sterilising jam jars - whats the easiest way?

Linda32

Introuble28 wrote: »

Would a hot wash with soapy water do the trick?

Yes that will do it, but then you have to put them in the oven at your lowest mark, wether it be gas or electricity to dry them off.

You do this just before you are ready to put the hot jam in, so that hot jam goes in hot jars and they both cool down together, don't put hot jam in cold jars :eek: Oven gloves help here :rotfl:

You don't need to use special steralising tablets, if you were wondering about that.

Introuble28

Thank you. Thats really helpful.

I never even thought about the not putting hot jam in cold jars thing.........:eek:

mrs_motivated

I always put jars (kilner jars) but i assume jam jars are the same on a baking tray upside down in oven on 180 degrees for about 15 minutes.

zippychick

Hi Introuble

I've merged this with a previous thread on sterilising jars so you can see the previous discussion

Zip

hotcookie101

I am all set to make my chutney. And am having a mental blank..... Am planning on running through jars on a hot cycle in dishwasher to sterilise them-do I need to do the lids too? Its no worry if I do, can stick them in there too, but really can't remember whether I need to do the lids.

ChocClare

You do need to do the lids, but it's just as easy to bung 'em in a saucepan of water and boil for 5 mins. I'm never very happy with lids in the dishwasher - mine seem to manage to keep all sorts of crud in them, even after they've been in there for what seems like hours!

hotcookie101

Thanks

And finally-do I put the lids on when its all still hot?

ChocClare

I do, but I don't tighten them TOO tight - do them up and then undo them quarter of a turn so that there is some room for escape.

zippychick

Some don't bother sterilising the lids

I do though. I've merged this with the main sterilising jars thread so you can see how others do it

Zip

hotcookie101

Thanks

LAST question (I promise!) if a jar wasn't quite full, am I right to think I should keep in the fridge? Most of the lids are the pop up type ones, but some are plain-should I use the plain ones first?