Is there a food preservative on the consumer market ?

Question

It may sound naive, but other than old fashioned "canning,", is there a product you can purchase to add to your own food to keep it from spoiling as fast? I know of MSG used in some chinese restaurants, but I've heard it's not safe..what exactly is it and what does it look like?

Answer 1

In a word, not really. You can try freezing some foods to make them last longer; others you pretty much have to make them freshly every time or learn to can.
There are also a number of vacuum-sealers on the market, so you can vacuum pack foods for freezing.
As far as a chemical preservative, I don't know of anything widely available that you could add to your foods.

Answer 2

MSG is a food enhancement like salt pepper it is not a preservative.Some people cannot eat food with MSG in it ,it makes there stomach hurt.The only way to preservative food without the old fashioned way as you call it is to freeze.dry,salt or cure there is not much left you can use to preserve food maybe smoke.What is wrong with canning it will last a good long time don't have to worry if the power goes off and it is easy to do.

Answer 3

A very good food preservative in lemon juice.

If you are preserving meat, learn how to make a confit. It's a Native American way of preserving meat by using the fat from the meat. It is DELISCIOUS!

MSG looks like salt. It also goes by the name of Accent. You can still find it in grocery stores.

Answer 4

The vacuum sealers are the only products I have seen that make your food last longer.

A splash or two of lemon or orange juice in water will keep your sliced apples or potatoes from browning so quickly.

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Answer 5

You should try lemon or lime juice. Those are the only ones I know of .