Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Food preservation involves treating and handling food to stop or slow down spoilage (loss of quality, edibility, or nutritional value) and thus allow for longer storage. The goal is to inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- Dehydration (Drying): This method involves removing water from the food. Microorganisms need water to grow, so removing it prevents spoilage.
- Freezing: This method lowers the temperature of the food to below 0\(^{\circ}\)C, which stops the growth of most microorganisms and slows down enzymatic activity.
- Canning: This method involves heating food to a high temperature to kill microorganisms and then sealing it in an airtight container (can or jar) to prevent new microorganisms from contaminating it.
All three are well-established and effective methods of food preservation.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Dehydration, freezing, and canning are all methods of food preservation. Therefore, the correct option is All of these.