How to Sterilize Hot Sauce Jars 3 Ways (2024)

Oh the practicality of food safety and handling! Here’s a technique that might be boring but is wildly important, useful, and practical. You must always sterilize hot sauce bottles, otherwise your hot sauce will only keep for a week or two in the fridge. Sterilization of the bottle is part of what makes it stable at room temperature for a longer period of time.

You also need to sterilize jars for canning, pickling, and my personal favorite jams. This tutorial was the first part of the June 2019 Craft in Style Subscription Box – that’s our subscription box full of unique craft supplies delivered to your door each month. And I promise this is the only part of the box that isn’t totally fun and interesting!

So let’s get starting on How to Sterilize Hot Sauce Jars!

Before You Get Started

Before you start the sterilization process, always wash your jars with soap and water. This process should never be skipped!

Boiling Water Sterilization Method

My go to method is boiling the bottles in water. To use this method, fill a put halfway and allow it to heat to a rolling boil. Once the water is boiling place the bottles and lids in the water and make sure that the whole bottle is submerged for 15 minutes. Remove the hot bottles with tongs and place on a clean surface before use.

Oven Sterilization Method

I don’t love this method because it’s just not as practical to stand bottles inside of an oven. You may find it best to place them on a cookie sheet. Be careful that the bottles don’t fall over during the sterilization, so when using this method stand by and listen for any clicking in the oven! The bottles should be heated to 175°F for 25 minutes. Remove the bottles carefully with tongs or oven mitts and store on a clean surface until use.

Sterilization Tablet Method

This is the perfect way to sterilize if you don’t have access to boiling water or an oven. This is great when in the wild or when you are camping. All you need to do is drop 1 tablet in a clean bucket with 1 gallon of water and allow to soak in the solution for at least 1 minute.

With any of these methods, it’s best to bottle hot sauce while both the bottle and the hot sauce are at a hot temperature. Now are you ready to start making the hot sauces? Head to part 2 of the hot sauce tutorials – Ruby Red Hot Sauce!

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