preserving dehydrated foods prepared with citric acid, honey or syrup
Can anyone please confirm for me whether food that has been dehydrated with honey, syrup or citric acid (which I understand has a shorter life span than those made with preservatives which cause allergic reactions) can be kept fresh longer by vacuum sealing and then freezing. Also if this is true can you please guide me to a website where I can get info on the "shelf-life" of the various items such as fruit, vegetables. I am very allergic so fresh fruits and vegetables are my main source of food. I have a vacuum sealer and a food dehydrator and would like to make the most of bulk buying. :) Thank you
Best Answer
Using a vacuum sealer before freezing should generally improve lifetime in the freezer. Note that this lifetime is all about quality; safety-wise, everything lasts forever in the freezer.
When food is frozen, the main thing that keeps it from lasting forever is interaction with the air, and it only reduces quality. As time goes on, water and flavors escape from the food, flavors from the freezer enter the food, and frost accumulates on the surface. (In the case of dehydrated food, water entering the food might actually be a problem.) If the food has been vacuum-sealed first, then there's no way for any of this to happen. This is why you can find things like individually vacuum-sealed frozen fish fillets - the quality is much better. So if your vacuum-sealing is good, your food should hopefully last as long as you want it to in the freezer.
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Can citric acid be used as a preservative?
Citric acid is a widely used preservative in the food and beverage industry, for example, carbonate beverage accounting for approximately 50% of its production.Can you preserve food in honey?
In ancient times, honey was used as a food preservative. It works as a preservative because the high concentration of sugar in honey forces the water out of any yeast or bacteria cells that could otherwise contaminate the food. This process, known as "osmosis," is also what makes salt such an effective preservative.How citric acid preserves food?
Citric Acid Uses The acidic pH of citric acid makes it useful as a food preservative and preserves the color of the food since it significantly slows the oxidation.How does citric acid preserve liquids?
How to Use Citric Acid as a Preservative25 Powdered Foods That LAST FOREVER! (30 Year Shelf Life)
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