pasteurize

American  

[pas-chuh-rahyz, pas-tuh-] / ˈpæs tʃəˌraɪz, ˈpæs tə- /

especially British, pasteurise

verb (used with object)

pasteurized, pasteurizing

1. to expose (a food, as milk, cheese, yogurt, beer, or wine) to an elevated temperature for a period of time sufficient to destroy certain microorganisms, as those that can produce disease or cause spoilage or undesirable fermentation of food, without radically altering taste or quality.

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pasteurize British  

/ ˈpɑː-, -stjə-, ˈpæstəˌraɪz /

verb

1. to subject (milk, beer, etc) to pasteurization

2. rare to subject (a patient) to pasteurism

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Other Word Forms

• pasteurization
  noun
• superpasteurized
  adjective
• ultrapasteurized
  adjective
• unpasteurized
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of pasteurize

First recorded in 1880–85; Pasteur + -ize

Explanation

To pasteurize food is to sterilize it, or heat it until harmful bacteria is killed, making it safe to eat. Most dairies pasteurize their milk before bottling it. When food producers pasteurize their products, they are making it safer for large numbers of people to eat or drink them. When they pasteurize apple cider, for example, it's heated to a certain temperature for a specific length of time and then cooled before being put in containers for sale. The word pasteurize comes from the name of the French chemist who invented this process, Louis Pasteur.

Example Sentences

According to Dr. Xavier, Velcorin—a chemical compound commonly used to pasteurize juice—could potentially enable the drink to be pasteurized without compromising flavor.

From Salon • Oct. 17, 2023

Gas is used across a range of processes that most people never see — to forge steel to make cars, make glass bottles and pasteurize milk and cheese.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 20, 2022

To pasteurize the pee, it stays in the jug for at least two months before the farmer applies it, plant by plant.

From New York Times • Jun. 17, 2022

Then the banks thaw the milk, pool it, pasteurize it, test it, refreeze it, and send it where it’s needed.

From Slate • Feb. 9, 2022

Hess for example has found that the temperature used to pasteurize milk continued for some time, is more destructive to the vitamine than boiling water temperature continued for only a few minutes.

From The Vitamine Manual by Eddy, Walter H.

Related Words

• castrate
• decontaminate
• disinfect
• neuter
• sanitize
• spay