In the days before refrigeration a common practice to preser
In the days before refrigeration, a common practice to preserve meat was to add a lot of salt to the meat. Why was this a relatively effective technique?
In the days before refrigeration, a common practice to preserve meat was to add a lot of salt to the meat. Why was this a relatively effective technique?
Solution
Answer:
Using a salt was one way to preserve meat without electricity. Salt creates hypertonic conditions causing exocytosis of water from bacterial cells, the cells lose water until they reach a state where they cannot grow. Thus addition of salt inhibits the growth of microorganisms.
