File:Food_lab_scientist_packages_food_for_spaceflight_at_Space_Food_Lab.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
food preservation
Sign in to saveAlso known as preservation of food
inhibition of microbial growth in food
Food preservation is the process of slowing or stopping the growth of microorganisms like bacteria and mold that spoil food. It matters because it helps keep food safe to eat and extends how long it can be stored before going bad.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Research
31,403 papers- Research on Food Preservation Based on Antibacterial Technology: Progress and Future Prospects.ReviewMolecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Chu Z, Wang H, Dong BDOI: 10.3390/molecules29143318
- Preserving the food preservation legacy.Critical reviews in food science and nutrition · 2023Knorr D, Augustin MADOI: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2065459
- A review of curcumin in food preservation: Delivery system and photosensitization.ReviewFood chemistry · 2023Lan X, Liu Y, Wang L et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.136464
- Polysaccharide edible film-the new star in food preservation: A review.ReviewInternational journal of biological macromolecules · 2025Kong T, Li G, Zhao X et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.142716
- Polysaccharide-based antifreeze hydrogels in food preservation: From molecular design to smart food packaging applications.ReviewFood research international (Ottawa, Ont.) · 2025Wang Y, Huang Z, Li M et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2025.116381
- Effect of Hurdle Technology in Food Preservation: A Review.ReviewCritical reviews in food science and nutrition · 2016Singh S, Shalini RDOI: 10.1080/10408398.2012.761594
- Intelligent food preservation systems based on MOFs-AI integration: technological breakthroughs and developmental trends.ReviewFood chemistry · 2026Ding X, Ai N, Zhao Y et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.147212
- Design and Application of Antibacterial Bioactive Films for Food Preservation: A Review.ReviewJournal of agricultural and food chemistry · 2025Wang X, Huang J, Zhang Y et al.DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5c05959
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Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- field of study
- Part of
- food safety
- Image
- PreservedFood1.jpg
Show 5 more facts
- topic's main category
- Category:Food preservation
- product or material produced
- preserved food
- Commons category
- Food preservation
- topic has template
- Template:Food preservation
- uses
- autoclave
Sources (3)
via Wikidata · CC0
~27 min read
Encyclopedic overview
A food scientist is preparing a meal for astronauts in space. Food preservation includes processes that make food more resistant to microorganism growth and slow the oxidation of fats. This slows down the decomposition and rancidification process. Food preservation may also include processes that inhibit visual deterioration, such as the enzymatic browning reaction in apples after they are cut during food preparation. By preserving food, food waste can be reduced, which is an important way to decrease production costs and increase the efficiency of food systems, improve food security and nutrition and contribute towards environmental sustainability. For instance, it can reduce the environmental impact of food production.
Many processes designed to preserve food involve more than one food preservation method. Preserving fruit by turning it into jam, for example, involves boiling (to reduce the fruit's moisture content and to kill bacteria, etc.), sugaring (to prevent their re-growth) and sealing within an airtight jar (to prevent recontamination).
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “food preservation” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.