A simple way to sterilize jars. Sterilizing jars at home

The time will soon come when lovers of canning will arm themselves with their favorite recipes and begin to roll up various goodies for the winter. All experienced housewives They know: the key to long-term storage of jars with various pickles and jams is high-quality cleaning of the containers. If this is your first time deciding to try canning for the winter, then you definitely need to learn how to sterilize jars in your home kitchen.

Methods for sterilizing glass containers

Sterilization is the treatment of glass containers at a very high temperature, which kills bacteria and microorganisms that lead to premature spoilage of the product.

The recipe does not always indicate that it is necessary to sterilize the container in which you will preserve. Whether to do this or not is, of course, up to you. We will introduce you to several options for this procedure.

Grandma's method - steam cleaning

Our grandmothers successfully carried out the procedure of cleaning containers from bacteria at home with ordinary water vapor. You can easily do the same using our step-by-step instructions.

First, we check each jar: it should be without any damage, and the necks should be smooth, without cracks. Wash them thoroughly and rinse them very well.
Boil water in a saucepan. We place a wire rack on top of the pan, on which we place empty vessels upside down. They stand over the evaporating liquid for about half an hour. When we see that the steam has begun to roll off the dishes in droplets of condensation, let us hold them for another 5 minutes.
Carefully remove them from the grill and place them bottom up on a spread towel.

Cleaning empty containers in the oven

Sterilizing jars in the oven is not a complicated method, but it requires special attention.

Well washed and rinsed containers are immediately placed in the oven with the neck on the mesh. They must be wet.
The temperature at which they are processed should be no more than 150 degrees. We keep them in a hot oven for as long as it takes for the drops of moisture on the walls to evaporate.
As soon as the glass is dry, turn off the temperature. The main thing is not to miss this moment, as they can crack from overheating.
Let the dishes treated in this way cool slightly and place them on a towel, neck down.

Cleaning containers using a microwave

Nowadays almost every kitchen has a microwave oven. But not everyone knows how to properly sterilize jars in the microwave, and often do not even use it for these purposes. This is completely in vain, since the sterilization time is significantly reduced.

We pour water into the jars, about 1-2 centimeters high, and place them in the oven. Set the microwave to medium power (about 800 watts). The procedure takes from 3 to 5 minutes. The liquid boils and begins to evaporate, thereby treating the glass container.
If we need to warm up three liter jar, then we place it, filled with liquid, on its side. Naturally, the warm-up time will increase from 5 to 7 minutes.
After all the liquid has evaporated and the dishes become completely dry, carefully remove them from the oven and, as usual, place them neck down on a spread towel.

Heat treatment of cans with blanks

The proposed cleaning options are suitable for empty containers. Using one of these methods, you can prepare dishes for jam or pickles, which use vinegar for the marinade. But many recipes for salads and appetizers require double heating, that is, the glass container with the contents is subjected to strong heating again.

Warming up the workpieces with boiling water

The easiest way to warm up jars with blanks is to boil them in a pan of water.

Take a spacious saucepan and place a board on the bottom (you can replace it with a towel folded in several layers). This is necessary so that the glass does not touch each other, as well as the bottom of the pan, and cannot accidentally break. Be sure to place covered filled jars on top of the protective covering at a distance from each other.
The water we will pour in should be the same temperature as the preservation. This is necessary so that there is no temperature contrast and the glass does not crack. Carefully pour it into a saucepan with a cap. Just enough liquid is needed for the jars to submerge almost completely, not reaching the edge by about 2 centimeters. Turn on the heat, bring everything to a boil and keep it in boiling water for the time specified in the recipe. How long should pickles be kept in boiling water if the recipe does not indicate this? Remember, the time depends on the volume of your container: keep 750-800 gram jars in boiling water for approximately 10-15 minutes; It will take 15 to 20 minutes to boil 1 liter of container; 20-25 minutes when canning in a 2-liter container; about half an hour for a 3 liter.
After the allotted time has passed, we take them out of the boiling water one by one and carefully roll them up.

Warming jars of salads in the oven

Salads warm up beautifully in the oven.

Cover the filled containers and place them on a baking sheet in a cold oven. We heat it to 110-120 degrees and keep our salads for a certain time. The larger the container, the longer we warm it up. In general, the heating time in the oven coincides with the time we maintain when processing workpieces in boiling water. It is still better to sterilize large bottles in water.
After the time has passed, be careful not to get burned, take them out and immediately roll them up.

Warming up dishes with salads in the microwave

Small jars (up to 1 liter) with salads can also be sterilized in microwave oven. The main thing is to choose the right power and time.

We evenly place the open container with the contents inside the microwave oven. Using the microwave at full power, bring them to a boil, reduce the power to minimum and cook for 3-4 minutes.
We take out the boiled product and immediately roll it up.

Thermal sterilization of caps

Do you need to clean the lids for sealing jars? Of course yes. They also contain bacteria that can lead to premature spoilage of the product.

There are several rules for preparing them for canning that you need to know.

Before sterilizing the lids, be sure to wash them with a special detergent or soda solution and rinse them well.
It is better to remove the treated lids not with your hands, but with clean tongs or a spoon.
After heat treatment, do not place them on a towel under any circumstances. It is better to immediately roll up the prepared preserves with them.
Never use metal lids in a microwave or oven.

Main options for heat treatment of lids

The easiest way to make cries sterile is to steam them over boiling water in a saucepan or by boiling them directly in boiling water.

Boil water in a saucepan. We put a mesh on top and put lids with elastic bands on it. We hold them over steaming water for about 10 minutes and immediately roll the prepared products with them.
If you decide to boil them in water, then fill a saucepan with water and put it on the fire. Place the lids with rubber bands in boiling water and boil them for a quarter of an hour. We take them out of the water immediately before rolling up the container.

As you can see, there is nothing complicated in the process of sterilizing glass jars. Tips and detailed instructions from this article will help you do everything right, and canned goodies will delight you all winter.

Video: Sterilizing jars using a multicooker

The conservation period lasts from June to October, and during this time many housewives manage to acquire a couple of burns and a shock of gray hair. How to protect yourself from damage in the kitchen during sterilization of jars and spend less time on kitchen “entertainment” read below.

Why sterilize jars

Sterilization of jars plays an important role in the safety of the products stored in them:

Firstly, steam sterilization kills the odors of food stored there before preservation;
Secondly, sterilization kills germs in the dishes;
Thirdly, sterilization promotes more long-term storage preservation due to almost sterile conditions;
Fourthly, sterilization (when working with jars correctly and quickly) creates a vacuum inside the jar, preserving the freshness and quality of the products.

How to sterilize jars in a saucepan on the stove

One of the most common ways to sterilize jars is on the stove.

Make sure that the jars are thoroughly washed and not damaged (no chips, cracks, air bubbles, etc.), pour water to 1/3 of the height of the pan, and place the jars in it with their necks down.

Boil the jars for 15-20 minutes. 2-3 minutes before turning off, put the lids in the pan (preferably with a reserve) and boil them together for the remaining time. You cannot boil the lids for more than 2-3 minutes, as there is a risk of damage and deformation of the rubber sealing ring.

Dry the outside of the jars with paper napkins, immediately cover with lids and roll the preserves into them immediately after preparation, without waiting for the jars to cool.

How to sterilize jars in the oven

In order to sterilize jars in the oven, heat it to 100 degrees (at higher temperatures the jars may burst).

Place dry jars on the rack with their necks down, and recently washed or wet jars with their necks up. After 15-20 minutes of heating, the jars are sterilized.

Leave them to cool in the oven, after covering with sterilized lids.

How to sterilize jars in the microwave

To sterilize jars in a microwave oven, pour 40-50 ml of water into the bottom of each jar and set the timer for 3 minutes (for ovens with a power of 6000 to 8000 W - 5 minutes). When the water boils, it will release steam, which will sterilize the jars.

Immediately after sterilization, cover the jars with sterile lids and place the prepared preserves in them.

How to sterilize jars with blanks

If it happens that you forgot to sterilize the jars before placing preserves in them or are not sure about the quality of sterilization, there is a way to sterilize the jars along with the preparations inside. To do this, place a soft towel on the bottom of the pan. Place jars with blanks without lids on top of the towel and pour water to 1/3 of the height of the pan. Boil the contents of the pan for 10-15 minutes, then screw on the lids and turn the jars with the blanks upside down, placing them “upside down” on a dry and clean towel in a cool place.

The main stage in canning, perhaps, can be called sterilization of jars. Since without this stage our preparations simply will not be stored, we simply must know.

Let us immediately note that there are several ways to sterilize jars, and if your family knows only one, improve your knowledge, maybe you will like our options better.

So, we select the required number of cans for our preparations. They must be without cracks or chips. Wash the jars well; you can use regular baking soda as a detergent.

How to sterilize empty jars?

First, we'll figure out how to sterilize empty jars. Here are the most popular methods.

How to sterilize jars by steaming

This method can be called the most “ancient”. Even our grandmothers sterilized jars for a couple. What will it take?

Take a pan of water and cover it with a net, splash screen or divider. Instead of these devices, you can find a saucepan attachment with recesses for 1 or several cans at once at a hardware store.
Place the jar upside down in the recess. Boil water in a saucepan. This way the steamed jars are sterilized. Instead of a saucepan, a kettle is also suitable, where instead of a lid we put our mesh or nozzle.
How long does it take to steam sterilize jars? Volumes of 0.5 and 0.75 are sterilized in 10 minutes, 1 liter – 15 minutes, 2 liters – 20 minutes, and 3 liters – 30 minutes. But many housewives do not adhere to the specified time frame and sterilize jars for no more than 15 minutes.

How to sterilize jars in the microwave

Pour 2 centimeters of water into 0.75 and 1 liter jars. If the volume is larger, accordingly, pour a little more water. We put the jars in the microwave, select the power 900-1000 W. We put the jars without lids! Sterilize the jars in the microwave for 5 minutes, the water should boil.
An important point is that there must be water in the jars, otherwise they will burst. 2 and 3 liter jars are sterilized on their sides, but water must be poured.

How to sterilize jars in the oven

This method has become the favorite of many housewives. In the oven you can sterilize jars of any size and in any quantity, as far as the oven allows. This method differs favorably from sterilization in the microwave in that the lids can also be sterilized.

Wash the jars and place them directly wet on a baking sheet or mesh upside down in the oven.
Heat the oven to 150 degrees, as soon as the oven warms up, sterilize the jars for the required time: 0.5 and 0.75 liters - 10 minutes, 1 liter - 15 minutes, 2 liters - 20 minutes, 3 liters - 25 minutes.

Along with the jars, you can also put wet lids on the grill, but only metal ones and without rubber inserts.

Sterilizing jars in a pan of water (boiling)

To sterilize jars in a saucepan with water, take a large saucepan and place jars filled with water filled up to the neck. We also pour water into the pan itself so that the jars stand up to their necks in water.
We bring the water to a boil and sterilize it in the same time as the previous method: 0.5 and 0.75 l - 10 minutes, 1 l - 15 minutes, 2 l - 20 minutes, 3 l - 25 minutes. You can also boil the lids along with the jars.

How to sterilize lids

Since you don’t want to bother with sterilization for a long time, many housewives strive to choose a method that how to sterilize jars and lids together.

Before sterilizing, carefully inspect the lids to ensure they are intact and without visible damage. The lids along with the jars are sterilized in the oven, in boiling water, and by steam (where the jar stands on a mesh and the lids are sterilized in boiling water).
The lids can be prepared separately - boiled in a small saucepan with water.
The sterilization time for the lids is 10 minutes. To avoid getting burned, remove hot lids with meat tongs.

Whatever method you choose to sterilize jars, be careful. It's easy to get burned by hot cans! Use kitchen towels or oven mitts. And now the jars can be filled with our preparations and closed with lids.

How to sterilize jars with blanks

Also, jars are sterilized directly with the preparations. Let's find out how to do this.

How to sterilize jars with preparations in boiling water

This method is the most common.

Place a towel on the bottom of a wide pan and place the jars with the ingredients on top.
Pour water into the pan at the same temperature as the workpieces themselves. If the water is cold or very hot, the jar will burst. The water should reach the hangers of the jars.
We cover the jars (do not roll them up!) with lids, bring the water to a boil and sterilize as much as indicated in the specific recipe. If the time is not specified, then usually 0.5 and 0.75 jars are sterilized for 10 minutes, 1 liter - 15 minutes, 2 liters - 20-25 minutes, and 3 liters - 30 minutes.

Don't forget that the jars are very hot!

How to sterilize jars with preparations in the oven

The same manipulations are carried out in the oven. Sterilizing jars in the oven is considered very convenient.

We place jars with blanks on a wire rack or baking sheet. The oven should be cold or slightly warm.
Place lids on top of the jars. Bring the oven to 120 degrees. We sterilize according to the recipe. Again, if the time is not specified, then sterilize 0.5 liters for 10 minutes, 0.75 for 15 minutes, 1 liter for 15-20 minutes.
We take out the jars with kitchen mittens and hold on to their sides.

Frequently asked questions about sterilization

Are jam jars sterilized? Do compote jars need to be sterilized?

All jars for preparations are sterilized! It is this procedure that guarantees that your preparations will safely reach the winter and will delight you with their taste. Thanks to the high temperature, the jars literally become sterile, hence the name of the procedure.

How to sterilize salad jars? How long does it take to sterilize jars of cucumbers?

Each recipe must indicate the time for sterilization of a specific workpiece. If it so happens that you forgot to indicate the time, pay attention to the methods of sterilizing jars with blanks just above. The time depends on the sterilization method and the volume of the jar itself.

How long does it take to sterilize jars?

If they are sterilized empty, then usually it is: 0.5 and 0.75 l - 10 minutes, 1 l - 15 minutes, 2 l - 20 minutes, 3 l - 25 minutes.

If the jars are already filled, then: 0.5 and 0.75 are sterilized for 10 minutes, 1 liter – 15 minutes, 2 liters – 20-25 minutes, and 3 liters – 30 minutes.

See the information above for more details.

At what temperature should jars be sterilized?

If water is used during sterilization, then the jars are sterilized precisely while it is boiling.

If the procedure is carried out in a microwave, choose a power of 900-1000 W. Set the oven to 150 degrees.

I hope we've covered this thoroughly enough. how to properly sterilize jars, if you have anything to add, we are waiting for you in the comments!

A little theory: Just a few words should be said about the reasons for food spoilage. The main enemy of any canned food is microbes. This microscopic, invisible monster, penetrates the jar and multiplies. The contents become unusable, and the gases released during the process “explode” the cans. Therefore, the main goal when canning is to prevent various microorganisms. There is only one helper in such cases - high temperature. This type of processing of jars and lids is called sterilization.

How to sterilize jars in the oven

This method is perfect when we're talking about O large quantities cans. You need to sterilize jars in the oven at a temperature of 100-150 degrees. Banks are washed thoroughly, but don't wipe! When wet, place them on a wire rack with their necks down. To prevent water from dripping onto the bottom of the oven, you can place a baking tray underneath.

The choice of the exact processing temperature depends on the available time. If there is a lot of it, then it is better to carry out the process at 100 degrees for about 30-40 minutes. If time is short, it is better to increase the temperature to 150 and process small (up to 1 liter) jars for 10-15 minutes, and larger volumes (from 1 liter) for 20-25.

In any case, the indicator of readiness is the complete evaporation of drops of water from the cans.

It is important to remember that sudden changes in temperature can cause glass to break. To prevent the jars from bursting, it is better to place them in the oven before heating to operating temperature, but not to take them out immediately, but to let them cool a little.

How to sterilize jars by steaming

One of the most common methods of sterilization. The idea is simple - you need to heat the water to a boil, and place the jar in such a way that the released steam gets inside. Several techniques can be used:

Simple: A sieve, a special wooden grid or several simple planks are placed on the pan to prevent the jar from coming into contact with the surface of the water. Pour in the liquid and bring to a boil. The previously cleaned jar is placed on top, neck down. Depending on the volume, sterilization is carried out from 15 to 25 minutes.

Keep jars with a volume of 0.5 to 1 liter over steam for 15 minutes

Keep jars with a volume of 1 to 2 liters over steam for 20 minutes

Keep jars with a volume of 2 to 3 liters over steam for 25 minutes

With special cover: A very convenient, inexpensive, but effective device is a special lid with holes for cans. The process is similar to the previous one, but this device allows you to concentrate steam in the right place and simultaneously sterilize several cans, which will significantly reduce the time.

In the steamer: Modern technologies allow the processing of cans in this way. The method is similar to the previous ones, only water is poured into the steamer, the jar is placed upside down, the “cooking” mode is turned on and sterilization is carried out for 15 minutes. The downside is that the device must have sufficient capacity.

When using any sterilization method, you must remember to be careful - the processed jars are very hot. Therefore, use towels, oven mitts, etc. to move them.

How to sterilize jars in the microwave

This simple method is gaining more and more popularity. Its main advantage is speed. Water is poured into the jar to about 2-3 cm, and the vessel is placed in the microwave. Large ones can be placed lying down, but you need to carefully monitor the water level so that it does not leak out. The oven is turned on for 3 minutes at a power of about 700 W. The water boils, steam is generated, and the jar is sterilized from the inside.

Please note that water must be present in the jar throughout the entire process. Otherwise, the microwave may become unusable.

How to sterilize jars in the dishwasher

The method is convenient in that it is carried out without any control from the hostess. Already washed cans are placed in the machine, the mode is turned on at maximum temperature and sterilization is carried out. In this case, no detergents are added!

This method has another big advantage - unlike other appliances, the dishwasher does not increase the temperature in the kitchen, which can be very important in the hot summer. However, there is a minus - the maximum temperature for conventional cars does not exceed 70 degrees. In most cases, this is sufficient, but there is still a small risk of microbial penetration.

How to sterilize jars with blanks

This is very important aspect. The fact is that no matter how well sterilization is carried out empty cans, microbes can be carried in with the contents. This is especially true for canning without using vinegar. This sterilization can be carried out in different ways:

Boiling

The jar with the contents is placed in a saucepan, at the bottom of which there are dowels or thick cloth (to prevent contact with glass and metal). Hot water is poured in, the level of which should not reach the throat by 2-3 cm. The jars themselves are covered with a lid: they are not closed tightly, but rather covered, leaving the possibility of air exchange.

The stove is turned on, the pan is covered. The maximum temperature is maintained, but if the boiling is too active, it can be reduced slightly. Processing time depends on the recipe and the volume of the jars. As a rule, this is 10 – 30 minutes.

Oven

The jar with the contents is covered with a lid and placed in the oven. Processing takes place for 10 - 25 minutes at a temperature of 100-120 degrees. Despite the simplicity of the method, there are two significant points:

The jar should only be placed in a cold or slightly heated oven, otherwise it may burst.
If lids with rubber gaskets are used, they (the gaskets) must be removed during the period of sterilization of the jar.

Microwave

Opened (!) jars with contents are placed in the oven. Set to maximum power and bring to a boil. After this, the power is reduced to a minimum and the future canned food is kept in the microwave for another 3 minutes.

How to sterilize lids

So, the jars and contents are sterile, but the lids remain. As a rule, we are talking about metal products, which means a microwave oven is completely excluded. It is not advisable to use a dishwasher either. An oven will do, but if there are rubber seals, they will have to be removed and sterilized separately.

The ideal methods would be boiling or steaming. If the same method is chosen for sterilizing jars, you can combine the processes. You just need to take into account that processing the lids takes 10-15 minutes and is carried out directly before closing.

Proper sterilization is the key to successful canning! The process is simple and will not take much time. At the same time, it will help to avoid a huge number of troubles, preserve the harvest, and provide the whole family with delicious canned food for the winter.