Many housewives preserve vegetables and fruits for the winter. But the preparation of canned meat or fish can be done by a few of them, since this is a troublesome and difficult task at home. You can cope with this task using a special device. We will talk about how to use an autoclave in our article. Here, we note the precautions for working with it and present a recipe for preparing delicious canned fish.
What is an autoclave?
An autoclave is an apparatus designed for the preparation (preservation) of products by heating them under pressure above atmospheric. Similar devices are used in medicine to sterilize instruments, and in canning shops for the preparation of various canned goods. Externally, the device resembles a large pressure cooker or pan with a tight-fitting lid.
How to use a home autoclave? The principle of its work is that the products laid out in cans (meat, fish, fruits, vegetables) are rolled up with metal lids, installed on a special grill and hermetically closed. Modern autoclaves operate both on gas and on electricity. With their help, you can not only make homemade canned food, but also sterilize compotes, preserves, juices, marinades, etc. But the main thing is that all products undergo sterile processing, and the botulism bacteria contained in raw fish die after 20 minutes of work autoclave.
Preparing the autoclave for work
The key to a successful canning result is the proper preparation of the products and the autoclave for work. The sequence of actions at this stage is as follows:
- According to the recipe, you need to take clean products and pack them in banks of the same size.
- Roll up the cans with metal lids using a can opener and place them on the grill or cassette of the autoclave.
- Using special clamping nuts, the cans must be fixed so that they stand securely and do not touch each other. How to use the autoclave further?
- After preparatory work with banks, the device is installed on a gas stove or connected to an electrical network.
- A hose for draining excess water is put on and secured with a hose clamp on a special faucet. It must also be lowered into a container with clean water.
- Pour water into the autoclave, so that the cans are completely immersed in it (about 30 l).
- Close the autoclave with a lid and check for leaks.
Only then can you directly proceed to the conservation.
How to use an autoclave for home canning
At the stage of preparation of canned food, it is important to monitor the pressure inside the apparatus and clearly observe the technology and the recipe. How to use an autoclave for home canning? The sequence of actions is as follows:
- Ignite the gas under an autoclave and bring the pressure inside the apparatus to 0.32-0.39 MPa, which corresponds to a temperature of 110-120 degrees. Heating takes about 1-2 hours.
- Maintain pressure at a predetermined level throughout the sterilization process. Its duration depends on the characteristics of specific products and is indicated in the recipe.
- After the time has passed, turn off the gas or unplug the cord. Do not open the lid of the autoclave until it has completely cooled. Before opening it, you need to make sure that the pressure inside the device is 0 MPa.
- Remove ready-made canned food from the autoclave and store in a dark, cool place.
Autoclave Precautions
When preparing canned food in an autoclave, the following recommendations should be followed:
- Do not open the lid of the device when it is under pressure.
- Do not turn on the autoclave if it is not filled with water.
- Do not exceed the pressure specified in the instructions.
- Do not use cans with stickers for sterilization.
- During operation, the autoclave is not allowed to tilt, move or touch hot surfaces.
How to use an autoclave to preserve fish: a recipe
In the autoclave, you can easily and quickly cook tasty and fragrant fish in natural oil. For a half-liter jar you will need only 0.5 kg of peeled and cut into pieces 50 g of fish, bay leaf and peppercorns, vegetable oil (1 tablespoon) and salt (1 teaspoon). All ingredients are placed in a jar so that 2-3 cm are left to the edge. It is not recommended to ram the fish tightly. How to use an autoclave when cooking canned fish?
To do this, the cans of fish are rolled up with lids and installed on the grill of the apparatus. After that, they are filled with water, the lid of the autoclave is closed and the sterilization process begins. Cooking time depends on how soft it is expected to get fish. On average, sterilization of cans lasts from 30 to 50 minutes. Before you get canned food out of the autoclave, you need to wait for it to cool completely.