How To Sterilize Jars for Canning

While the term “canning” often brings to mind metal cans, the process actually encompasses both jars and cans. By definition, canning is a method of preserving food by sealing it in airtight containers. This can be done using either glass jars or metal cans.

The process involves heating the food to kill bacteria, yeasts, and molds, then sealing to prevent recontamination. This allows food to be stored for long periods without refrigeration.

When it comes to preserving your food in jars, it is crucial that you maintain a high standard of hygiene to keep your food fresh. Sterilizing jars for canning is needed to make sure that your food will be free from bacteria which would spoil whatever you are trying to preserve. Read on to discover the simplest way to sterilize jars for canning your next batch of pickles or jams.

Do You Need To Sterilize Jars For Pickling?

When you are preparing your jars for future canning, taking over 10 minutes to prepare your goods will sterilize not only the jars but the food inside too. Sterilizing is not usually required for pressure canning as food will be sterilized by the pressure of the high heat. So, this probably means that you do need to sterilize jars for pickling depending on the recipe that you are using.

Sterilizing your jars will be meaningless if the nearby areas are not clean too. Clean jars may take on bacteria from nearby areas that are infected. When you are putting jars on towels to dry off, make sure the towels are super clean. On every occasion possible, can the instant that you have finished the sterilizing jars for your pickles.

How To Sterilize Canning Jars In A Microwave

For a really quick and simple way to sterilize canning jars, you can use your microwave. And the great thing about using your microwave is that there is very little preparation or equipment necessary to follow this method.

• Thoroughly wash and clean your required number of jars before sterilization to make sure that they are as clean as possible.
• Place the still wet jars in the microwave and run on full for 60 seconds ensuring that they do not dry out entirely while in the microwave.
• After the 1 minute is up you can remove the jars and let them dry off on clean towel to dry.
• The lids will also have to be sterilized. Put all of your jar lids into a bowl of boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Shake off any surplus water and allow them dry out on a clean dry cloth. Just ensure that all of your lids have been fully sterilized.
• While everything remains hot, you can choose to cover over your jars with wax paper and cellophane as a pretty lid secured firmly with an elastic band.
• As soon as you have sterilized jars in this way, your homemade preserves ought to keep for around 6 months if kept in a cool place.

How To Sterilize Jars In The Oven For Canning

If it’s more convenient, you can use the oven!

• First clean the jars thoroughly in warm water and rinse well to remove any scum and dirt.
• Put the washed jars on a baking sheet and pop them into an oven that’s been preheated to around 280°F.
• Allow the jars to warm in the oven on a low heat for around 10 minutes to allow them to get fully dry.
• Carefully remove the jars from the oven — while keeping in mind how hot they are. Fill them with your chutney or pickles when they are still hot after being removed from your oven. You have to leave some airspace at the top of the jar as when it starts to cool this generates a vacuum sucking the lid tightly onto the jar producing an airtight seal.
• The lids can be put in the oven at the same time as your jars to get them ready for canning. If your jars come with rubber seals then these will have to be taken out before you sanitize; otherwise, they will be destroyed. Instead, put them into boiling water by themselves.
• Ladle hot foods like jam into a jug to make it simpler to shift the mixture into your hot sterilized jars. Do not allow your mixtures to get onto the rim of the jars because this may promote bacteria.

That’s how simple it is to sterilize jars for canning so that they can be filled with your homemade jams, pickles or chutney. A sterilized jar is essential to preserve freshness, increase your groceries shelf life and ensure that no one gets ill from eating your homemade goods. Correctly sealing your jars means they will last for years to come without the goodies inside being ruined.