system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
What is it about a curing process of meat, drying of fruit etc. that makes the food last longer and allow you to store it unrefrigerated?
gpt
Microbes and fungus rely on the moisture present in their food to survive. Lower that moisture, and you lower then number of rot causing microbes and fungus spores the food can support this extending the shelf life of the food.