How hot does it need to be to pasteurize water?

Answer 1

There are two different pasteurisation processes.

The first (less used) is Low Temperature, Long Time (LTLT). The minimum heat treatment for this method is 63°C for 30 minutes.

The second is High Temperature, Short Time (HTST). The minimum heat treatment for this method is 72°C for 15 seconds.

These two treatments are equivalent and are both considered proper pasteurisation.

Pasteurised milk should be free from the phosphatase enzyme to prove that pasteurisation was effective.

Answer 2

Ultra high temperature (UHT) pasteurization uses temperatures at around 135°C. High temperature short time (HTST) pasteurization uses temperatures around 72°C. The temperature may be increased if the pasteurization time is lowered. Too high of a temperature would result in a greater loss of vitamins and a more cooked flavor of the product.

Answer 3

Boiling would count as pasteurizing water. The boiling point of water is 100 degrees Celsius, or 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 373.15 Kelvins.

However, while people are sometimes told to boil their water, water is not pasteurized. That process is for more complex liquids, such as milk, which could be destroyed by holding at too high a temperature for too long, and that contain within them components that can be food for harmful bacterial growth.