pasteurization

noun

pas·teur·i·za·tion | \ ˌpas-chə-rə-ˈzā-shən

, ˌpas-tyə-, -tə-\

Definition of pasteurization

1 : partial sterilization of a substance and especially a liquid (such as milk) at a temperature and for a period of exposure that destroys objectionable organisms without major chemical alteration of the substance

2 : irradiation of food products

Examples of pasteurization in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There are several methods of cold pasteurization, but high-pressure processing (HPP) is the one most commonly associated with fresh juices. — Rebecca Straus, Good Housekeeping, "4 Beverages You Should Never Drink Past the Expiration Date," 26 July 2018 Bacteria are killed through ultraviolet light instead of heat pasteurization, which can change the taste. — Francine Maroukian, Popular Mechanics, "How They Make Applejack Whiskey," 24 Nov. 2016 Some argue that milk loses nutrients during pasteurization, but this is patently false. — David J. Neal, charlotteobserver, "Nine things a food safety lawyer won’t eat, at home or in a restaurant," 6 July 2018 Some argue that milk loses nutrients during pasteurization, but this is patently false. — David J. Neal, charlotteobserver, "Nine things a food safety lawyer won’t eat, at home or in a restaurant," 6 July 2018 Some argue that milk loses nutrients during pasteurization, but this is patently false. — David J. Neal, charlotteobserver, "Nine things a food safety lawyer won’t eat, at home or in a restaurant," 6 July 2018 Variations come with the strains of bacteria a cheese maker selects, along with fat content, pasteurization, salt and time. — New York Times, "A Guide to Soft Fresh Cheeses: Cottage Cheese, Mascarpone and More," 26 June 2018 Some argue that milk loses nutrients during pasteurization, but this is patently false. — David J. Neal, ajc, "Nine things this top food safety lawyer won’t eat at home or in a restaurant," 26 June 2018 Despite the mounting scientific evidence, pasteurization still spread slowly. — Daniel Fernandez, Smithsonian, "The Surprisingly Intolerant History of Milk," 11 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pasteurization.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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The first known use of pasteurization was in 1886

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More Definitions for pasteurization

pasteurization

noun

English Language Learners Definition of pasteurization

: a process in which a liquid (such as milk or cream) is heated to a temperature that kills harmful germs and then cooled quickly

See the full definition for pasteurization in the English Language Learners Dictionary

pasteurization

noun

pas·teur·i·za·tion | \ ˌpas-chə-rə-ˈzā-shən

, ˌpa-stə-\

Kids Definition of pasteurization

: the process of heating a liquid to a temperature to kill germs and then rapidly cooling it

pasteurization

noun

pas·teur·iza·tion

variants: also British pasteurisation \ ˌpas-chə-rə-ˈzā-shən, ˌpas-tə-

Medical Definition of pasteurization

1 : partial sterilization of a substance and especially a liquid (as milk) at a temperature and for a period of exposure that destroys pathogenic microorganisms

2 : partial sterilization of perishable food products (as fruit or poultry) with radiation (as gamma rays emitted by cobalt 60)