How to Pasteurize Juice at Home
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that fresh juices should not be consumed unless they have been boiled to destroy harmful bacteria. Pasteurization is a process of heating, holding and cooling the liquid to make it safe for consumption. This process can be done in your home to make your homemade juices safer without harming the nutrition and flavor. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Large pot with small rack inside
- Bath towel
- Sink
- Water
- Canning jars with lids and rings
- Funnel
- Ladle
- Rubberized canning tongs
- Double-boiler
- Metal cooking thermometer
- Pot holder
- Ice
Instructions
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Preparation
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1
Lay a bath towel flat on the countertop next to the stove.
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2
Fill the kitchen sink with cold water.
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3
Select canning jars that are free from imperfections.
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4
Place the jars, lids, funnel and ladle into the large pot, cover with water and bring to a gentle boil. Boil for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat. This sterilizes the jars and utensils making them ready for use.
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5
Using tongs, remove the lids, funnel and ladle from the pot. Place them on the towel. Leave jars in the hot water while you work.
Heating and Holding
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6
Heat juice in the double-boiler to 175-degrees Fahrenheit; hold it at this temperature for 20 minutes. This is the temperature and time used by many home canners and brewers for safe food preservation. Turn off the heat.
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7
Remove a jar from the hot water using the tongs. Drain any excess water from the jar back into the pot and place the jar right-side up on the towel. Leave the remaining jars in the hot water until ready to fill them. Touch only the outsides of the jar to avoid contamination.
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8
Hold the jar with the pot holder, set the funnel inside of the jar and ladle juice into the jar until the juice is 1/2 inch from the top. Secure the lid with the ring and set it aside on the towel. Repeat until all of the juice has been placed into jars.
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9
Wait five minutes.
Cooling
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10
Place the jars into the sink of cold water.
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11
Bring the temperature of the water down to 40-degrees Fahrenheit and hold at this temperature for 15 minutes. Monitor the temperature by checking every minute or so, adding ice as needed to reach 40-degrees Fahrenheit. This will ensure a uniform temperature throughout the water, jars and juice.
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12
Remove the jars from the cold water and place them on the bath towel. Dry the outsides of the jars. The juice is now ready to drink, or it may be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Ensure that your work area is free from drafts.
The jars, lids, funnel and ladle may be sterilized in the dishwasher if your model has a sterilize setting.
When bathing the juice jars, cool the water as quickly as possible.
Make ice ahead of time and store it in bags in your freezer.
Never allow glass containers to boil in a pot where they may come into direct contact with the bottom of the pot and the heat source.
Always use tongs to remove items from boiling water.
Never place hot jars into cold water. Let them sit for five to 10 minutes to prevent damage when they are placed in cold water.
References
Resources
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