sterilizing bottles in the oven

[gurtpint]

This is something I'm going to do today. I've already removed the labels and filled the bottles with tap water to activate the nasties. Going to bake them 1-2 hours at 175C with a piece of foil covering the mouth of the bottle.

The question is, does it really matter how the bottles are placed in the oven? Should they be upright or can I also put them in on their sides?

 

[Moley]

Why?

 

[gurtpint]

Why?

Do you refer to the placement of the bottles or to the procedure of using the oven in general? I figured that I could get all my bottles ready with 2 ovenloads max but wondered whether the way they're put in is an issue at all. Everything alright as long as they get heated good 'n proper?

 

[Baz Chaz]

Mrs C frequently sterilizes jars etc in oven and says the only thing is temperature, 160 deg for 10 mins :thumb:

 

[gurtpint]

Hmm, it seems like people oven their glassware for very different times... I've also found some jam/juicemaking tips where people are telling that 10 mins at 150-175C is enough. I reckon 30-60 minutes would definitely be on the safe side then? Never done it this way before, but I'm all for having the bottles ready to go come the bottling day.

 

[craigite]

I,ve tried the oven method.
I went for 10 mins at 125.
My understanding is that all nasties die well before 100, but 125 is the first setting on my oven that I can select with confidence.

Found it more hastle than stelizing them.

 

[Aleman]

Mrs C frequently sterilizes jars etc in oven and says the only thing is temperature, 160 deg for 10 mins :thumb:

To sterilse using dry heat requires 3 hours at 180C . . . If you merely disinfect you can get away with less time . . . If you want to sterilise then 20 minutes at 121C and 15psi in a pressure cooker or autoclave is by far the easiest way to achieve it.

 

[Baz Chaz]

Bloody 'ell :shock: ... the last 30 years she's been slowly poisoning me with her jam :rofl:

 

[gurtpint]

^Time to rewrite your last will, Baz! Thanks again for the input guys. Ended up baking the bottles for half an hour at 175. I doubt that I will be doing this again as it was a tad tedious procedure... Gonna devote my humble self to the joys of no-rinse sanitizers. At least I now have my bottles ready and waiting, so if nothing unexpected comes along Thursday will see some hot bottling action.