1. Home
  2. Business & Finance
  3. Frugal Living

How To Sterilize Canning Jars

By , About.com Guide

To prevent food spoilage, canning jars need to be sterilized. Grab your canner and some jars, and let's get started.

Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 15 minutes
Here's How:
  1. Place your jars in a canner right side up.

  2. Then, fill the canner with water, stopping an inch above the jars.

  3. Bring the water to a boil and continue boiling for 10 minutes.

  4. Reduce the heat; and keep the jars in the hot water until you're ready to fill them.

    -sterilization instructions adhere to current USDA guidelines

Tips:
  1. If you live above 1,000 feet in altitude, add one minute of boiling time for each 1,000 foot increase in elevation.
  2. It is not necessary to sterilize jars for fruits, tomatoes and pickled or fermented foods to be processed in a water-bath canner for 10 minutes or more. It is also not necessary to sterilize jars for vegetables, meats or fruits to be processed in a pressure canner. In both instances, sterilization will occur during processing.
What You Need:
  • Canning Jars
  • A canner
  • Water
  • A stove
Explore Frugal Living
About.com Special Features

10 Things You Can Do Today to Improve Your Credit

Easy steps to take control of your credit card debt. More >

Learn to Save

Stop living from paycheck to paycheck and help ensure a comfortable future. More >

  1. Home
  2. Business & Finance
  3. Frugal Living
  4. Food Savings
  5. Preserving Foods
  6. How to Sterilize Canning Jars>

©2010 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.