If I wanted to store up supplies for a natural disaster, could I put any kind of food in a sealed, air-tight container, draw out all the air, and store it indefinately; thus keeping my food from spoiling?
Why or why not?
2006-10-18 12:16:32 · 9 answers · asked by davidgarciadrg 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Not exactly. Food can still decompose, and there are some bacteria that can survive anaerobic conditions. It would last a long time, generally, but not forever. It depends on a lot of things, primarily the moisture content of the food. But all chemicals will generally degrade over time, and the more water there is, the faster the degradation will occur.
Leafy greens and fresh fruits will go south very quickly regardless, whereas dried foods and grains would last a longer time.
2006-10-18 12:20:58 · answer #1 · answered by Professor Beatz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Food will not keep edible unless the bacteria on it are destroyed. When food is canned it is held at a temperature high enough to kill all bacteria, and spores. In frozen food the food is kept at a temp below where bacteria can reproduce, they do still live and will start out again when the food is thawed. In a vacuum container , if the food was sterilized, it might not spoil. Meats and non acid vegetables have to be taken to a temperature reached only with a pressure canner, not just boiling.Properly canned food does last literally forever. Military ready to eat meals are irradiated and keep indefinitely without refrigeration. They use radiation to kill all bacteria.
2006-10-18 12:29:17 · answer #2 · answered by science teacher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on what you mean by 'fresh'. Naturally, if you store fruits in a vacuum, they will dry out pretty fast (and won't be 'fresh'). Besides, vacuum doesn't prevent the action of natural acids within the food to slowly eat away at it. Finally, vacuum doesn't prevent some type of bacterial activity: anaerobic bacteria (and some fungi), for instance, do not require oxygen to 'digest' food.
2006-10-18 12:22:50 · answer #3 · answered by F.G. 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. You could, for example, vacuum store milk but it would still spoil. Some foods that are cooked and vacuum sealed before cooling may keep until the next ice age.
2006-10-18 12:21:41 · answer #4 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lidded container for the food in the bag. We used to use a small garbage can and line it with a plastic bag with a twist tie. As for the food in the bowl, If the dog is leaving left overs, you are probably feeding him too much. If there is any left, it shouldn't be more than a couple of mouthfuls. Remember, dogs can get over weight , just like people can and they will suffer many of the same same obesity related health problems. I would throw out the bowl left overs, rather than trying to save them.
2016-05-22 00:43:00 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you kill the bacteria and remove all air, it will probably last longer than your lifetime.
You did use the word indefinitely, so the answer is no. The molecules that make up the food will randomly break and since the plants or animal are now dead, there is no mechanism to rebuild those molecules.
2006-10-18 12:27:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No because food contains air and it will keep bacteria alive for a long time.However if you treat it with radiation ,it will kill all the bacteria.
2006-10-18 12:19:24 · answer #7 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
um thats seriously funny before you read the bottom but like if your storeing it for a natral disaster thats preety smart... get off the computer and try it. hope it works
2006-10-18 12:29:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that there would still be some degree of degradation, no matter how good it was packed.
perhaps coupled with cold, but that's only a guess
2006-10-18 12:18:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋