have listed above. With food costs rising and the quality of store-bought food declining, many people are turning to home gardening and canning as a way to save money and eat healthier. In addition, as the world becomes increasingly connected, there is a growing interest in traditional foods from different cultures.
By learning how to pickle, ferment, and dry food, you can preserve the flavour and nutrition of homegrown fruits and vegetables, as well as prepare traditional dishes from around the world. Whether you’re trying to save money, eat healthier, or explore new cultures, preserving food is a skill that is well worth learning.