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How to Put Canning Jars in the Dishwasher

Cecilia Harsch

In the early 1800s, Nicolas Appert discovered that heating glass jars in boiling water created an airtight seal and preserved the foods inside the jars. John Mason made home canning more convenient when he invented glass canning jars in 1858, according to "The Natural Canning Resource Book." The canning process requires you to sterilize the jars and pack the foods into the jars while the jars are still hot. Adding hot liquids to the food or boiling the jars in a hot water bath completes the process. Put your canning jars in the dishwasher to save some time when canning.

Start your canning process with a dishwasher.
  1. Place 8 oz. canning jars in the top rack of the dishwasher. Place 16 oz. and 32 oz. jars in the bottom rack of the dishwasher.

  2. Start the dishwasher in the heavy wash cycle or the cycle that uses the hottest water to sterilize the canning jars. Use regular dishwasher detergent, as liquid dishwashing soap fills the dishwasher with soap suds that can leak onto the floor. Choose the heated dry feature if your dishwasher provides that option.

  3. Leave the canning jars in the dishwasher with the door closed after the cycle completes. This keeps the jars hot until you are ready to fill the jars with your choice of fruits, vegetables, salsa or preserves.