Retorts

A retort is a vessel used historically in chemistry and alchemy for heating substances and distillation. Typically made of glass or metal, it has a rounded body and a long, curved neck that leads to a delivery tube. When heated, vapors rise, condense, and collect in the neck or in a separate receiver. Retorts were central to early distillation work and to the preparation of volatile compounds and essential oils; modern laboratories use other glassware such as round-bottom flasks, stills, and condensers, but the term persists in historical contexts and in some forms of distillation equipment.

In modern industrial contexts, "retort" also denotes a method of food processing: retort sterilization. Packaged foods sealed in metal cans or flexible pouches are heated under steam in large pressure vessels called retorts to destroy microorganisms and extend shelf life. Retort processing typically uses temperatures around 116-130°C (240-265°F) under pressure for minutes to hours, depending on product. Retortable pouches are designed to withstand these conditions, offering shelf-stable convenience without refrigeration.

As a verb and noun in rhetoric, "retort" means to answer or reply sharply or wittily. A retort is a quick, clever reply often used to counter criticism or sarcasm.