In the past, there was no refrigerator, what was the food preservation?

In the past, when a refrigerator had not appeared, how did people preserve food?

Since ancient times in the fall, people have begun to harvest as much food as possible to reserve for the cold winter. Many families have spent most of this season on harvesting and preserving food because it will be the main food source for the whole family. Preserving foods in this era is simple with a refrigerator or other freezer equipment. However, in the past, when the refrigerator did not appear, how did people preserve food?

1. Boxed

In ancient times, canning was a popular way of preserving food.

Canned is a popular way of preserving food in the past. First, the food will be prepared or cooked carefully to disinfect, then put into the jar (usually glass) and tighten the cap so that the air does not penetrate. This can be used with almost all foods, such as meat, vegetables, fish, etc.

2. Dry

Drying food is the simplest way.

Drying is arguably the simplest and most cost-effective way to preserve food. Most molds / bacteria need a moist environment to survive, drying food will make it able to store for a long time because the water content of the food has escaped. The ancients used to hang food to dry naturally under the sun and wind, or dry it with an oven.

3. Fermentation

The world famous fermented food is Korean kimchi.

Fermentation is similar to canning, but it is not airtight because fermentation needs help from good bacteria outside to repel harmful bacteria in food. The world famous fermented food is Korean kimchi. It is also possible to ferment various foods, such as milk (yogurt), fish, meat, vegetables, etc.

4. Salt

Use salt to preserve used food for a long time.

Using salt to preserve meat is a way to preserve it for a long time. Bacteria cannot live and produce in places where saline concentrations are above 10%. Ancient people used a mixture of salt and sugar to rub the thin pieces of meat, then store in a cool environment. If you want to eat that meat, people have to soak and wash the meat many times to desalinate. Common food for salt is sea fish.

5. Smoke

Smoked meat is often more difficult to mold than normal meat.

Smog is a form of drying food, while increasing flavor and color. Smoked meat is often more difficult to mold than normal meat. Ancient people used to salt meat, then smoked for better preservation.