Sterilization of jars at home using proven and modern methods. Sterilizing jars at home: all sterilization methods How long to sterilize liter jars
Any housewife strives to stock up on vitamins from fruits, vegetables and mushrooms for the winter. The most proven method is conservation. In order for such a process to take place without any problems, it is necessary to place the prepared components in absolutely clean jars.
If they are not sterilized, then due to the large number of microbes contained on the surface, fermentation may occur in the pickled product, which leads to its spoilage. That is why proper sterilization of jars at home is an essential condition for the safety of products.
Preparing dishes for sterilization
Canned products create an optimal environment for the growth of bacteria. If sterilization is not carried out, then the fermentation process caused by microbes can ruin all stocks. This is expressed by cloudiness of the brine or swelling of the lid.
- You should carefully inspect the jars for cracks or chips. If there is a chip on the neck, this will certainly cause the lid to swell and break off. When pouring boiling water into a container, it may explode.
- Undamaged banks rinse thoroughly with warm water and detergent. The container is usually dried with a towel or simply left to dry on the table. Only dry jars need to be sterilized.
Sterilization of jars
There are quite a few methods of sterilization. Let's look at the most popular of them.
Steam sterilization
How to sterilize jars at home? You can use the old and reliable method that our great-grandmothers used. There are several ways to process a container over steam.
For the first method you will need a kettle, Turk or other dishes with a narrow neck. After the kettle boils, put a jar on its spout or insert it upside down into the neck of the Turk. One-liter containers should be sterilized for 7–10 minutes, and three-liter containers should be sterilized for 15 minutes. If it is completely sterilized, then droplets of water stop appearing on it.
The second method involves use of special round lids with holes that are used for the neck of the jar. In this case, cover the boiling pan with such a lid and insert the container into it with the neck down. If there is no such device, then you can use an ordinary metal sieve. But in this case, the steam will usually be wasted, contributing to an increase in temperature and humidity in the kitchen.
You can use a double boiler for sterilization. Place clean jars in it for 15 minutes and turn on the cooking mode. The disadvantage of this method is the ability to sterilize only a small amount of containers.
Sterilization in the oven
How to do it right sterilize jars in the oven? To do this, place the prepared container in the oven and turn it on low heat so that it gradually heats up to 150 degrees. This is the optimal temperature at which it is recommended to keep the jars for 15 minutes. If they are three-liter, then the time increases to 25 minutes.
To take out heated jars, use oven mitts. They must be dry, otherwise the container may burst in your hands as a result of temperature changes. This method is convenient because the temperature in the oven destroys a large number of bacteria.
Microwave sterilization
To get it right sterilize jars in the microwave, you need to pour 1 - 2 cm of water into each container. After this, the device is turned on for 2 - 3 minutes, setting the power to 700 - 800 W. As soon as the water in the jars boils, steam appears, destroying all bacteria. It should be remembered that glass containers may burst without water.
If it is necessary to sterilize three-liter jars, then pour a glass of water into them and place them on their side. Further actions occur in the same way as when using a liter container.
This method of sterilization has one drawback - the small size of the microwave. And the advantages are as follows:
- fresh air in the kitchen;
- free space on the stove;
- reliability and speed of glass processing.
Dishwasher sterilization
This processing method not too common, since a small number of people have a dishwasher with a sterilization function. To properly prepare the container, clean jars are loaded into such household appliances without any detergents. After this, turn on the washing mode with the highest temperature. It should be at least 60 degrees. Thanks to this method, up to 20 cans can be processed.
This method of container sterilization does not require control. The processing time is determined by the specified mode. While the jars are being processed, the housewife can do something else. The main thing is that this method does not increase the temperature inside the room.
Sterilization in water
One of the classic methods for sterilizing jars is boiling.
- To do this, use a large saucepan, which must be filled with water to 2/3 of its volume.
- Jars filled to the neck with water are placed in it. They should not touch each other, so gauze is placed between them.
- Then turn on the stove and bring the water to a boil. Along with the containers, the lids are often sterilized.
The disadvantage of this method is that the kitchen is filled with hot steam, and this is very harmful both to the health of the hostess and to the interior. In addition, due to hard water, salt deposits can form on the walls of the container.
Sterilization in a multicooker
To sterilize jars at home, fill the multicooker bowl to the second level or to the middle between levels, close the lid and wait until the water boils.
After this, the lid should be opened, the jar should be placed with its neck down and it should be sterilized in the “boiling” or “steamer” mode for 5 – 7 minutes. The end of the process is determined by condensation, which begins to flow down the walls. After this, the containers are removed and filled with the workpiece.
Sterilization in an air fryer
To sterilize jars in a convection oven, it is necessary to remove unnecessary items from it such as grilles, stands, etc. Only the bottom mesh should be left. If it is necessary to process tall containers, an expansion ring is installed in the oven.
The jars in the air fryer should be positioned in such a way that they fit freely there. The oven is closed with a lid and the sterilization mode is selected. At the end, take out the container very carefully so as not to get burned.
Jars in an air fryer should be sterilized at a high temperature of 120 - 150 degrees. It is in this case that all pathogenic bacteria are destroyed. They are processed on average for 10 - 15 minutes, but if the container is small, then 5 - 9 minutes is enough.
Sterilization of caps
Just like banks caps before sterilization should be washed and checked for scratches, dents or rust. If they have screw-in threads, they must be renewed annually.
Clean lids are immersed in boiling water for 3 minutes or sterilized in the oven along with the jars. Do not microwave metal lids as this may damage the microwave.
Pasteurization
Many housewives are not sure in double or triple fill quality when preserving, therefore they resort to pasteurization. In other words, the jars are sterilized along with the preparations. This is usually required for preserving mushrooms or cucumbers.
The pan is being filled warm water in such a way that it does not reach the neck of the jars by about 5 cm, and place on the fire. Pasteurization time is usually 15 – 25 minutes. The pasteurized containers are taken out of the water one at a time and immediately rolled up, after which they are turned upside down and left to cool.
Thus, sterilization of jars at home is necessary for proper preservation of food. There are quite a few ways to do this efficiently. You just need to choose a certain method that is best suited in this situation, and feel free to get to work.
Canning requires mandatory compliance not only with the rules for salting and marinating products, but also with heat treatment of the containers for them. Glass jars with lids must be clean and undergo special treatment - sterilization.
There are several ways to sterilize jars at home, from the simplest - steaming over a saucepan, to the most sophisticated - in an air fryer. Let's look at them in more detail, highlighting all the pros and cons so that you can choose the method that is ideal for you. Follow all the recommendations strictly, and your preserves will be perfectly stored all year long! And of course, do not forget about safety rules when working with hot cans and steam.
- Take suitable jars for preservation without chips, cracks or chips.
- Wash utensils thoroughly before sterilizing. Use regular dish soap or baking soda, then rinse the jars thoroughly under running water. Pay special attention to the neck, where dirt and rust often accumulate.
- Tin lids are disposable. If you are using modern screw caps that are reusable, make sure that the inner paint layer is intact - there should be no chips, scratches or rust.
- Remember: during sterilization, sudden temperature changes are not allowed! Cold jars should not be immersed in hot water and vice versa! To prevent the container from bursting, it must be heated gradually.
Boiling sterilization
Boiling cans in a saucepan is one of the easiest ways to heat treat containers. The glass container is completely immersed in water and kept in it for 15 minutes from the moment of boiling.
To sterilize, take a large saucepan (or an enamel bucket) into which you can completely immerse the jar. Place a wooden plank or a piece of cotton fabric on the bottom. Place clean jars on top, neck up. Place them between each other with a clean cloth or gauze so that they do not touch each other and do not rattle when boiling. If the jars do not fit into the pan upright, place them on their sides. Fill with cold water so that the water completely covers the entire surface. Boil for 15 minutes.
ATTENTION! Be extremely careful when removing jars from boiling water!
Pros:
No special equipment is needed, just stock up on a spacious saucepan;
The lids can be boiled together with the jars in the same pan.
Cons:
When water boils for a long time, the surrounding area is quickly moistened and warmed up;
To sterilize a large number of jars, you need to reheat the water each time;
It is difficult to remove jars from boiling water;
Hard water can cause salt deposits to form inside jars.
Steam sterilization over a saucepan
Steaming jars is one of the most popular and “ancient” methods of sterilization. The principle of operation comes down to treating the cans with steam, which fills them, rising above the pan at a strong boil.
To sterilize, fill the pan with water and install an oven rack, a metal flat sieve or a limiter - a special metal plate that prevents the jars from coming into contact with water. Place a glass jar, neck down, into the hole in the stopper. Wait for the water to boil and sterilize 0.5 liter containers for 10 minutes, large jars for 15-20 minutes. Steam from boiling water will condense and flow down the walls back into the pan.
ATTENTION! Be careful when removing the lids from the water bath! The steam is very hot, you can get burned!
Pros:
100% removal of all germs;
Steam can be used to sterilize both jars and lids.
Cons:
Strong heating of the environment;
The need for a metal stop;
Relatively long sterilization time.
Microwave sterilization
In the microwave, sterilization is carried out very quickly - 2 minutes for 0.5 liter jars, and 3 minutes for 1 liter containers. Under the influence of microwaves, the jars warm up well, and all bacteria on their surface are destroyed.
To do this, pour water into the bottom of each jar - about 1-1.5 centimeters. Place them upright on the turntable. Three-liter jars do not fit into ordinary home microwaves, but you can cheat. Pour in the water and place it in the microwave on its side. There is little water in it, so it will not spill. Set the microwave frequencies to medium, power 700-800 watts. Set a timer and turn on the microwave for 2-3 minutes. During this time, the water in the jars will boil and sterilize them by spraying them with steam.
ATTENTION! Do not put empty jars in the microwave without water! Do not cover them with metal lids, otherwise the microwave will break down!
Pros:
Sterilization is carried out quickly;
The air in the room does not heat up;
You can process several small jars at once.
Cons:
Large jars are difficult to fit;
Metal lids cannot be sterilized.
Sterilization in the oven
The method is convenient when you need to prepare a large amount of containers for preservation. With strong heating to a temperature of 150-160 degrees, all bacteria are destroyed. The method is simple, but quite dangerous: if you overheat the jars, they can burst.
To sterilize, place washed, damp (!) jars on a wire rack upside down. Preheat the oven to 160 degrees and keep the container in it until all the drops of water on the walls are dry. On average this can take 15-20 minutes.
ATTENTION! Do not allow severe overheating, otherwise the glass may burst! Remove the jars from the oven after cooling them slightly to 80–90 degrees.
Pros:
Fast and easy process;
No special equipment required.
Cons:
Care must be taken to ensure that the jars do not overheat and burst;
Lids cannot be sterilized in the oven.
Ultra-modern sterilization methods
Several decades ago, the main method of sterilization was steam treatment. In this case, small jars were placed directly on the spout of a kettle with boiling water and kept for 10-15 minutes. A large container was placed on the kettle instead of a lid. In modern kitchens, electric kettles are often used that are unsuitable for these purposes. But new kitchen assistants have appeared that make life easier for housewives, which have significantly expanded the possibilities for disinfecting jars.
Sterilization in a steamer- the jars along with the lids are placed in a steamer with the neck down and kept in the cooking mode for 15 minutes.
In the dishwasher- clean containers are loaded into the device without powder and the mode is set to the highest temperature, but not lower than 60°C. Lids are not sterilized using this method.
In a slow cooker- the jars are placed on a stand for steaming dishes and processed for 15 minutes in the “Steam” mode.
In a convection oven- pour a little water into the container, cover with lids and place on the lower grill of the air fryer. Process at a temperature of 120-140 degrees at high speed for 15 minutes.
How to sterilize lids
Lids are always sterilized immediately before rolling. Before processing, check the integrity of the cover, make sure there is no rust and that there are rubber bands.
The most convenient way is boiling in water. To do this, boil water and lower the tin lids into it for 5 minutes. If you boil longer, there is a risk of “overcooking” the gum. Remove the lids from the water using clean tongs or boiled dinner forks. Screw caps can also be treated in the same way.
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 many minutes 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!
Summer is not only the time for vacations, but also the time to prepare twists for the winter. And so that the prepared preserves do not swell ahead of time and your work is not in vain, you need not only to be able to screw the jars, but also to sterilize them correctly.
It is advisable that you have an electric oven with a temperature selection function. In this case, the lids can be sterilized together with the lids, but only those that do not have rubber bands and can be screwed on.
Rubberized lids cannot be disinfected in this way, due to the possible drying, melting and rupture of the rubber under the influence of high temperatures. They will have to be boiled separately in water, as described in the previous method.
- Preheat the oven to 110-120 degrees.
- Wash the jars and lids using baking soda and place them on a wire rack. There is no need to wipe the container. Place dry jars upside down and wet jars with the neck up so that all the moisture can evaporate without hindrance.
- One and a half liter containers must be sterilized in the oven for 20 minutes. Classic three-liter jars - half an hour. Half a liter will last about 12 minutes.
The advantage of this method is that when you sterilize the jars, the pans below are boiling, and the lids are also boiling. And any of them.
- The size of the pan used depends on the number of jars. Therefore, calculate and try on yourself. Have you chosen? Great! Pour in water and put on fire.
- Rinse and clean jars and lids using baking soda. The lids can now be thrown into the pan.
- Let the water boil, then place a metal colander or large sieve on top. Check the structure for stability. Banks must be placed upside down.
- To sterilize half-liter jars, it is enough to steam for about 10 minutes, one-and-a-half liter jars for 20 minutes, and three-liter jars for half an hour.
- A sign that the jars have been sterilized are voluminous drops of water that should form from the steam. After waiting the required time, carefully pick up the jars and place them upside down on a clean, non-terry towel to allow any droplets to drain.
Sterilizing jars in water
- Wash the jars and lids with a new sponge and baking soda.
- To boil cans you will need either a large saucepan or an enamel bucket. It all depends on your needs.
- In any case, fill the container with water, put the jars in it, put it on the fire and bring to a boil.
- Five minutes in boiling water is enough to sterilize the jars.
- The jars should cool on their own, so when taking them out, do it extremely carefully, trying not to get burned. Place the container, neck up, on a soft towel.
Good day to you, dear readers!!
Homemade preparations for the winter - preserves, jams, and eggplant caviar, pickled cucumbers and tomatoes, pickles - we most often store all this in glass jars. Compotes and juices are in glass bottles. And before you start canning, all containers must be thoroughly disinfected.
There are many ways to sterilize jars. I have chosen several of the easiest methods that can be performed at home quickly and easily.
- Carefully check the glass container for chips, nicks, and cracks. It is better not to use imperfect jars and bottles for preservation.
- New lids are needed for preservation. After all, we will be offended that our work in summer and autumn simply did not survive until winter due to poor-quality lids. Therefore, it is better not to skimp and buy new covers.
- When purchasing, we check the lids for quality. Screw caps must not be bent or scratched. Lids with rubber bands should also be perfect with rubber bands inserted.
- We put chemicals for cleaning jars aside. They are difficult to wash off and are harmful to our health. Wash lids and jars with soda + mustard or laundry soap. We also use a new sponge for washing dishes.
Today in the article:
How to properly sterilize jars in the microwave
With this method, the lids are boiled separately in a saucepan.
- Wash jars and lids with mustard and soda. Wipe with a clean towel.
- Set the lids to boil separately on the fire for 5-7 minutes.
- We fill the jars with clean water 1-1.5 cm from the bottom.
- Place the jars in the microwave for 4-5 minutes at a power of 700-800 W. The water in the jars boils and steam sterilization occurs.
How to properly sterilize jars in the oven
One of my favorite ways. It's probably the simplest. You can sterilize jars along with their lids.
But it is worth noting that with this method you must have an electric oven with a thermometer. And lids for sterilization are suitable that can be screwed on.
For lids with rubber bands, the rubber band may dry out and burst or melt. Such lids must be boiled separately in water.
- Preheat the oven to 100-120 degrees Celsius.
- Wash the jars and lids well and place on a wire rack. You don't have to wipe the jars. Place dry jars with the neck down. We place the wet jars with their necks up so that all the water evaporates.
- Leave in the oven for 15 minutes. This time is for cans with a capacity of no more than 700 g. For three-liter jars, more time is required - 20-25 minutes.
How to properly sterilize steam jars
This is also a convenient way to sterilize containers when you only need 1-2 jars. It’s also convenient because you put the lids in the pan and place a sieve or colander on top, on which the jars are sterilized. But I’ll start talking about this method in order.
1. Take a pan. The size of the pan depends on how many jars you will sterilize on it. The larger the volume of the pan, the more cans it will fit. Pour water into it and put it on the fire until the water boils.
2. Wash jars and lids thoroughly. Place the lids in this pan and boil along with the jars.
3. When the water boils, place a sieve or steel colander on top. Place the jars on the sieve, neck down.
4. Boil jars like this: up to 700 grams - 6-8 minutes, liter and two-liter jars - 10-15 minutes, three liters and more - 20-25 minutes.
5. The jars were well sterilized when large drops of water appeared on them from the steam. Remove the jars and place them upside down on a clean towel to drain.
How to properly sterilize jars in water
Perhaps the easiest way to sterilize canning jars.
- We wash jars and lids with laundry soap.
- Pour clean water into a large saucepan or enamel bucket and place on fire.
- Place the lids and jars in the pan.
- Boil the jars for 6-7 minutes.
- Carefully, so as not to get burned, we take out the jars and lids and place them bottom down on a clean, ironed towel.
Video - how to properly sterilize jars with blanks
And below is another way to sterilize jars in the oven, but with blanks.
That's all the simplest ways to sterilize containers for preservation. Successful and delicious preparations for the winter!