Do you know how to sterilize glass jars to eliminate germs and bacteria? Here’s what to do to have perfectly clean and bacteria-free glass jars, thus protecting our health!
As is well known, glass jars are easily filled with germs and bacteria and to reuse them it is necessary to perform a thorough cleaning. These jars are often used to prepare and store foods such as jams, preserves and other foods to be consumed later.
In order to use them safely, it is advisable to clean them properly, but only thorough sterilization can guarantee the elimination of germs and bacteria. How to make it to be sure that glass jars are perfectly clean? Here’s how to sterilize glass jars in just a few minutes!
Select glass jars
First of all, it is important to make a careful selection of the jars and glass containers that we want to use to put our preserves inside. In addition to choosing the jars of the desired size according to our needs, it is important to check the caps and make sure they are airtight.
The best are undoubtedly those that have a rubber gasket, perfect for ensuring an impeccable seal for a long time. In fact, the airtight seal ensures the preservation of food and does not alter its flavor even if the jars are opened after a long time.
Taking this consideration into account, we can also use glass jars and containers that we already have from past years, or that we may have emptied and are therefore available to us. Make sure that they are not chipped or damaged and that the condition of the caps is perfect.
At this point, once the glass containers have been chosen, we can move on to their sterilization. There are several methods to perform this operation, which can ensure accurate hygiene of the jars. Among the most popular and favorite we find the one in the oven and the one in the pot, both effective in making glass jars perfectly sanitized and disinfected. Here’s how to do both in detail.
Sterilize jars in the oven
Sterilization in the oven is very easy to perform and consists of using this appliance at a certain temperature to obtain the desired results. It is the ideal choice for those who do not have large enough pots to put the jars to sterilize them and allows you to do it quickly and effortlessly.
To start sterilizing glass jars in the oven, we must first remove everything inside, then continue as follows:
- Preheat the oven to 120°;
- After washing the containers, put them on a baking sheet with parchment paper;
- Leave them in the oven for about half an hour;
- After the time has elapsed, turn off the oven and open the door.
Leave the door open until it is completely cold and then we can remove the jars and use them.
Sterilize the jars in the pot
As for the sterilization of glass jars in a pot, it is carried out by boiling. This method is certainly the most widespread and used since the past. Our grandmothers used this method to sterilize glass jars for preserves and even today there are many who prefer it to sterilization in the oven. Here’s how to do the procedure:
- Select the jars to be sanitized;
- Fill a large pot with cold water;
- Immerse the jars and make sure that the water covers them well;
- When the water boils, continue for about 10 minutes;
- After the time has elapsed, turn off the heat.
Take tongs to remove the glass jars from the pot and do not burn yourself. Once placed on the surface, let them cool in containers and dry them carefully before using them. The jars are then ready to be filled with preserves, jams, marmalades and everything you want to make to fill your pantry with delicacies made with your own hands!
