Steam Cleaning
Steam cleaning of herbs is the most environmentally safe of all the sterilization techniques. Steam cleaning eliminates the need for harsh chemicals which can pollute the environment and potentially harm human beings who consume the herb.
By using this method, the user effectively cleans the herbs of not only dirt, but also parasites and other harmful micro-organisms.
There are two types of steam cleaning methods: steam pressure cleaning and dry steam cleaning.
Wet steam is the most dependable if you want to ensure that all micro organisms have been killed. Steam pressure cleaning uses steam that is released onto the herb at high pressure which not only kills the bacteria but also washes the product of dirt. This method takes the least amount of time.
For herbs to be effectively steam cleaned they need to be put into an autoclave employing saturated steam under a pressure of approximately 15 psi to achieve a chamber temperature of at least 121°C (250°F) for thirty to forty minutes. There must not be any air in the autoclave during this process.
Dry steam cleaning can sometimes use a chemical compound or naturally occurring gas such as ozone. Dry steam cleaning is not advised for herbs because it takes longer and the gases can cause the herbs to loose their flavor. Dry steam cleaning is also less effective at killing bacteria.
Steam cleaning is the green choice for many reasons, not just because it does not use potentially hazardous chemicals; steam cleaning uses less electrical power than most other methods. This means lower utility bills which is a must for any business owner. It also does not use any controversial techniques such as zapping the herbs with radiation. There are many quality steam cleaners on the market which can be brought on the web.
