The Mystery of Food — Important Questions

Moisture, Air, Right temperature

Microbes need three main things to grow: moisture (water), air (oxygen), and the right temperature. If we remove any of these conditions, we can prevent microbes from growing and spoiling food.

Chillies, Fish, Mangoes (aam papad)

Chillies can be dried to make chilli powder, fish can be dried for preservation, and mangoes can be dried to make aam papad. Fresh milk and cooked rice contain too much moisture and would spoil quickly even when dried.

True

True. Cold temperatures in refrigerators slow down the growth of microbes significantly, which helps preserve food for longer periods. That's why we store milk, vegetables, and other perishable items in the fridge.

Incisors to cut, canines to tear, premolars to crush, molars to grind

Different teeth have different functions: incisors (front teeth) cut food, canines (pointed teeth) tear food, premolars crush food, and molars (back teeth) grind food into smaller pieces for easy digestion.