Fresh fish rapidly deteriorates unless some way can be found to preserve it.
Drying is a method of
food preservation that works by removing
water from the food, which inhibits the growth of
microorganisms. Open air drying using sun and wind has been practiced since ancient times to preserve food. Water is usually removed by
evaporation (air drying, sun drying, smoking or wind drying) but, in the case of
freeze-drying, food is first
frozen and then the water is removed by
sublimation. Bacteria, yeasts and molds need the water in the food to grow, and drying effectively prevents them from surviving in the food.