This is the only way to properly sterilize jars for jam, syrup, etc.

You want to sterilize bottles and jars and wonder which method is the best? Here you'll learn everything you ever wanted to know about how to make your jars germ-free!

You want to cook jam, prepare syrup or mix a face cream yourself?

At first glance, this looks as if the three projects have nothing to do with each other.

And yet they have more in common than you think.

Clean working utensils are required for all three projects. Only those who know how to sterilize bottles and jars will get something out of their DIY for a long time.

Why is it necessary to sterilize glasses?

Do you want Preserve pear puree, a delicious Making strawberry jam, a Bottle elderflower syrup or a Mix skin creamthen you need to sterilize your jars. In this process you make the storage germ-free and prevent mold.

Anyone who has discovered the preservation of food for themselves knows the problem only too well. No sooner is the homemade jam bottled than it starts to mold. But why, actually?

In 99% of the cases, it is because germs are found in the jar or on the lid. These germs join forces with the fruit and you have the salad.

A white or green fluff forms on the surface. Soon the whole jam is covered with it. And now? Well, since mold is very dangerous for humans and animals, everything goes into the trash.

Annoying. So much love and work goes into it.

You could have prevented this. Sterilizing jars is the solution. With the help of heat, all germs are killed and no mold can form.

By the way, for syrup, please boil again before bottlingYou can be sure that all germs will die.

Always sterilize jars

Regardless of whether you buy new jars or reuse jars from the previous year. Jars must always be sterilized.

When I reuse jars, I prepare them for this already in the previous year. When the jam is empty, the jar is first washed with detergent and hot water, then it still goes into the dishwasher.

I store the jars in the cellar in a lockable box. However, this does not mean that they will be ready for use the following year. They are then sterilized again.

I always say, better to sterilize jars once too often than risk mold.

By the way on the photo you can see Strawberry jam with birch sugar. Super tasty and super easy to recreate!

What you need to know

• A jar becomes very hot during sterilization. So you need to use oven gloves, a dish towel or a towel.
• Only touch glasses from the outside, otherwise new germs will get into the glass.
• Always use freshly washed dish towels for the entire process - otherwise germs can lurk here as well.
• Fill the jars immediately after sterilization.
• Place the glasses not on the head. This is not necessary and can bring softeners from the lid into the boiling down food. Also, the lid gets all sticky and it makes no difference. The vacuum is created with jam and hot recipes even without "turning upside down".

If you love to preserve and preserve vegetables, fruits, then I recommend you the book the preserving bible at Amazon* to view. You'll find 325 recipes and tricks for preserving, pickling and fermenting.

I have myself the preserving bible at Amazon* and have been using them since last year. I've already made lots of recipes with it, such as pickled gherkins, tomato sauce and baked apple spread.

How to clean and prepare glasses?

Whether Cream jar*jam jar or bottle - there are four methods you can use for all containers.

You can sterilize jars

• in the cooking pot
• In the oven
• in the microwave
• and in the dishwasher

I'm going to tell you the specifics of each method and which one is my favorite.

The very first thing you need to do is always wash the jars with hot water, detergent and a sponge. Remove all visible residues.

For bottles, you can use a bottle brush to help.

Here's how: Sterilize jars with boiling water

The most popular method of sterilizing jars is this. The pot of water in which the jars are simply boiled.

This method is good if you want to sterilize medium sized jars and bottles. All you need is water and a pot.

The big advantage: You can simply put the lids into the hot water. However, the jars and bottles must of course be open.

This is how you proceed when sterilizing in the cooking pot:

1. Pour cold water into the saucepan.
2. Place a clean dish towel in the pot - this will prevent the glasses from being damaged in the bubbling water.
3. Place and put the jars in the pot - fill them with water so that they do not float. The jars should be completely covered by the water.
4. Bring the water to a boil. To speed up the process, you can put a lid on the pot.
5. Leave the jars in the boiling water for ten minutes.
6.  Pour off the water and carefully take the jars out of the pot - attention: very hot!

Small tip: Before you fill the water into the pot - try out whether the pot is big enough. To do this, simply place the jars in the pot. If it is too small, use a larger saucepan.

Note: If you take the first batch of glasses out of the hot water, do not cook a second batch with them. Why? The water is hot now, if you put the cold jars into the pot, they will burst.

So pour off at least half of the hot water and fill up with cold water.

Fancy a delicious lavender syrup? Click here!

How can I sterilize bottles and jars in the oven?

This method is very suitable for large bottles and jars. Whenever glass or bottle does not fit in the microwave or in the pot, I rely on this method.

Attention: The lids must be sterilized separately. Do not put them in the oven!

This is how you proceed when sterilizing in the oven:

1. Place the jars in the oven with the opening facing up.
2. It's best to place them on a clean baking sheet, then you can remove them more easily later and none can fall over.
3. Set the oven to 130° Celsius upper-lower heat.
4. Leave the jars in the oven for 15 minutes. The time starts ticking when the oven reaches 130°. In total, you will need between 20 and 25 minutes, depending on the oven.
5. Get the jars out of the oven with a glove and let them cool.

Important: The jars go into the oven when it is still cold. This heats them gently. If you put cold jars in a hot oven, don't be surprised if they burst.

The disadvantage of this method: in the oven sterilization of bottles and jars takes the longest.

This is how it works: Sterilizing jars in the microwave

My favorite method for small jars and bottles. The microwave is particularly convenient and the jars are quickly ready for use.

But very important: The metal lid must not be placed in the microwave! You must sterilize the lids separately in a pot of hot water.

1. Fill the jars halfway with water and place them in the microwave.
2. Set the highest wattage and start the microwave. Observe when the water starts to boil and set the microwave for another 60 seconds.
3. Take the glasses out of the microwave. Caution: very hot! It is best to use an oven glove or a tea towel.
4. Pour off the water and the jars are germ-free.

Getting bottles and glasses germ-free in the dishwasher

You have a lot of glasses and bottles in different sizes? Then the dishwasher is particularly suitable for sterilizing glasses.

But beware: You can only sterilize glasses if they are washed separately. That is, without other dirty dishes. The dishwasher must be very clean, so empty the strainer beforehand.

If you want to use the dishwasher, then proceed like this:

1. Put the glasses in the dishwasher like normal dishes. But don't put any other dishes in the dishwasher - now it's just the bottles and glasses that you'll need later.
2. Also put the lids in the dishwasher.
3. Select the program with the hottest water.
4. You don't have to add dish detergent or dishwasher tabs - but you can if you want.
5. Take the jars out of the machine and fill them immediately afterwards.

The big advantage is that with this method you have the least work. The disadvantage, however, is that it takes the longest of all.

Have you ever canned tomatoes?

How to sterilize my utensils

But which method is the best to make glasses germ-free? Good question! The bottom line is that they all work very well because you use heat to kill the germs.

But everyone will quickly find a favorite.

I usually go for a mix of dishwasher and microwave. Better safe than sorry. First I put the bottles and glasses in the dishwasher - here possible food residues are removed again and the glasses are nice and clean.

Then they go into the microwave - right before filling. That way I can be sure that they are really germ-free.

My conclusion

If you want to sterilize jars, you have four options. Try out what you like best and what you are most comfortable with. Under no circumstances should you refrain from sterilizing jars - even if you have purchased new jars.

Good luck and good luck with your project!

To browse further:

• Potato tower: Is it worth it? My experience report!
• Make your own wild herb salt: this is the best method!
• Make your own willow bark tincture: so simple and so effective!

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