The Principle of Operation of a Home Water Autoclave. Instructions for Use

Home Autoclave is a device that provides a physical method of sterilization by destroying bacteria, viruses, and even spores using steam under pressure. The autoclave sterilizes materials by heating them to the necessary temperature for a certain period of time.

Autoclaves are divided into two main categories: steam and water. They operate on similar principles, but there are some differences, including:

the amount of liquid used;
the heating and cooling times.

Autoclaves are metal devices. Devices designed for home use typically have a capacity of no more than 18 liters. In recent years, larger units with capacities of 22-25 liters have gained popularity. There are models with a volume of up to 46 liters, but larger models are rarely used at home. The water autoclave is in high demand, so the discussion will focus on this type.

How the Autoclave Works

The basic principle of operation involves heating products or sterilized items under high pressure. Under increased pressure inside the autoclave chamber, the boiling point of water shifts. As a result, the boiling temperature of water can reach 125 °C, which is unattainable under normal conditions.

The elevated temperature accelerates the canning process and allows for the sterilization of jars, eliminating harmful microorganisms, mold spores, and bacteria.

The functioning of the autoclave can be represented in three stages:

heating;
sterilization;
cooling.

The operation of the device depends on its type. Two main varieties of water autoclaves are distinguished:

An autoclave that requires pre-pressurization. Water is poured into the tank and heated to approximately 60 degrees Celsius. Prepared jars with food supplies are then placed inside. The next step is to close the autoclave lid to create an airtight seal. Pressure is then pumped inside using a pump. Heating is turned on, and the temperature is raised to the required level according to the recipe. The cooking time depends on the type of product and the specific recipe. Meat and fish preserves generally take longer than vegetable or fruit ones. Once the necessary time has elapsed, heating is turned off, and the autoclave is allowed to cool naturally. Finally, the pressure is released, and the liquid is drained.
An autoclave that does not require pre-pressurization. Using this type of device is much simpler since there is no need to create pressure manually. Prepared jars are placed inside the device and filled with cold water, leaving a couple of centimeters from the top of the tank. If there are trays, it is important to ensure that the lid of the top tray is completely submerged in water. The heating is then turned on. The built-in sensors must be used to monitor temperature and pressure. After the allotted time according to the recipe, the device can simply be turned off and allowed to cool.

Ready preserves are removed from the cooled autoclave and stored in a cellar or other cool place where they can be kept for a long time. Typically, preserves made in an autoclave remain edible for 2-3 to 10 years. It's important to ensure that all ingredients used in the recipe do not spoil over time.

How to Prepare Jars and Products

When making homemade preserves, only high-quality, undamaged, and minimally spoiled products should be selected. Before cooking, jars should be thoroughly washed. Glass containers are preferable.

Containers should be filled according to the recipe, then securely sealed with lids. Metal lids are used for canning. For autoclave canning, separate sterilization of jars is not necessary. To ensure good taste qualities, it's recommended to use fresh products from reliable producers.

How to Load Jars into the Autoclave

Sealed jars are placed on special grids at the bottom of the device. The advantage of an autoclave is that multiple levels of jars can be arranged. Additionally, the upper rows of jars can be placed directly on the lid of the lower row.

If the device has pressurized trays, jars should be placed strictly following the instructions provided by the manufacturer with the autoclave. Each row should consist of jars of the same size and height. The lids should also be uniform. Otherwise, the pressure tray may fail, causing the lids to pop off.

The next step is to pour water into the autoclave. Do not fill the device to the brim; it's recommended to leave some free space (5-7 cm). Water should be poured into the autoclave to cover the jars by 1-2 cm.

Canning in the Autoclave

The canning algorithm is as follows:

Close the lid of the device tightly and ensure that the sealing ring is in place. To avoid the risk of the lid being skewed, nuts should be tightened alternately in a cross pattern.
If there are no pressure trays to compensate for the pressure differences in the jars and the autoclave, air should be pumped into the tank through the valve using a pump. Stop when the manometer shows a pressure level of one atmosphere. Pre-pressurization prevents a significant pressure difference during heating. Additionally, this procedure helps determine whether the autoclave is airtight. If special pressure trays are available, this step can be skipped.
Start heating the device. Along with the temperature, the internal pressure will also increase.
Based on the recipe specifics, the autoclave should be heated to 110-120 degrees to eliminate bacteria and other microorganisms. For meat dishes, cooking time is approximately one hour. Vegetable preserves take only 15-20 minutes, but the temperature remains the same. For mushrooms, cooking time ranges from 40 to 50 minutes at 110 °C. It's also important to understand that it will take several hours to heat the autoclave to the required level.

If the recipe and the manufacturer's instructions are followed carefully, there should be no difficulties in using the autoclave. Proper maintenance is also essential to ensure the device remains functional for many years.

How to Complete Sterilization in the Autoclave

When the time allotted in the recipe is over, gradually reduce the pressure in the device. This is done by slowly lowering the autoclaving temperature. The device should cool to about 30 degrees Celsius. Then, pressure can be released through the valve.

Avoid sudden heating or cooling, as well as pressure spikes. Otherwise, jars may become unsealed and open. Before opening the autoclave lid, it's recommended to turn the pressure release valve again. This ensures that the pressure inside and outside is at the same level. If everything is in order, the lid can be safely removed, and the sterilized jars can be taken out.

The process of preparing canned dishes takes an average of 3 hours. To make the task easier, you can start preparation in the afternoon. Then, by evening, the preserves will be ready, and you can turn off the heating and let the autoclave cool naturally until morning.

What Sterilization Modes Exist

Before this, it is essential to study the device's instruction manual and choose a recipe for preparing the preserves. In an autoclave, you can make:

stews from fish or meat;
vegetable and fruit marinades;
jams, and more.

If you want to buy a household autoclave, the range offered by "Ukrpromtech" includes a vast selection of models with various technical specifications, dimensions, capacities, power, etc. Therefore, you can always find the model that best suits your requirements. We also offer models of industrial autoclaves for canning, for producing long-storage products on a large scale.

Our company specializes in the production and sale of metal products, primarily made of stainless steel. In addition to autoclaves, you will find distillation apparatus, cheese-making equipment, water heaters, smokers, and much more. All devices are unique and of the highest quality.

Delivery of orders is carried out throughout Ukraine, so you can order purchases to almost any locality in the country. If necessary, you can consult with a company specialist for free. To do this, call (050) 376-60-86 or (067) 370-27-22. You can also send inquiries via email to the address provided in the "Contacts" section.

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