How to Clean Old Canning Jars
Before reusing old canning jars, you must clean them. Canning jars, also commonly referred to as mason jars, are used to store homemade jams, jellies, pickled items and homemade canned fruits and vegetables.

Storing food in a dirty container is not only unsanitary, but it can also affect the taste of the food and possibly cause mold to form in the canned food. After cleaning is completed, the jars should be sterilized.
Clean
-
Fill a sink with warm water and a squirt of liquid dish soap.
-
Submerge the old canning jars and lids in the soapy water. Use a sponge or cloth to wipe the inside and outside of the jars and lids.
-
Rinse well under cool running water to remove soap residue.
-
Towel dry the lids to ensure they don't rust. The jars can either be towel dried or air dried.
Sterilize
-
Place the empty canning jars, opening side up, on the rack in a boiling-water canner.
-
Fill the canner with enough hot water to submerge the canning jar, plus one inch.
-
Boil the jars for 10 minutes for elevations of 1,000 feet or lower. For higher elevations, add 1 minute to the boiling time per every 1,000 feet of elevation.
-
Remove the jars from the canner, and slowly drain the water.
Things You Will Need
- Liquid dish soap
- Sponge or cloth
- Towel
- Boiling-water canner
References
Writer Bio
Kallie Johnson began her writing career in 2009, contributing to various online publications. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She enjoys writing home and garden topics and considers herself an expert on do-it-yourself home improvement topics.
Photo Credits
- canned tomatoes image by Cinderella Morff from Fotolia.com
- canned tomatoes image by Cinderella Morff from Fotolia.com
More Articles