How to sterilise jars

  • 11 November 2024

About this technique

Skill level

Easy

Equipment

Jars

Baking tray

Saucepan

Storing foods in jars is a great way to preserve fruits, pickles and jams. When pickling or preserving it is very important to sterilise jars properly to remove bacteria which could cause your preserved foods to spoil. Make sure to prepare your jars just before you fill them with food, the jar should still be hot and the food you are placing in them should still be hot too.

Sterilise a couple more jars than you think you need to ensure you have somewhere to put any surplus mixture.

Remove the rubber seals from the jars and set aside.

Wash the jars and lids with hot soapy water and rinse well.

Place them onto a baking tray and into an oven preheated to 140C/120C Fan/Gas 1 for 20 minutes.

For the rubber seals, place into a pan of boiling water and boil for 3 minutes to sterilise.

Everything that goes inside or touches the jar should be sterilised – so add the preserved mixture with a sterilised spoon or pour from a jug. Make sure you fill the jar to the top and pack the mixture tightly to stop any air bubbles.

Recipes using this technique