Processed foods include foods that have been altered from their natural condition for safety as well as convenience. Sometimes we think that processed food is bad but it is just a big misconception among people in general and processed food is just as good as any other food product. Let’s take an example of milk. It should be called a processed food since it is pasteurized and homogenized. Some prefer to use raw milk and others, in fact, most of us prefer its processed form which is available in our grocery and self-service stores.
Another very strong point to show that processed food is not bad is frozen vegetables. Many of us believe that fresh vegetables are the best, but let me inform you that freezing these vegetables preserves the vitamins and minerals, which means they are more nutritious than fresh. Fruit and vegetable juices are also very healthy processed foods since they are all packed with extra calcium that makes them even more nutritious. Methods used to process foods include canning, freezing, refrigerating, dehydrating, and aseptic processing. Let’s talk about canning.
Canning is a method of preserving or processing food very efficiently. This process is done by first packaging the processed foods in airtight jars, bottles and bags and then heating them to a temperature that has the power to kill harmful and infectious microorganisms. Due to the problems posed by Clostridium botulinum and some other pathogens, it is always said that the safest method of canning any food is under conditions of very high heat and pressure. Normally, when canning any processed food, the temperature is around 240 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. The most famous canned food products include vegetables, meat, seafood, poultry, and some dairy products. The only foods that can be canned without using high pressure and temperature are foods that are high in acid, eg pickles and some vegetables that can have acids added to them.
The history of canning processed foods dates back to 1809 when a French pastry chef used the first glass vacuum jar. After a while, glass jars were replaced by tins and wrought iron canisters. [short name cans]. These tins instantly gained popularity as they were cheaper, faster to make, and much more flexible and durable than breakable glass jars. The airtight nature of these tins and tins plays a vital role in keeping them free of bacteria and keeping food packed inside. Double skin technique is used and cans containing double skin are popularly called sanitary cans.
Processed foods or so-called pre-packaged food products are very convenient and even more popular among people today. If you buy too many processed foods, be sure to always select products that contain less sodium, no trans fat, more servings of whole grains, and most importantly, fewer calories. Always watch the portion size and prefer to eat this processed food with freshly made salads, some whole wheat bread and plenty of water.