These days, people across the country are turning their attention to their fellow citizens affected by the floods in the northern region. Pots of sticky rice cakes and rice balls are being prepared everywhere to assist those suffering from the damage and isolation caused by the storms.
What Food Should Be Sent for Relief?
On social media, many images are being shared of people coming together to wrap sticky rice cakes and cook rice balls in preparation for sending relief to those in the flood-affected areas.
People in Nghệ An wrapping sticky rice cakes to assist flood victims in the North – (Photo: DOÃN HÒA).
However, given the complex situation of storms and floods, many are concerned about how to preserve the food being transported to those in need, ensuring safety and actually helping people get through this difficult time.
Sharing on her personal page, Ms. T. (from Can Tho City) posted images of rice balls, sesame salt, and vacuum-sealed braised meat with the caption: “I don’t know where this food will be sent, how long it will take, and if it will still be edible by the time it reaches those in need. If the food arrives damaged, it could be even more dangerous to consume.”
Many others are also unsure about what food to prepare and how to preserve it so that it remains safe for consumption when it reaches the flood victims.
In a conversation with our reporter, Associate Professor Nguyen Duy Thinh, a former lecturer at the Institute of Biotechnology and Food Technology at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, expressed that the whole country is rallying to support flood-affected communities, embodying the spirit of “helping each other in times of need.”
When discussing how to prepare safe relief food for those in flood-affected areas, Mr. Thinh emphasized three critical issues: food safety during preparation, preservation methods, and the selection of relief food types.
He suggested that foods that can be consumed immediately and do not require further preparation should be prioritized under the current rainy conditions. Examples include sticky rice cakes, rice balls, roasted rice, dry braised meat, and dried seafood.
“Among these, sticky rice cakes are a suitable choice for those in flood-prone and landslide areas as they can be consumed right away, are easy to preserve, and transport. Sticky rice cakes provide a complete nutrition profile with beans, meat, and carbohydrates.”
However, to ensure safety, people must choose ingredients and follow food safety practices from the preparation stage. A critical point to note when preparing ready-to-eat food for long-term storage is to cook it thoroughly.
The food must be cooked properly. Once fully cooked, it should be cooled to the same temperature as the outside environment before being packaged for transport to relief sites,” Mr. Thinh advised.
People preparing rice balls and sesame salt for flood victims in the North – (Photo: Social Media).
According to Mr. Thinh, people can also prepare relief food like roasted rice. Before roasting, it’s best to soak the rice first, then dry roast it. Roasted rice will be slightly puffy (unlike popped rice), which was commonly used during wartime.
For braised meat, it’s advisable to use lean cuts, cook them dry, and make them slightly salty to ensure better preservation.
Vacuum Sealing for Longer Preservation
Regarding packaging, Mr. Thinh noted that people should pack food in soft bags and vacuum seal them if possible. Vacuum sealing not only helps preserve food longer but also prevents it from getting wet or dirty if it accidentally falls into floodwater.
“For sticky rice cakes, under normal storage conditions, they can be used for about 7 days, depending on local weather conditions. With vacuum sealing, they can last nearly 2 weeks. Depending on each relief location, people should prepare accordingly to ensure food remains usable. If the cakes show signs of mold or an unusual smell, they should not be consumed,” Mr. Thinh added.
He emphasized that sticky rice cakes and rice balls should be portioned to provide enough for one person for a meal, avoiding the need to store leftovers for another meal.
Additionally, people should avoid transporting eggs and freshwater fish as they are likely to spoil and are difficult to preserve.
