How to Sterilize Canning Jars Without a Pressure Cooker

Canning is pretty easy, if you have the right equipment. Before you prepare your fruits or vegetables for canning, you will need to sterilize your canning jars. I prefer to use Mason Jars because they can withstand high heat.

Many experts recommend using a pressure cooker to sterilize the jars. Unfortunately, they can be pricey. This method is an easy alternative to sterilizing your jars, using regular pots and pans that you have in your kitchen.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mason Jars (However many you need to use for your recipe)
• Tap water
• Large pots and pans
• Strong pair of kitchen tongs

1. Fill a large pot, pan, or stockpot with tap water from the faucet. (The size of the pan will depend on the number of jars you need sterilized)

2. Take your mason jar and unscrew the top. Separate the top from the jar itself. Place the mason jar(s) and the matching top(s) in the pot. Lay the jar sideways.

3. Make sure that the water covers the jars. You don't want any part of the jar above the water level.

4. Turn on the stove to the highest heat setting. Bring the pot to a rolling boil. This should take about 10 minutes.

5. While the jars are sterilizing, prepare the ingredient(s) needed to be canned.

6. After the pot comes to a rolling boil, turn off the stove. Let the cans remain in the hot water until it is time to fill them.

7. When your ingredients are ready to be canned, take your kitchen tongs to remove the jars from the heat. Make sure that no excess water remains inside each jar.

8. After the ingredients have been added, use the kitchen tongs to remove the jar top(s) from the pot.

9. Carefully, screw the top on the jars and seal tightly.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful with the jars and tops after they have been removed from the water. They are extremely hot to the touch. You may want to use a glove.
• To speed up the boiling process, place the pot lid securely in place. As it gets closer to boiling, remove the lid so that the hot water doesn't splash all over your stove.
• You can sterilize your kitchen tongs by holding them in the boiling water for several minutes.
• After your canning process is complete, discard the water. Be careful when taking the pot to the sink as the water could scald your skin.
• Because of the extreme heat and boiling water, you should use a much bigger pot than is needed. If not, your pot may overflow. Boiling water can burn your skin.