Previously, in the old days, vegetables or fruits were salted in oak barrels and kept in a cold underground and cellar. Now not everyone has this opportunity. To preserve the preparations, canning is used. To prevent cans of preserved food from being opened, they must be disinfected. Sterilization is carried out in various ways. When choosing the appropriate method, the canning process will be easy and quick. Is it possible to sterilize jars on a kettle and how? The following describes how to sterilize glass containers over a kettle.
Preparing the container and accessories
First, jars and lids must be prepared for sterilization in compliance with certain rules. The most suitable containers for preservation are those that have already been used once; their glass is tempered. If you still have to use new jars, you need to keep them in hot water so that they get used to the high temperature.
When using glass containers, it is recommended to use colorless or with a bluish tint (a greenish tint is possible) without cracks or chips. If the jars are too dirty, then they should be soaked in a solution of soda ash (1%), then washed thoroughly with baking soda, rinsed in plenty of running water, then rinsed again with boiled water.
Preparing the Lids
It is necessary to check whether the lids fit these containers and whether they close tightly. When using screw-on tin lids, be sure to check their tightness. To do this, pour water into the jar, screw the lid tightly, turn it over and shake. If it leaks water, it will be visible. You also need to check the rubber bands on the metal lids to ensure they fit perfectly.
Among the tin lids there may be lids with rusty spots, scratches, and concavities. Such defective samples with damage are not suitable for rolling for the winter.
Glass and tin lids and stoppers must be sterilized immediately before sealing.
Sterilizing jars over steam
To sterilize a glass container, you can use steam from a kettle by placing its neck over a boiling kettle. This grandmother's method has been used for a long time. To do this, pour water into the kettle and bring to a boil.Then place a cleanly washed half-liter or liter jar on its spout and reduce the heat to medium.
Thus, steam a half-liter jar for 10 minutes, a liter jar for 15 minutes, and a three-liter jar for 20 minutes.
It is convenient to sterilize three-liter jars on the kettle itself by removing the lid and setting it upside down. First you need to check whether the diameter of the neck of the glass container fits the kettle. A small steamed jar can be sterilized by placing it on a masher in a kettle.
When preserving, you need to make sure that there are no small children nearby.
Pros and cons of the method
Grandmother's method is simple and accessible. Every home has a kettle and a stove with water, so anyone can implement this method.
The downside is that with this method you can steam sterilize a small amount of glass containers (1-2 pieces) at a time.
In some cases, this is a completely suitable option. Let's say there are few berries or vegetables at the moment, but you want to roll them up without waiting for a new batch. Raw materials for canning may deteriorate while you wait for fresh berries to ripen.
What kettles are suitable?
Modern manufacturers offer different types of kettles for boiling water for making tea and coffee. Cast kettles are the most ancient, suitable for long boiling on a gas and electric stove, as well as on a stove. They have a thick bottom, the body is aluminum, ceramic, enameled or stainless steel.
Important! You cannot sterilize jars on electric kettles with a closed heating element.
For sterilization, it is very convenient to use cast teapots. They are durable, have a large capacity (up to 3 liters), and the water will not boil away.
How to sterilize jars with boiling water from a kettle?
Glass containers sometimes do not require long-term sterilization when vegetables need to be sealed for a short period of time.
In such cases, the scalding method is used.
- Place the required amount of container on a colander or sieve.
- Then pour over boiling water from a kettle.
- Place the treated container on a clean, dry towel.
The dishes for preservation are ready.
Safety precautions for sterilization
To avoid accidents during sterilization, you must follow the safety rules:
- Do not handle hot jars without oven mitts;
- Dishes for sterilization must be undamaged and handles must be intact.
Do not rinse glass containers with cooled boiled water; they may burst. Sterilization of canning jars is a simple but very important process that requires compliance with disinfection rules.
