How long do you boil something to sterilize it
Sterilizing bottle-feeding equipment - BabyCenter Canada
In this article
- Why sterilize your baby's bottles?
- Cleaning your baby's equipment
- How to sterilize
- How long should I continue sterilizing?
Why sterilize your baby's bottles?
During their first year of life, babies are at their most vulnerable to viruses, bacteria and parasitic infections, which can lead to anything from a mild attack of thrush to the more serious condition of gastroenteritis. This is an illness similar to food poisoning, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea and subsequent dehydration.
Before sterilization was the norm, thousands of infant deaths were caused by this condition. The cases seen now, which are rarely as serious, are often connected to inadequate sterilizing procedures. It is not possible or practical to create a totally germ-free environment for your baby but you can reduce the risks during his vulnerable first year.
Cleaning your baby's equipment
It is not enough to wash bottles in soapy water alone, although before sterilizing they need to be cleaned thoroughly along with the nipples, so that every trace of milk is removed. Make sure that the detergent you used has been carefully rinsed off and run water through each nipple to ensure the hole is not clogged with milk curds. Using salt is no longer recommended for the cleansing of silicone nipples but is perfectly safe with latex ones. Just tip a little salt into the nipple, grind the nipple between your fingers, then rinse thoroughly. Check nipples and bottles carefully and throw out any with splits or cracks because damaged surfaces can also harbour bacteria.
How to sterilize
Boiling
One of the most popular methods of sterilizing is boiling. Place bottles, spoons, nipples, lids and other equipment into a pot of water and bringing it to a rolling boil for 2 minutes.
You can cover and store the equipment in a clean place (HC 2010). Nipples tend do get sticky and unusable more quickly than with other methods.
Steam sterilizing
Electric steam sterilizing is based on hospital methods and is quick and efficient, taking eight to twelve minutes, plus cooling time. You must be careful that you only put in equipment that is safe to boil (some parts of breast pumps may not be boilable, for example). Bottles, nipples and so on must be placed upside down to make sure they are fully sterilized.
You can also buy steamers for microwaves but make sure that nothing metal is placed inside them. They take around five to eight minutes to work, plus cooling time. Be careful when removing the lid of steam sterilizers, as the inside can become very hot. Their main advantage is that there is no smell or taste involved and the items remain sterile for three hours if the lid is kept on. Microwave sterilizers are useful for travel and taking on vacation providing, of course, there is a microwave available! You can now find disposable sterilizing bags for microwaves -- perfect for traveling if you don't want to pack a large container.
Avoid leaving sterilized empty bottles out on work surfaces for long, as they will quickly lose their sterility. This is not usually a problem when sterilizers have built-in storage facilities and bottles can be removed when required.
Read about the proper method for preparing a bottle after it has been sterilized.
How long should I continue sterilizing?
In general sterilizing bottles isn’t that useful after a baby starts doing a lot of exploring by mouth (around four months). If you don’t sterilize a bottle, you will need to clean it carefully and thoroughly. But there are a couple of caveats to this advice. If you are making formula and storing it in a bottle for any period of time, then you should sterilize the bottle after each use. Also, always store breast milk in sterilized containers since it is kept for an extended period of time. In short it’s important to have a clean bottle and even more important to have properly prepared and stored milk at any age!Read more advice on when to stop sterilizing bottles for your baby!
References
HC.
2010. Preparing and Handling Infant Formula. Health Canada. www.hc-sc.gc.ca [file accessed in June 2011]Show references Hide references
National Center for Home Food Preservation
| Do I need to pre-sterilize my jars for canning? |
New canning jars out of the box are not sterile. Being in a box or covered in plastic wrap is not the same as a sterile environment. In addition to contamination by microorganisms that cannot be seen with our bare eyes, packaged jars may accumulate dust, small bits of debris, and even chips of glass in the case of breakage (which does happen sometimes in all the steps of transport from factory to store to home).
Whether brand new or re-used many times over, you should always clean jars just prior to filling them when canning. Wash jars in a dishwasher or by hand, using detergent and rinsing well.
Clean jars should then be kept warm prior to filling. You can leave them in the closed dishwasher after the cycle, or use your canner as it is preheating, or create a separate water bath that will keep the jars both clean and warm.
Washing is also a good time to inspect jars for any cracks or chips, discarding or re-purposing those jars for non-canning uses if any imperfections are found. If you see scales or film from hard water left on your jars, then remove this by soaking jars for several hours in a solution containing 1 cup of vinegar (5% acidity) per gallon of water.
In order to actually sterilize jars, they need to be submerged in (covered by) boiling water for 10 minutes. When the process time for canning a food is 10 minutes or more (at 0-1,000 feet elevation), the jars will be sterilized DURING processing in the canner. Therefore, when process times are 10 minutes or more at this altitude, pre-sterilization of jars is not needed. It doesn't hurt your product to do it anyway, but it does require additional time and energy and is unnecessary.
To pre-sterilize jars, place the cleaned jars right-side-up on a rack in a canner and fill the jars and canner with water to 1-inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a boil and then boil for 10 minutes at altitudes less than 1,000 feet elevation. Add 1 additional minute for each additional 1,000 feet of elevation. When you are ready to fill the jars, remove the jars one at a time, carefully emptying the water from them back into the canner. This will keep the hot water in the canner for processing filled jars.
Sometimes people choose to increase a 5-minute process time (at 0-1,000 feet elevation) for certain jams and jellies to 10 minutes so that they do not have to pre-sterilize the jars. The extra process time is not harmful to most gels and spoilage should not be an issue as long as the filled jars get a full 10-minute treatment in boiling water. (And remember your altitude adjustments to increase this process time as needed.)
So, in summary: Is a 5-minute process time enough to sterilize jars? No.
If you are using a process time of only 5 minutes, such as for some jellied products, then you need to pre-sterilize jars before filling them (or increase the process time to the equivalent of 10 minutes at 0-1,000 ft elevation).
If a process time is 10 minutes or more then will the jars be sterilized? Yes, if you are at 0-1,000 feet elevation, but be sure to wash and rinse them well, and keep warm, before filling them with food. If you are processing above 1,000 feet elevation, then you need to consider the altitude adjustments needed to sterilize jars so you use the equivalent to 10 minutes of boiling at 0-1,000 feet elevation.
Revised August 2017
National Center for Home Food Preservation
Breast pump sterilization | Medela
To learn how to keep your pumped milk safe for your baby, read our basic cleaning and sterilization guide for your breast pump.
Share this information
When you can't breastfeed your baby, expressed breast milk is the best food.
To keep it safe, it is important to know how to properly clean and sterilize breast pump parts. With proper cleaning and sterilization of the breast pump, milk can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to five days and in the freezer for up to nine months. For more information, see our guide to storing, freezing and thawing breast milk. nine0003
Before expressing
All parts of the breast pump that come into contact with the breast and milk,
, must be absolutely clean and dry (details below). But this does not only apply to the breast pump: You also need to follow certain hygiene rules. Before pumping, always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water (at least 20 seconds), rinse with clean water, and dry them with a clean towel. Breasts should be washed only if you are using cosmetics that are incompatible with breastfeeding. nine0014 1 If in doubt, read the instructions on the packaging. Many lanolin-based nipple products can be left on before pumping.
Tips for cleaning your breast pump after use
After pumping, wash and thoroughly dry all parts that have come into contact with the breast or milk, including bottles, valves and funnels, to prepare them for the next use.
- First rinse all parts with potable water at approx. 20°C to remove milk protein residues. nine0023
- Then wash them with warm water at approx. 30°C using detergent.
- Rinse again with drinking water for 15-20 seconds.
- The parts of the breast pump can also be washed in the dishwasher using normal detergent by placing them on the top shelf. Small items can be placed in the cutlery compartment. The top of the bottles, funnels and nipples should be pointing down.
- Dry all parts of the breast pump with a clean cloth or leave to dry on a clean kitchen towel. nine0023
- Be sure to read your breast pump instructions for specific cleaning instructions.
How to sterilize the breast pump
At least once a day, the parts of the breast pump must be sterilized after cleaning.
In addition, it is necessary to sterilize the breast pump before the first use, as well as after a long break in use.
Sterilization involves thorough cleaning of germs and bacteria. Strictly speaking, what is called sterilization of baby care products is not sterilization in the scientific sense, and all kinds of products that are advertised as sterilization products do not completely kill bacteria and germs. It is not possible to completely sterilize equipment at home, even by boiling, because the home environment is not sterile. However, what is meant by sterilization in the domestic sense of the word ensures that the pump and milk are completely safe for you and your baby. nine0003
All breast pumps are different, therefore, sterilization should follow the recommendations of the specific manufacturer, but the following methods are most commonly used:
- Boiling. Place the parts of the breast pump in a large saucepan and add enough water to cover them completely.
Bring water to a boil and boil for at least 5 minutes. All parts must be completely under water. - Microwaveable. nine0046 Place the breast pump parts in a sterilizer or microwave sterilization bag and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Steam treatment. Place the accessories in the electric steam sterilizer. The top of the bottles, funnels and nipples should be pointing down.
- Treatment with sterilizing liquid or capsules. Some mothers prefer to use a cold water sterilization solution. All parts must be completely immersed in the solution for at least 30 minutes, with no air bubbles inside. The solution can be stored for no more than a day. You can also use sterilization spray. nine0023
After sterilization
Dry all accessories thoroughly before use.
- Using clean hands or tongs, remove the breast pump parts from the pot, sterilizer or sterilization bag. You can get burned, so be careful!
- Shake off excess water and dry all items with a clean cloth or leave to dry.
- Place all items on a sterilized surface or in a sterilized storage container. nine0023
Cleaning the pump after use and thoroughly sterilizing it at least once a day will ensure that breast milk is safe for your baby during storage.
Literature
1 US Food & Drug Administration. Using a breast pump. [Internet]. Silver Spring, MD, USA: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2018 [updated 2018 Feb 04; cited 2018 Apr 12]. Available from : 44.htm - US Food and Drug Administration. "Instructions for using the breast pump". [Internet] Silver Spring, Maryland, USA: Department of Health and Human Services; 2018 [updated February 4, 2018; cited April 12, 2018] Article referenced: www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/HomeHealthandConsumer/ConsumerProducts/BreastPumps/ucm061944.htm
How to sterilize jars before canning: the best ways and tips
In order for your blanks, on which you have worked so hard, to be well preserved, you will have to take care of sterile containers.
How to sterilize jars with blanks? There are several proven methods.
New hearth
Sterilize jars to remove microorganisms. Homemade preparations in unsterilized jars will simply ferment and explode.
How to properly sterilize jars at home
- First of all, jars must be thoroughly washed and checked for chips, cracks and other defects. They must not be damaged!
- You should also check the caps: if they are screw caps, they should preferably be new.
- Jars and lids should be thoroughly washed with a clean sponge using baking soda, mustard or laundry soap.
How to steam sterilize jars over a saucepan
Jars can be steam sterilized using a pot. How to sterilize jars at home?
The water boils and steams the container.
How to properly sterilize jars in an electric oven
Both dry and wet jars can be sterilized in the oven.
- Turn the dry ones upside down and wet ones upside down so that the water can evaporate from them.
- Metal lids can also be placed on the tray.
- Put the jars in a cold oven and heat it up to 150 degrees, this temperature is enough to sterilize the jars. nine0023
- Large jars should be sterilized for 15-20 minutes after reaching the specified temperature, while small jars will be enough for 10 minutes.
- Remove jars from the oven with dry oven mitts only. If the potholders are wet, the jar may burst from the temperature difference.
- Place sterilized jars upside down on a dry, clean towel to prevent bacteria from entering them.
Cans can also be sterilized in a gas oven in the same way. nine0003
How to sterilize jars in the microwave
You can sterilize jars in the microwave.
How to sterilize jars in a pot of water
- Place or place the jars in a large pot and fill it with cold water to cover the jars.
- Bring the water to a boil and sterilize the jars for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove and place neck down on a clean, dry towel. Let the jars dry.
How to sterilize plastic jars
Plastic jars and pails can be cold sterilized. nine0003
- Pour 50-100 ml of alcohol or strong vodka into a clean jar, close the lid and shake for 20-30 seconds.
- Then pour the alcohol into the next jar and repeat the process.
- Glass jars can also be sterilized in the same way.
- If you are going to use seam lids, sterilize jars with plastic lids, but seam lids simply need to be rinsed with alcohol or vodka just before sealing.
How to properly sterilize lids
If you use screw caps, simply boil them in water for 10-15 minutes right before closing the jar of vegetables or jam. Boiled lids must be taken carefully - with the help of boiled tweezers.
If you have jars with glass lids and iron clamps, the lids can be prepared together with the jars, and the seals can be boiled and placed on the lid with clean tweezers before rolling
How to sterilize canned food
Quite often ready-made canned food is pasteurized before being hermetically sealed.
- Cover the filled jars with lids without rolling them up, and place the pots with water on the bottom of a wooden grate or towel so that the water does not reach the lids by 1.5-2 cm.
- Heat the jars until the water begins to boil and soak at a moderate boil for 20-40 minutes.
- Remove the jars from the pot without opening the lids, place on the table and seal immediately. nine0023
- Turn closed jars upside down and cool.
Jars with glass lids are sterilized somewhat differently.
- First, seal the filled jars so that the rubber ring is placed between the lid and mouth, close the lids.
- Place the jars on a wooden grid or a towel in a saucepan with water preheated to 55-65°C, which should cover the jars with lids.
- Bring water to a boil and boil for 15-20 minutes. nine0023
- After sterilization, remove the jars from the water and place to cool.
- Glass lids stick tightly to jars: to open such a jar, release the spring and pull the tab on the rubber ring.
How to sterilize jars properly: video
youtube
Click and watch Internally scratched or even slightly warped screw caps will eventually spoil your canned food. Buy new ones! nine0023
