Are you familiar with the essential steps required before sterilizing your gourmet preserves or ready-made meals? Preparing your food correctly for sterilization is critical, not just for quality, but also to ensure compliance with food safety and hygiene regulations in your country.
In this article, we take a closer look at these necessary preparations and shares practical tips to enhance your product and simplify your workflow.
Key steps in the sterilization of canned foods and prepared meals
1. Food preparation
The process begins with preparing your ingredients. The method varies depending on the type of product you’re making.
For example, when working with chopped vegetables, it’s important to inspect them thoroughly and remove any spoiled, unripe, or blemished parts. Scalding, briefly immersing food in boiling water, can be used to inactivate enzymes that might otherwise cause deterioration. This must be followed by immediate cooling to prevent microbial growth.
Other foods, like certain vegetables or seafood, may benefit from blanching. This semi-cooking step helps preserve color, soften flavor, and prepare the texture. After blanching, it’s important to cool and drain the ingredients to avoid overcooking.
Some ingredients might require full or partial cooking before sterilization. Keep in mind that heat treatment in the autoclave will continue the cooking process. Factors like pH level and desired texture will determine the extent of pre-cooking needed. In some cases, such as with legumes or pre-cooked vegetable dishes, pre-cooking might not be necessary at all.
2. Preparing containers
Before, or while, preparing your food, inspect your containers. Make sure they are clean, undamaged, and that any lids seal properly.
Once inspected, the containers must be sanitized. Ideally, use a professional dishwasher capable of reaching at least 65°C. If you’re using an autoclave and your container type allows for it, you can sterilize them directly in the unit.
After washing and disinfecting, be sure to drain and dry the containers completely before filling them.
3. Packaging
When filling your containers, do not fill them to the brim. During the heat treatment, food expands, and leaving headspace prevents spills or breakage caused by increased volume.
4. Pasteurization or sterilization
The acidity (pH) of your product plays a crucial role in determining the appropriate heat treatment. Depending on the pH, your preserve will require specific temperature and time parameters to effectively eliminate microorganisms.
- Pasteurization reduces microbial load significantly, but the product must be kept refrigerated and has a limited shelf life.
- Sterilization, on the other hand, eliminates all microorganisms, allowing the product to be stored at room temperature for a much longer period, often several years.
Both processes must be carried out using professional equipment and must be properly documented to comply with food safety regulations. TERRA Food-Tech® autoclaves not only meet these legal requirements, but also ensure precise control over the process while preserving the flavor, texture, and nutritional value of your products.
5. Labeling
Labeling regulations vary by country. In the EU, however, standardized rules apply across all member states. Labels on packaged foods must include:
- Product name
- List of ingredients (in descending order by weight)
- Highlighted allergens (e.g., bold, underlined, or different font)
- Quantities of key ingredients
- Best-before or expiration date
- Country of origin
- Name and address of the EU-based food business operator or importer
- Net weight
- Storage and usage instructions
- Nutrition facts
Depending on your production volume, you may print your labels yourself, order them online, or invest in a labeling machine.
6. Storage and distribution
Logistics play an important role in maintaining product quality. The type of packaging, whether glass jar, tin, or pouch, determines how products should be stored and transported. For instance, jars may need more careful handling than flexible pouches.
Looking for the right autoclave?
Ready to take the next step in producing safe, high-quality preserves or prepared meals? With the CFS-V Series, you can ensure precise sterilization or pasteurization, full compliance with food safety regulations, and consistent product quality.