Hello, I'm an expert in home canning and preserving. When it comes to sterilizing jars, it's an essential step to ensure the safety and longevity of your preserved foods. Here's how you can do it:


1. Preparation: Start by washing the jars, lids, and bands with warm, soapy water. Rinse them thoroughly to remove any soap residue.


2. Boiling Water Bath: Place the jars on a rack in a large pot. The jars should not touch the bottom of the pot. Fill the pot with water until it covers the tops of the jars by 1 to 2 inches.


3. Heating: Bring the water to a rolling boil.


4. Sterilization: Once the water is boiling, continue to boil the jars for 10 minutes to ensure they are thoroughly sterilized.


5. Removal: Carefully remove the jars from the water using a jar lifter to avoid breaking them or burning yourself.


6. Drying: Allow the jars to air dry on a clean towel or drying rack.

7.
Lid and Band Sterilization: While the jars are boiling, you can sterilize the lids and bands by boiling them in a separate small saucepan for about 5 minutes.

8.
Assembly: Once the jars are dry, you can fill them with your prepared food, apply the sterilized lids and bands, and proceed with your canning process.

Remember, sterilizing jars is a crucial step in the canning process to prevent bacterial growth and ensure a safe product.

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Here's how:Place empty jars right side up on the rack in a boiling-water canner.Fill the canner and jars with hot (not boiling) water to one inch above the tops of the jars.Bring to a boil and boil 10 minutes.Carefully remove hot, sterilized jars one at a time and drain.They will be hot!More items...read more >>