Nicolas Appert (1749–1841) was a French confectioner and chef. In 1795, he began experimenting with ways to preserve foodstuffs such as soups, juices, vegetables, jams and jellies using glass jars sealed with cork and wax. The jars were then placed in boiling water—effectively sterilizing the food inside, decades before French scientist (1822–95) Louis Pasteur demonstrated how heat killed bacteria. In 1795 the French military offered a cash prize of 12,000 francs for a new method to preserve food. Appert eventually won the prize in January 1810. He then patented his invention and established a business.