Food and Dinning: How To Rate Them?

Does oxygen increase the rate of decomposition for food?

• If I left food out in the open air would the rate of decomposition be increased vs. if I left the food in a controlled environment with no air??

• Answer:

  Yes, oxidation is one of the major factors for food decomposition. The easiest example I can think of is the oxidation of alcohol (ethanol) to vinegar (acetic acid), which is why wine spoils if left exposed to air, without corking the bottle properly. This is why storing food in oil helps to preserve food, as opposed to water. Oxygen does not dissolve in oil.