Sterilizing bottles and jars – how it is done

As I intend, to show you in the near future recipes where you need sterilized bottles or jars, I thought I write a special post for this topic. If we want that our homemade jam, our pickles or homemade liqueur last long and does not begin to mold, we need to sterilize the jars /bottles. Today I show you how I do it.

First you need to choose the right jars and bottles. These should be made of tempered glass and have no cracks or tears. The lid should close tightly also.

Then you need to wash the jars/ bottles thoroughly with hot water and dishwashing detergent. They must be free of dried food residues and other dirt. The lid must also be washed.

Put a tea towel in a deep pot. Give jars/ bottles and lids in the pot. Fill the pot with water. Give pot in the preheated oven at 180°C degrees and “bake” for 30 minutes.

Remove the jars/ bottles and lids with the help of a pair of tongs from the pot and placed on a clean cloth to dry.

 

In a 2nd method the jars, bottles and lids are placed in a pot. The pot is filled with water so that the jars and bottles are covered by it. Then they are boiled for 30 minutes. One by one the jars, bottles and lids are removed and placed on paper towels to dry.

 

There are several other ways how one can sterilize jars, this are the one I use. How do you do it?

 

LATER EDIT: in the meantime I was informed, that the lids should not be used a second time. It is better to buy new ones.