What were Nicolas Appert’s original fragile materials used for sealing food contents?
Answer
Glass bottles sealed with cork and wax
Nicolas Appert’s breakthrough method, which involved sealing perishable items like fruits, vegetables, and meats and then treating them with boiling water, relied on the materials available to him as a confectioner and brewer around 1800. His initial apparatus consisted of glass bottles, which he meticulously sealed using corks and then reinforced the seal by applying wax. While highly effective for preservation, this system proved fragile, especially when subjected to the stresses of transportation and handling required for military supply. This fragility contrasted sharply with the later adoption of tin cans, which offered far greater durability and scalability for industrial applications.
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