Food preservation

All martian colonists will require food, either brought from Earth, or grown in greenhouses on Mars. To ensure a reliable supply of food, food production should exceed the minimum required by a substantial margin. The excess food can be stored for future need through food preservation techniques.

Preservation Techniques

Environment Manipulation

Freezing is the most cost effective preservation method, due to the ambient external temperature. Food could be stored in containers external to the colony.
Refrigeration requires the maintenance of food temperature within a narrow range of temperatures. This technique is more complecated than freezing, and requires energy input and control to maintain correct temperatures.
Dehydration would require a method of removing the moisture from food. Smoking is a method of dehydration that also inparts flavors to the food.
Freeze Drying combines freezing with dehydration. The low ambient pressure could be harnessed for this preservation method.
Special atmospheres such as nitrogen or noble gasses can retard the growth of aerobic bacteria.
Heat is used to kill microorganisms.

Chemical Preservation

Salt has been used for millenea to preserve meats. It dehydrates the food and inhibits the growth of microorganisms that could spoil the food or cause sickness.
Fermentation preserves foods such as cheeses, yogurt, and many other foods.
Weak acids, such as lactic acid, can be introduced artificially or naturally through fermentation.

Other Methods

Irradiation is effective as long as the food remains in a sealed container. Nuclear reactors are a possible source of radiation, and will likely be the main power source of any settlement.

Uses for Excess Foods

Rotation

Even well preserved food degrades over time, due to enzymes and other chemical reactions. Stored food should be rotated out of storage on a first in, first out pattern.