How to Use Aspirin in Preserving: A Helpful Solution or a Potential Danger

As children, many of us watched our grandmothers and mothers prepare food for the winter and add aspirin to preserves.

This ancient method of preserving food is still popular today. But how useful and safe is it for our health?

Why add aspirin to canned food

The main purpose of using aspirin in canning was its ability to extend the shelf life of food products.

Acetylsalicylic acid created an acidic and antimicrobial environment, helping to preserve the preparations longer, as well as improve the taste and make the brine transparent. In addition, aspirin was a cheap and accessible remedy, which made it popular among housewives.

The Dangers of Using Aspirin in Preserving Food

However, modern doctors claim that this approach has its own health risks. There is a danger that aspirin can release harmful phenolic compounds into the preserves, which in turn can cause harm to health.

If you eat these vegetables and drink the brine with aspirin, you can seriously damage your liver and kidneys. Vegetables that are in a brine with aspirin for a long time can become toxic to the stomach.

Safe alternatives

However, there are safe alternatives that can replace aspirin at home.

For example, instead of aspirin, you can use natural oxidizers such as vinegar, citric acid or cranberry. Vinegar can be replaced with alcohol, apple, wine or grape vinegar.

Citric acid will add a pleasant taste and help preserve products. And cranberries, due to their acidity and benzoic acid content, are an excellent natural preservative.

It is better to leave aspirin in the medicine cabinet and not to use it in the kitchen. To enjoy delicious preserves and other canned vegetables without harm to health, it is better to choose a substitute from natural ingredients. This will help to avoid potential risks and keep the products safe and tasty.

Conclusion

Adding aspirin to food preservation has its historical roots, but modern research and medical opinion point to potential health risks.

Instead, it is recommended to use safe alternatives such as vinegar, citric acid or cranberry to keep foods fresh and tasty.

Remember the importance of healthy eating and choose safe methods of preserving food.

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