How to Sterilize Canning Jars

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Ingredients

Directions To Sterilize Canning Jars by Boiling

You will need:

Large pot for boiling with a lid (at least 2 inches taller than your jars)

Jars, lids and seal tops

Tongs

Clean dish cloth

Once you have all of your equipment in place, the sterilizing should take about 25 minutes or so.

1. First - Wash jars in hot soapy water to remove any dirt or residue and rinse well.

2. Completely cover the jars with regular hot tap water. Fit as many jars as you can into your pot, or sterilize in multiple batches.

* Note - you can use this same water for later on when you process the jars.

3. Bring water to a boil and boil for 10 minutes.

4. Remove jars using tongs, drain well, and set aside to dry on a CLEAN dish cloth. Use clean jars within an hour.

5. To sterilize lids - It is important NOT to boil the metal canning lids or their rings.

6. Place lids and their rings into simmering water for 10 minutes, and set aside to dry on a CLEAN dish cloth.

Directions To Sterilize Canning Jars in Oven

You will need:

Jars, lids and seal tops.

VERY clean cookie sheet.

1. Wash jars in hot soapy water to remove any dirt or residue and rinse well.

2. Arrange the jars, lids and rings onto a cookie sheet open side up.

3. Place into the oven and turn on the oven. Let it heat up to 225 degrees F. When the jars and oven reach temperature set the timer for 20 minutes.

4. Shut off when done and let the jars cool down before you handle them.

5. Use oven mitts and move them to a heatproof mat or clean towel.

6. As with the washing method, temperature of the glass is important and if you are transferring something hot be sure the jar is still warm.

Directions To Sterilize Canning Jars in Dishwasher:

You will need:

Jars, lids and seal tops.

Dishwasher

1. This method is available only if you have a dishwasher that has a high-temperature setting.

2. When you are preparing your food for canning, load up the jars, lids and rings into the dishwasher and run them on a minimum or rinse wash setting. They need to be clean, sterilized and still warm when you pack them with your hot canning item.

ENJOY your canning!

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