时差N小时 为什么蜂蜜不会变质?(下)

Most food ferments² when bacteria living in it eat sugars and nutrients³ in the food.

大部分食物发酵是因为细菌消耗掉了食物的糖分和其它营养。

The bacteria subsequently produce waste in the form of acids and other chemicals that affect the appearance, smell, and taste of the food.

随后，细菌代谢产生酸和其他化学物质会影响食物的外观，气味和口感。

In other words, bacterial⁴ waste is what causes food to rot and appear moldy⁵.

也就是说，细菌的代谢物才是食物腐烂、发霉的罪魁祸首。

But like most life forms, bacteria need water to thrive.

和大多数生物一样，细菌也需要水来繁殖。

While many foods contain a good deal of water, honey contains almost none.

许多食物都含有大量水分，而蜂蜜几乎没有任何水分。

What little water exists in honey binds⁶ to its sugars and enzymes⁷, leaving little for bacterial growth.

蜂蜜中仅有的水分会跟糖分还有酶结合，细菌几乎没有水分可以繁殖。

Unsealed, honey will attract water from the air and eventually ferment¹. But sealed, honey lasts for ages.

解封的蜂蜜会吸收空气中的水分然后发酵。而密封的蜂蜜可保存数年。

Of course, even sealed honey will eventually crystallize and turn hard, but this doesn’t mean it’s spoiled.

当然了，密封状态下的蜂蜜最终也会结晶、变硬，但是并不意味着变质。

In fact, even years later, it’s as good as new.

实际上，即使数年过后，蜂蜜仍旧新鲜如初。

1 ferment   

vt.使发酵；n./vt.（使）激动，（使）动乱

参考例句：

• Fruit juices ferment if they are kept a long time.果汁若是放置很久，就会发酵。
• The sixties were a time of theological ferment.六十年代是神学上骚动的时代。

2 ferments   

n.酵素( ferment的名词复数 )；激动；骚动；动荡v.（使）发酵( ferment的第三人称单数 )；（使）激动；骚动；骚扰

参考例句：

• These chemically active ferments cause havoc. 这些化学活性的酶造成广泛损害。 来自辞典例句
• High solid ferments and yeast lees contract to highlight textural qualities. 采用固体发和酵母分离技术提高酒的品质。 来自互联网

3 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 bacterial   

a.细菌的

参考例句：

• Bacterial reproduction is accelerated in weightless space. 在失重的空间，细菌繁殖加快了。
• Brain lesions can be caused by bacterial infections. 大脑损伤可能由细菌感染引起。

5 moldy   

adj.发霉的

参考例句：

• She chucked the moldy potatoes in the dustbin.她把发霉的土豆扔进垃圾箱。
• Oranges can be kept for a long time without going moldy.橙子可以存放很长时间而不腐烂。

6 binds   

v.约束( bind的第三人称单数 )；装订；捆绑；（用长布条）缠绕

参考例句：

• Frost binds the soil. 霜使土壤凝结。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Stones and cement binds strongly. 石头和水泥凝固得很牢。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 enzymes   

n. 酶，酵素

参考例句：

• It was said that washing powders containing enzymes remove stains more efficiently. 据说加酶洗衣粉除污更有效。
• Among the enzymes which are particularly effective are pepsin, papain. 在酶当中特别有效的是胃朊酶、木瓜酶。