How Do You Sterilize Bottles And Jars For Preserves?
For hundreds of years people have been preserving fruit and vegetables by “jamming” them. Preserves will keep for a long time if properly prepared and bottled, but the bottles and jars used must be sterilized. • Gather together the jars and their lids and check that all the lids fit snugly so that no air can get in once the lid is screwed down. If your bottles have rubber seals, make sure that these have not perished. • Wash the bottles and lids thoroughly. They must be scrupulously clean. • Note that before you make your preserve, you need to place the bottles and jars upside down in a cold oven and then heat to 160 degrees celsius. Once the oven has reached this temperature, turn off the heat. • Sterilize the lids by boiling them in water for 10 minutes. You can also sterilize bottles this way. Leave the lids/bottles in the water until you are ready to use them. Remember once the preserve is in the bottles, lift the lids out using a pair of tongs and dry them off.
