Comparing Food Preservation Oxygen Absorbers and Traditional Techniques

Food preservation techniques are important for keeping our food safe and fresh for longer or throughout their shelf life. There are many effective methods including the use of oxygen absorbers and other traditional methods like canning and drying. Oxygen absorbers help absorb and retain excess oxygen from the surroundings, and effectively help to prevent any spoilage in the food products and keep nutrients intact. Though there are pros and cons for every technique, in this blog post, we will compare the use of Oxygen absorbers vs. traditional techniques for food preservation.

Understanding Oxygen Absorbers

Before we begin the comparison, let us first understand what Oxygen scavengers are, and how they help preserve various food products throughout their shelf life, or during transportation and storage. OxySorb packets are usually small packets that are filled with materials such as iron powder and salt, that help remove excess oxygen from sealed containers. They mainly work by absorbing the oxygen inside the packaging and creating and maintaining a low-oxygen environment, which effectively helps keep food fresh and safe for a longer time.

Oxygen absorbers are widely used in various applications in the food industry. You can find them in the packaging for different snacks, dried fruits, nuts, sweets, and even vacuum-sealed meals. They are also used in the proper bulk storage of grains and other dry goods to prevent spoilage and maintain their quality throughout storage.

There are many benefits of using Oxygen Absorbers when storing food items and products. The packets are made with non-toxic, inert materials that do not react or spoil the food products, thus also leading to an extended shelf life 3x time of these food products.

During storage, Oxygen plays an important role in food spoilage. Thus, by reducing or maintaining proper oxygen levels, these absorber packets help preserve the flavor, color, and nutrients in the food products. This also makes it an affordable option for proper food storage and preservation for longer periods of time.

Traditional Food Preservation Techniques

Now, if we understand about the very traditional food preservation methods that are common and have been used over many years, and do have a few advantages and challenges. Let us see some of the traditional food preservation techniques that are commonly used.

Refrigeration: is a very common method of preserving food by keeping it in a refrigerator, which is a cool appliance helping to slow down the growth of bacteria. When food is stored in the fridge, it stays fresh for a longer time because the cold temperature helps prevent spoilage. This method is very easy to use, but food can still spoil if it is not eaten quickly enough. Refrigeration also requires electricity, so if there is a power outage, the food may go bad.

Freezing: is another effective way to preserve food by lowering its temperature to below freezing point. When food is frozen, the cold stops bacteria from growing, which helps keep the food safe for a long time. This method is great because it can extend the shelf life of many foods, including fruits, cooked items, vegetables, and meats, while keeping most of their nutrients intact. The downside here is that freezing needs room in a freezer, and some foods might change their texture after being thawed.

Canning: helps you store food items and products in canned containers that are sealed to keep the contents away from moisture, oxygen, contaminants, etc. This lets food be kept at room temperature for a long time without going bad. Various items like vegetables, fruits, sauces, and soups can be preserved for long durations with canning. Although canned foods last a long time and are easy to store, need special tools like jars and a canner to keep it safe..

Drying: This technique is used to take excess moisture out of food to stop it from spoilage and the growth of mold and mildew. This is done through air drying, sun drying, or using a dehydrator or oven. By removing moisture, bacteria cannot grow in this environment, which keeps the food safe for a longer time. Dried foods are light and easy to store, making them ideal for snacks but, a drawback is that some nutrients might be lost during drying. Also, rehydrating dried foods can be a slow process which may need soaking in water before consumption.

Salting: The salting technique has been used over the years and decades to preserve food for longer durations, even before the advent of any new technologies to do so. The salt creates conditions that prevent bacteria from growing, helping the food stay safe for a longer time, and works well for meats like bacon and fish like cod. However, salting can make the food quite salty, which may not appeal to everyone. Also, salted foods might need to be rinsed or soaked before cooking to lessen the saltiness.

Comparison Between Oxygen Absorbers and Traditional Techniques

Here is a comparison to see how Oxygen absorbers is different and better when compared to the traditional techniques of food preservation.

Closure Note

To keep food safe, fresh, and maintain food safety, quality and nutrients throughout shelf life, it is important to use proper food preservation techniques. For effective food preservation, consider using high-quality oxygen absorbers from Sorbchem India, as they help keep food fresh for longer and maintain their quality. It is the best way to use these smart preservation options to cut down on waste and improve food quality at home or in your business.