pasteurization

noun
UK /ˌpɑːstʃəraɪˈzeɪʃn/
US /ˌpæstʃərəˈzeɪʃn/

Heating food or drink to kill germs so it is safe to eat or drink.

The milk in the fridge went through pasteurization to make it safe for kids to drink.

SYNONYMS

sterilizationheat treatmentsanitizationdisinfection

RELATED WORDS

milkgermsheatingfood safetyLouis Pasteur

OTHER MEANINGS

2. The process of heating a liquid to a high temperature for a short time and then cooling it quickly.

Pasteurization keeps juice fresh for longer without changing its taste much.

3. A way of making food safe by killing harmful bacteria.

Thanks to pasteurization, cheese and yogurt are safer to eat.

4. The method named after the scientist Louis Pasteur.

Pasteurization was invented to stop drinks from spoiling too fast.