Sterilizing jars in an air fryer

The difficult situation in the economy and many other factors have led to the fact that many residents of our country began to intensively engage in gardening and resolve the issue of preserving the harvest. This issue can only be resolved in one way - conservation. Exactly as our mothers and grandmothers did. But in addition to the harvested crop, the quality of the container in which the canning will be carried out plays an important, if not the main role. It must be perfectly clean and disinfected. Otherwise, all the work involved in caring for the harvest and completing the preparations will be in vain.

Basic rules for sterilizing jars in an air fryer

The jars must be washed and inspected for damage (chips, cracks, etc.). Containers must be in perfect condition. Any doubt about integrity is a reason to put it aside.The quality of the lids is no less important. That is, they must be processed. It is advisable to use new covers.

There are many ways to sterilize canning containers. And as ancient as steamed, and, of course, more advanced, for example, using an air fryer. To know the basic rules of sterilization, you need to understand what an air fryer is, as well as the principles of its operation.

What is an air fryer

This is a convection oven and its main purpose is to cook food using a stream of heated air. But as it turned out, this device is quite universal. You can cook casseroles and shish kebab in it, it is used for cooking soups, compotes and much more. In addition to the above operations, this kitchen appliance can be used for canning fresh food for the winter. Let's talk about this in more detail.

ON A NOTE! SOME MODELS OF THIS HOME KITCHEN EQUIPMENT HAVE A STERILIZATION MODE ALREADY SET ON THE CONTROL PANEL AND THIS MAKES THE PROCESS OF SETTING THE DEVICE SIGNIFICANTLY EASIER FOR THIS OPERATION.

How the air fryer works

The basis of the operation of this kitchen appliance is the movement of hot air inside a closed volume. It should be noted that this method is quite acceptable for processing canning containers. Yes, of course, sterilizing jars using an air fryer is not the only way to sterilize containers, but perhaps the simplest and most effective.

What is needed to sterilize empty jars in an air fryer?

In order to sterilize empty containers in an air fryer you need to:

1. First of all, select whole jars.
2. Then they need to be washed.
3. Once they are ready, they can be placed on the bottom of the air fryer container. They are installed tightly, but with a small gap.

If the loading container allows you to simultaneously process several glass jars, then you can close it and put it into operating mode.

Safety rules for sterilizing jars in an air fryer

Glassware should easily withstand the effects of elevated temperatures and heated steam, but still, during operation, it makes sense to periodically check the state of affairs in the air fryer container. Some dishes may have microcracks that are invisible to the eye, and they can lead to the fact that, under rather harsh sterilization conditions, the jar may crack.

After the timer has turned off the air fryer, you need to take them out with extreme caution, they are very hot. To do this you need to use forceps.

How to install jars correctly

Before installing them on the bottom of the air fryer container, place the lowest grill included in the delivery kit. Empty vessels are placed on top of it. In principle, you can install as many of them as will fit into the container, but a gap must be left between them.

How long does it take to sterilize empty jars in an air fryer?

In particular, the fan speed should be set at a medium level, air heating should range from +120 to +180 degrees.

To achieve the maximum effect, vessels with a capacity of less than one liter should be processed for about 9–10 minutes. Vessels of larger volume should be processed for at least fifteen minutes.

If you increase the temperature to +200 to +240 degrees, the processing time can be halved. But at the same time, it is necessary to pour a two-centimeter layer of water onto the bottom of the air fryer container.

IMPORTANT! IN THIS MODE, YOU CANNOT PROCESS THE LIDS AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE JARS, THIS MAY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE RUBBER SEALING GASKETS.

How to properly sterilize jars with preparations in an air fryer

What's so good about an air fryer? It is good because you can not only sterilize it, but also make preparations. It must be said right away that this process is much simpler and more comfortable than fiddling with the stove within the confines of a city kitchen. What is needed for this?

Installing cans of food in the air fryer

The lowest grill is installed at the bottom of the air fryer container. Then vessels filled with products ready for preservation are placed on top. They can be installed tightly, but with a small gap between them.

Time to sterilize workpieces in an air fryer

To make workpieces, you can use the following temperature chart:

• Set the maximum temperature to 240–260 degrees for 10 minutes.
• After the specified time has elapsed. Set the temperature to 140–160 degrees for the same time.
• After the signal about the end of work is triggered, in compliance with all precautions, the treated cans are removed from the air fryer container and rolled up with previously sterilized lids.
• The canned food is ready.

In fact, there are many models of convection ovens (air grills) on the home kitchen equipment market, and each of them has its own subtleties in operating. Therefore, let us consider working with the Hotter grill as an example.

Sterilization of blanks and empty cans in the popular HOTTER convection oven

In the same way as with other processing methods, vessels and lids must be washed and checked for various defects. After this, place the empty cans in the HOTTER hx 1037 convection oven, placing them on the small wire rack.

It can simultaneously process several cans of different capacities. After this, you can turn on the air fryer in operating mode. Sterilization lasts 15 minutes at a temperature of 150 degrees. Once finished, they are ready to be rolled in the traditional way.

IMPORTANT! YOU CAN PROCESS EMPTY JARS OR YOU CAN ALSO WITH WATER. IN THIS CASE THEY WILL BE PROCESSED WITH HEATED STEAM.

The HOTTER hx 1037 can also process jars filled with products ready for canning.

To process filled cans, you need to do the following manipulations.

1. Fill clean vessels with food, add brine or syrup, it depends on what will be preserved. You need to pour it down the neck.
2. Place lids on them, but do not roll them up. If rubber sealing gaskets are installed on them, the processing temperature should not exceed 180 degrees.
3. The ventilation rotation speed is set at an average level. If you want to sterilize at a higher temperature, you will need to remove the seals from the lids and then you can set the desired temperature.
4. As soon as air bubbles become noticeable, this means that the process has begun.
5. After the set time has elapsed, the timer will work and after that, with all precautions, remove the cans from the air fryer and roll up in the usual way.
6. Once the process is complete, you will need to remove the jars from the air fryer and seal them as usual.

IMPORTANT! PROCESSING TIME IN THE AEROGRIER IS 30% SHORTER THAN PROCESSING BY TRADITIONAL METHODS.

The quality of sterilization in an air fryer is significantly higher than using traditional methods.

Tips on how to best sterilize jars in an air fryer

There are several subtleties that make sense to consider when sterilizing empty jars.

• You can pour a little water into the bottom of the jars. This measure will improve the quality of sterilization of empty dishes. Since it will undergo additional steam treatment.
• If the height of the air fryer container is not sufficient to install cans, then you can install additional rings on it, which will increase the volume of the container.
• If the processing of cans is carried out at a temperature within 150 degrees, then in order to save time, the lids intended for rolling canned food can also be processed simultaneously with the cans.

A few words in conclusion. There are several methods of sterilization, but the described method has certain dignity.

• Firstly, there is no need to use additional auxiliary containers in the form of basins, pans, etc.
• Secondly, this operation will require much less time, since the preparation of the dishes and the preparation are carried out almost simultaneously.
• Thirdly, during the sterilization the owner is freed from a number of tedious operations, which, by the way, are not always safe. She just install the dishes and turn on the device.

In other words, the presence of such equipment in the house will allow you to complete the work quickly and efficiently. And anyone who has tried this miracle technique at least once is unlikely to roll canned food in the old way.