Richard Maggs is our resident cooking doctor in the UK and abroad.
Aga
Cooking Doctor
Q. I have read that you can use the AGA to sterilise jars for jam making. Please can you tell me how to go about this.
Thanks
A. Dear Jane
JAM JAR STERILISATION
Sterilising jam and jelly jars ready for potting freshly-made james, jellies and marmalades is a simple matter in the Aga and not as complicated as the techniques required for bottling (canning) fruit.
The preserve to be potted will be sterile as it is boiled at a high temperature after the addition of the warmed sugar. It therefore needs to be poured into glass jars that are scrupulously clean and then these are covered with the appropriate fittings.
Wash the jars in warm, soapy water and then rinse in hot water and drain upside-down on a clean wire draining rack, or use a clean tea towel.
When cool, turn the right-side up and place in a full size Aga roasting tin and slide this into the Aga Simmering Oven and leave there for 20-30 minutes to become fully hot. This is all that is required to sterilise the jars ready for potting your preserve.
I hope that helps.
Best wishes
Richard Maggs
The Aga Cookery Doctor
