Question

5. People preserve food by pickling (soaking in vinegar). How do you think this method works?

Answer 1

Please find the answer below:

Vinegar is obtained from fermenting sugar and water solution. It is commonly used as a natural preservative of food. The acidity of the vinegar or the pH (2.5) of the vinegar is primarily responsible for its usage as a preservative. The acetic acid (4-5%) in the vinegar kills the microbes and inhibits bacterial growth in the food thus preventing the food from spoiling. Therefore vinegar is used in pickling. Due to the property of the low pH and presence of acetic acid, it is widely used to preserve foods such as meat, fish, vegetables, fruits in the food industry as well as domestic purposes.