pasteurization

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 Unlike typical grocery store examples, the cream from Alexandre has a higher fat content thanks to a low-temperature pasteurization process. — Soleil Ho, SFChronicle.com, "Bay Area cheesecake Basuku finds a cult following through Instagram for delicate concoctions," 30 July 2020 This hot and fast approach kills nearly all bacteria in milk and is referred to as UHT (ultra high temperature, or aseptic) pasteurization. — Jesse Sparks, Bon Appétit, "Shelf-Stable Milk Is the Answer to Those Infrequent Grocery Trips," 4 May 2020 The company used a low-temperature pasteurization process to kill bacteria but keep most nutrients alive. — Tim Carman, Washington Post, "A Pennsylvania dairy was built on Mennonites’ trust and money. Now they’re left holding the bag.," 17 Dec. 2019 The downturn has been tough on dairy processors like Borden and Dean, which buy fresh milk from farms and use techniques like pasteurization to create a consumer-safe beverage with a longer shelf life. — Alana Semuels, Time, "Milk Has Long Been a Staple of American Life. But Now, the Dairy Industry Is in Trouble," 9 Jan. 2020 There’s some data to indicate pasteurization can have a small effect on milk’s nutritional content. — Vitti Allender, Quartz, "The benefits of drinking raw milk are unclear—but the dangers are real," 13 Oct. 2019 But the rise of lager-syle beers, railroads and refrigeration, combined with expensive technological advancements such as pasteurization and bottling, squeezed out smaller brewers. — Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, "Trump’s vaping crackdown could help Juul by ending the decade’s biggest small-business success story," 23 Sep. 2019 Unlike regular chewing tobacco, the liquid from snus is generally swallowed, rather than spit out. Chewing tobacco is fermented; snus goes through a steamed pasteurization process. — Washington Post, "US endorses tobacco pouches as less risky than cigarettes," 22 Oct. 2019 Unlike regular chewing tobacco, the liquid from snus is generally swallowed, rather than spit out. Chewing tobacco is fermented; snus goes through a steamed pasteurization process. — Washington Post, "US endorses tobacco pouches as less risky than cigarettes," 22 Oct. 2019

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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“Pasteurization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pasteurization. Accessed 23 Oct. 2020.

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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)