How long does it take to sterilize jars in the microwave? This directly depends on the size. It will be enough to leave the “litrovka” for 3 minutes, and to process a three-liter jar it will take an average of 5 to 7 minutes. The best way to navigate here is by boiling water. After boiling, it is necessary to continue heating the vessels for another 1-3 minutes, and then the device can be turned off. While boiling, steam will come out of the cans, which will ensure the sterility of the vessels.
You need to take out the processed dishes very carefully. It is important to avoid sudden temperature changes that could cause the glass to burst. It is better to wait a couple of minutes until the container cools down a little, and only then open the door. Remove the vessels with both hands using a dry towel or oven mitts. Make sure that no cold or wet objects come into contact with the jar; it is better not to touch the neck.
The remaining water must be poured out, and the vessels must be immediately used for preserving hot preparations. If you need to fill containers with cold food, first place them upside down on a towel and wait until they cool completely.
Typically, a standard size microwave oven can fit up to five “liters”. If you need to sterilize a three-liter container, fill it with a small amount of water, cover the bottom of the microwave with a towel and place the container on its side. Make sure it is fixed and start processing.
Is it possible to sterilize glass jars in the microwave?
A microwave oven makes it possible to sterilize several jars at once in a few minutes. There are no prohibitions on the use of the unit; glass containers are allowed to be placed in the chamber; the microwave heating temperature is sufficient to eliminate bacteria.
Is it possible to sterilize empty jars in the microwave?
The microwave oven allows you to process containers without food inside. But it is not recommended to place completely empty, dry cans into the device chamber. To carry out sterilization, you need to pour a little water into them or place a separate container with liquid nearby so that hot steam is formed under the influence of radiation.
How to properly prepare containers
No matter how clean a glass jar is, it must be thoroughly washed and sterilized. The detergent must be rinsed off several times. The process of preparing glass containers:
- Check the integrity of the glass: there should be no cracks, chips, or other defects. If you ignore the damage, the glass will simply burst when heated.
- Rinse containers. It is advisable to use soda - it is harmless and can be easily washed off the glass surface.
- Sterilize washed jars.
At what temperature should jars be sterilized in the microwave?
The temperature at which food and empty containers are processed in a microwave oven depends on the power setting. With an indicator of about 800 W, the unit will quickly heat water in a glass container to 100 °C.
At boiling temperature, hot steam is generated in the microwave oven, which ensures disinfection
Is simultaneous processing possible with screw caps?
It is absolutely impossible to sterilize jars in the microwave at the same time as screw-on lids, since such lids are made of metal. According to the data specified in the instructions for any microwave oven, metal objects cannot be heated in a microwave oven in order to avoid equipment failure and fire.
Screw caps used to seal jars must be sterilized separately. The following methods will work:
- inside the oven;
- in boiling water;
- a solution of potassium permanganate, furatsilin or alcohol.
The lids should be prepared before canning so that the product can be rolled up in minutes when removed from the microwave. Microwaved jars can be closed with screw caps. In this case, you can close jars with such lids, processed both with pickles or fruits, and without them.
Metal lids cannot be sterilized in the microwave.
How many minutes does it take to sterilize jars in the microwave?
The duration of heating the cans in the microwave depends on their volume. The larger the container, the longer it needs to be kept inside the chamber.
How long does it take to sterilize empty jars in the microwave?
Typically, the process of sterilizing unfilled jars takes about six minutes. But in each case, the time is determined individually; it is necessary to monitor when the water boils in the container.
How long to sterilize half-liter jars in the microwave?
One small 0.5 liter jar can be placed in the microwave for just two minutes. If there are several containers, the time is increased to 3-4 minutes.
How long does it take to sterilize
The time spent on sterilizing one container depends on:
- microwave power;
- container volume;
- the amount of liquid poured inside;
- number of simultaneously processed containers;
- processing method.
The average amount of time spent processing one 0.5 liter can is 2.5-3 minutes. Process liter jars for 3 to 4 minutes, one and a half liter and two liter jars for 3.5-4.5 minutes, and three liter jars for 5-6 minutes. But even this time may be subject to change due to the factors described above.
The above-described processing time is valid for methods of sterilizing jars without blanks. Jars with blanks can be sterilized either faster or slower than the above time. You should focus on the level of liquid that boils away. You cannot heat the container inside the microwave if there is no liquid.
The data described in the table will help you choose the amount of time required to process the workpieces. Depending on the power of the microwave, the time must be increased or decreased. This table indicates the processing time at a microwave power of 1000 W.
| Container for processing, the volume of glass jars is indicated | Processing method, jar fullness | Recommended time, given in seconds |
| 0.5 l | Ferry, container empty | 120 |
| 1 l | 180 | |
| 1.5 l | 240 | |
| 2 l | 300 | |
| 3 l | 360 | |
| 700 ml | 150 | |
| 0.5 l | Dry method, empty container | 120 |
| 1 l | 180 | |
| 1.5 l | 240 | |
| 2 l | 300 | |
| 3 l | 360 | |
| 700 ml | 150 | |
| 0.5 l | The container is filled with jam | 360 |
| 1 l | 420 | |
| 1.5 l | 480 | |
| 2 l | installation is not possible due to the size of the can | |
| 3 l | installation is not possible due to the size of the can | |
| 700 ml | 360 | |
| 0.5 l | The container is filled with salads or pickles | 150 |
| 1 l | 180 | |
| 1.5 l | 200 | |
| 2 l | installation is not possible due to the size of the can | |
| 3 l | installation is not possible due to the size of the can | |
| 700 ml | 170 | |
| 0.5 l | The container is filled with fruits or berries | 120 |
| 1 l | 180 | |
| 1.5 l | 240 | |
| 2 l | installation is not possible due to the size of the can | |
| 3 l | installation is not possible due to the size of the can | |
| 700 ml | 150 |
Based on these data, the time expected to be spent processing the required amount of container is calculated. If you need to process large batches of 3-liter jars intended for canning cucumbers, tomatoes, sauerkraut or compotes, this method may not be practical.
Sterilization of jars is a mandatory step in food preservation. Preservation for an entire winter or year is impossible without first removing all microorganisms. Although the main contaminants are removed during classic washing, some microorganisms remain living inside the jars. They themselves are not dangerous, but their waste products can cause serious toxic poisoning. That is why such serious attention is paid to the process of sterilizing dishes before preservation.
Preparing jars for sterilization
Before quickly sterilizing jars in the microwave, they need to be prepared. Namely:
- wash thoroughly with soda, mustard powder or regular dish gel, using a brush if necessary;
- pay special attention to the bottom and necks; contaminants most often remain in these places;
- rinse and dry the jars naturally on a towel;
- inspect the container and make sure there are no cracks or chips.
Damaged jars may burst in the microwave during the high-heat sterilization process. In addition, it is unsafe to store food in them; the seal will be incomplete, and accordingly, the products are likely to deteriorate ahead of schedule.
Dry sterilization method
There are situations when dishes must be dry after processing. This cannot be achieved using the method described above, so the procedure will look like this:
- Containers with defects are sent to a landfill so that their fragments do not have to be raked out of the chamber later.
- Wash selected specimens with a strong solution of baking soda, rinse and wipe with a foam sponge. Then place it on a clean cloth, bottoms up, and wait until it dries completely.
- Pour filtered water into the glass 3/4 full so that it does not splash out when boiling.
- How long to sterilize - at least 4-5 minutes. Place the glass in the center of the plate, and the jars without water at the edges. Set the power to 0.75 kW and sterilize for 5 minutes.
- After the timer signal, remove the container using an oven mitt.
The above methods are applicable for processing glass bottles.
How to properly sterilize empty jars in the microwave
The classic algorithm suggests steaming jars in the microwave using water. But if you need dry containers, you can use another method. It looks like this:
- Pour clean water into a small glass glass, leaving about 4 cm to the edge;
- place the container in the center of the plate in the microwave;
- glass jars that need to be sterilized are placed empty around them;
- set the power to 750 W and put the unit into operation for five minutes.
The microwave oven will heat the liquid inside the glass, and due to this, the temperature in the chamber will rise to the desired values. At the end of the device’s operating cycle, the dry containers are removed and canning begins immediately.
Important! It is necessary to remove dishes from the oven after sterilization using oven mitts. If you handle it with bare hands, you may get burned.
How to sterilize 3-liter jars in the microwave
Not every microwave oven is suitable for sterilizing large 3-liter jars. It is necessary to ensure that the container actually fits inside the unit.
Typically, a 3 liter jar only enters the microwave in a horizontal position. Therefore, the processing is carried out like this: a little water is poured into the dishes, and then placed horizontally in a deep plate.
Place a plate under a large jar to prevent it from rolling around the chamber
Ideally, the liquid should not spill out of the jar, but even if this happens, it will not leak directly onto the glass stand. The sterilization process itself is standard - you need to set the power to about 800 W and start the microwave oven for 5-6 minutes.
How to sterilize liter jars in the microwave
It is easiest to process 1 liter containers in the microwave. To sterilize containers, just fill them with 2-3 cm of clean water, and then place them in the device chamber at a short distance from each other. The oven is put into operation for two minutes if there is only one can, and for five minutes if there are several of them at once.
Preparing fruits and berries
Housewives are interested in whether the microwave disinfects jars filled with raw berries and fruits. Yes, if everything is done correctly:
- First make a syrup by mixing sugar and filtered water.
- Rinse the berries. There is no need to remove the bones. Remove rotten and bruised berries, and fill a clean container with selected ones, stepping back 5 cm from the edge.
- Pour in the prepared syrup. Place the jars in the chamber. Set the power to maximum. Pasteurization lasts 5 minutes, set this time on the timer. In powerful ovens, 2-3 minutes will be enough.
If desired, you can pour in the syrup after sterilization.
How to sterilize jars of water
The classic algorithm for sterilizing jars in a microwave oven looks like this:
- Pour a little water into clean and pre-dried containers, no more than 3 cm from the bottom. It is better to take filtered liquid so that limescale does not form.
- The jars are placed in the microwave oven so that they do not touch each other or the walls of the chamber. The unit plate should rotate freely.
- In the microwave oven settings, the power is set to about 800 W and the time is set from two to six minutes, depending on the volume and quantity of containers.
- Turn on the microwave and wait for the water to boil. After this, you need to keep the jars inside the device for another 1-2 minutes to ensure steam disinfection is as effective as possible.
At the end of the heating cycle, turn off the microwave oven and remove the glassware from the chamber using a tight potholder. The remaining water is drained, and the moisture on the bottom and walls is blotted with a sterile bandage or gauze.
Water becomes a conductor of heat in the microwave, so without it the dishes will simply remain cold
Important! It is recommended to start canning food immediately after finishing cooking the dishes in the oven.
It should be noted that jars with lids cannot be sterilized in the microwave. The latter may melt or spark under the influence of radiation. Metal and plastic lids are treated separately; it is best to simply put them in boiling water and leave for 15 minutes.
Preparatory stage
Before sterilizing jars in the microwave, the dishes must undergo the following preparation steps:
- Containers are checked for cracks and chips. It is not allowed to use jars with cracks in microwave ovens, as they will burst when heated.
- Jars, even if they have been stored clean, are washed in running water using odorless detergents. Remains of detergent are washed off with running water.
- The dishes are wiped dry with kitchen waffle or paper towels.
You can wash jars using dishwashing detergent or baking soda.
Simultaneous sterilization of jars and lids in a microwave oven is impossible. When preparing to can, metal lids should be sterilized separately. To do this, use a small saucepan of boiling water. Water is boiled on the stove, the required number of lids is placed in it. It is recommended to always add one extra cap in case of a broken rubber band or bent edge. After a few minutes of boiling, the lids are removed from the boiling water.
Cans must be intact - without cracks or chips
Before sterilization, jars must be washed and dried.
How to sterilize jars in the microwave with preparations
Some recipes suggest sterilizing jars in a microwave oven not before canning, but at the final stage of the procedure, when the jars are already inside. This processing method allows not only to eliminate microorganisms from the surface of the container, but also to reliably disinfect the products themselves. Most often, mushrooms, vegetables and fruits are subjected to sterilization, in the preparation of which vinegar and other food preservatives were not used.
A microwave oven allows you to process filled dishes at high temperatures without harming the workpiece. This method even has additional advantages. Under the influence of radiation, it is not the container itself that is heated, but rather the liquids inside it; accordingly, sterilization of workpieces in the microwave will be doubly effective. The advantage is that processing does not take much time. The desired temperature in the oven will be reached in a few minutes, and the taste of the food will not change, as could happen with prolonged heating.
How to sterilize jars of salads and pickles in the microwave
Processing in a microwave oven extends the winter storage period of salads and pickles, prevents the products from spoiling prematurely and does not affect the taste. Sterilization is carried out according to the following algorithm:
- clean dishes are filled with food - not up to the neck, but about 2/3 of the total volume;
- place the jars in the microwave one at a time or several at a time, the containers should not touch each other;
- set the power to about 750 W;
- set the processing time; if salads and pickles are to be sterilized in a 1 liter container, heating for three minutes will be sufficient;
- close the chamber and turn on the microwave oven.
The video on how to properly sterilize jars in the microwave notes that you do not need to cover them with lids. After the sound signal, the device is not opened immediately, but the containers are allowed to stand for about five minutes. Then the dishes are carefully removed with oven mitts, placed loosely on top of the lid and left on the table until cooled. When the workpieces have cooled, all that remains is to fill the container to the end and seal it hermetically.
If the cans are filled almost to the top, it is better to put them in trays, the liquid will splash out
How to sterilize jam jars in the microwave
You can disinfect jars in the microwave for the winter along with jam. The procedure is carried out as follows:
- Place fresh jam in the container, leaving about 5 cm from the neck so that when boiling the delicacy does not leak over the edges;
- without lids, the jars are placed in a microwave oven and positioned so that they do not touch each other or touch the walls of the chamber when the plate rotates;
- set the power for the microwave to about 700-750 W;
- put the device into operation for 6-8 minutes.
At the end of the heating cycle, the chamber door is not opened immediately, but after five minutes. The hot dishes are removed from the microwave and allowed to cool slightly, after which they are tightly wrapped for the winter and stored.
How to sterilize jars of fruits and berries
Kitchen appliances allow you to quickly and effortlessly pasteurize jars in the microwave along with berries and fruits. The processing is usually carried out in sweet syrup, and the scheme looks like this:
- washed and dried fruits are placed in containers, leaving a few centimeters to the neck;
- prepare simple sugar syrup and pour it over berries or fruits up to about half the container;
- place the jars inside the microwave oven and set the maximum power;
- turn on the unit for 3-5 minutes depending on the size of the dishes;
- After the sound signal, wait another five minutes and remove the containers.
After the dishes have cooled a little, you will need to add the syrup to the end, seal the preparations hermetically with sterile lids and leave them on the table under towels until they cool completely.
Important! It is recommended to turn the containers upside down during the cooling process to ensure that there are no leaks.
Preparing pickles
Processing glass containers filled with pickles:
- Leave 2/3 of the volume. If the possessed boils, it will spill onto the tray and stain the chamber of the device. Later the empty space is filled.
- Jars with blanks are placed on a pallet so that they do not touch. Process time - 3 minutes. Power at maximum. After turning off the stove, the door is not opened - they wait another 5 minutes.
- Taking out the pickles with oven mitts, leave them to cool slightly while the tin lids are sterilized and dried. Now you can fill the jars to the top and seal them.
Advantages and disadvantages of sterilizing jars in a microwave oven
High-temperature processing of cans in a microwave oven has its advantages and disadvantages. The procedure has several advantages:
- Sterilization takes only a few minutes and can be completed faster than using an oven or water bath.
- When using a microwave, the microclimate in the kitchen does not change, the temperature does not rise and no fumes are formed.
- You can put several small jars at once in the microwave, whereas on the stove you usually have to process them one at a time.
- If you follow basic safety rules, there is virtually no risk of getting burned. Removing hot cans from the microwave is not much more difficult than removing a plate of heated food.
If you carefully inspect containers before placing them in a kitchen appliance, sterilization will not harm the glassware in any way.
Dishes in a microwave oven can only burst if there are cracks in them to begin with.
At the same time, disinfecting containers in the microwave has certain disadvantages:
- The capacity of a kitchen appliance is usually small - it will not be possible to process a large number of cans in one go.
- A microwave oven is best suited for sterilizing 0.5-1 liter jars; bulk containers are simply not included in most models.
- Processing dishes requires electricity, while heating containers on the stove or in the oven is usually more economical.
In general, sterilization in the microwave has many more advantages. If you need to disinfect small containers, then using a kitchen device will be convenient.
Is an oven suitable for this purpose?
You can use the stove oven to sterilize jars, both with and without blanks. This increases the processing time. It depends on the temperature inside the oven. It is advisable to process jars at a temperature of 100 degrees. In this mode, the jars are processed for 40 minutes. The time is selected depending on the volume and displacement of a particular container.
When processing containers in the stove oven, you should remember that sudden changes in temperature may cause the jars to burst. Therefore, the stove oven should be loaded before the air starts heating.
Sterilized containers should be removed from the oven only after drops of water have dried on them. Please remember that the jars are hot and it is easy to get burned. Do not remove containers from the oven using wet towels or oven mitts. It is recommended to open the oven cabinet door to allow the containers to cool. You need to take them out one by one.
Use an oven mitt to remove hot jars from the oven.
Reviews
Sterilizing salads in the microwave takes much less time than traditional heat treatment. Therefore, many housewives have already tried this technique. Those who do not need to prepare salads on an industrial scale for a large family were especially pleased. For 3-4 half-liter jars, using a microwave oven will allow you to quickly and conveniently sterilize the workpieces.
Housewives also note that for this method of hot processing, the quality of the container and its preliminary inspection are of great importance, since a small defect can lead to the need to clean the microwave oven from glass and scattered vegetables and fruits.
However, some people were dissatisfied, and this is mainly due to the small capacity of the microwave and the limitation on the height of the container. Some models of microwave ovens do not allow processing more than one can at a time, therefore, productivity will be low.
Why sterilize containers
Sterilization is one of the greatest achievements of mankind. Without it, we wouldn't have long-lasting food, and outside of the refrigerator, food would spoil in a matter of days. Factory-prepared canned food in cans has a shelf life of up to two years and at the same time retains all its taste and remains safe for human health. It is difficult to achieve such preservation at home, but it is still possible to prevent the appearance of mold for six months to a year.
Some people neglect sterilization for reasons that all preparations will be stored in the cellar or refrigerator. However, cold does not kill microorganisms and molds, but only slows down their reproduction. Only heat treatment kills all harmful microflora, which means that the products will not only be tasty, but also safe.
