How to sterilise jars

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

This video can not be played

11 November 2024

About this technique

Skill level

Easy

Equipment

Jars

Baking tray

Saucepan

Storing foods in jars is a great way to preserve fruits, pickles and jams. When pickling or preserving it is very important to sterilise jars properly to remove bacteria which could cause your preserved foods to spoil.

Remove the rubber seals from the jars and set aside.

Wash the jars and lids with hot soapy water and rinse well.

Place them onto a baking tray and into an oven preheated to 140C/120C Fan/Gas 1 for 20 minutes.

For the rubber seals, place into a pan of boiling water and boil for 3 minutes to sterilise.

Recipes using this technique

Faithful fancy by Emily Angle.
Attribution
Drinks and cocktails
Easy mincemeat. by The BBC Food team.
Attribution
Other
Pickled jalepeño chillies. by Pam Corbin.
Attribution
Side dishes
Spiced apple chutney. by The BBC Food team.
Attribution
Other
Beetroot chutney. by Pam Corbin.
Attribution
Other
Pickled beetroot. by Pam Corbin.
Attribution
Other
Red onion pickle. by Pam Corbin.
Attribution
Side dishes
Cucumber and dill fridge pickle by Pam Corbin.
Attribution
Side dishes
Pickled red cabbage. by Pam Corbin.
Attribution
Side dishes
Mary Berry's elderflower cordial by Mary Berry.
Attribution
Drinks and cocktails
Blackberry jam. by Hugo Harrison.
Attribution
Other
Plum jam. by Pam Corbin.
Attribution
Other
Sriracha and lime pickled eggs. by Elly Curshen.
Attribution
Side dishes
Lemon curd. by The BBC Food team.
Attribution
Other
Creamy tomato pasta sauce. by Anna Shepherd.
Attribution
Other
Pistachio cream. by Sanjana Modha.
Attribution
Cakes and baking
Curranty cordial by Jo Wesley and Avril Rogers.
Attribution
Drinks and cocktails
Homemade Irish cream. by Mari Williams.
Attribution
Drinks and cocktails
Lemon meringue roulade with pistachio. by Mary Berry.
Attribution
Cakes and baking
The best tomato chutney. by Pam Corbin.
Attribution
Other
Rhubarb and vanilla jam. by Silvena Rowe.
Attribution
Other
How to make preserved lemons. by Thane Prince.
Attribution
Other
How to make marmalade. by Thane Prince.
Attribution
Other
Summer berry jam. by Jo Pratt.
Attribution
Other