Thermostabilized: ÒthermoÓ means heat. Foods that are thermostabilized have been heated to destroy harmful microbes. Some foods, such as the tinned fruit and fish, have been thermostabilized in cans. They have easy-to-open, pull-off lids. Others are packaged in pouches, such as the beef goulash or the chunky chicken stew. The pouches are heated and then cut open with scissors.