How Long to Boil Jars for Canning

Canning is a great way to preserve food at home, helping you save time and money in the long run (as well as allow you to control exactly what’s in your canned food!). The process seems daunting, and learning how long to boil jars for canning may seem difficult for some, but this guide will turn you into a canning expert in no time!

Canning Using Jars

1. First, you’ll want to gather all of your supplies:
   • Specialty canner
   • Jars, lids and sealing rings
   • Canning tongs
   • The intended contents of the cans
   • Cooling racks
   • Oven mitts or other temperature protection
   • A few clean dish towels or rags

2. Next, inspect all of the jars and lids for imperfections, like chips, cracks or broken edges and remove ones that have these issues.
3. Sterilize your jars (keep reading to learn more).
4. Prepare your contents.
5. Add contents according to specific instructions and seal the jars.
6. Boil for the specified amount of time to seal.
7. Test the seals 12-24 hours after canning.

Here’s How Long to Boil Jars for Canning

There are two parts to boiling jars for canning: sterilization and sealing. Each step is important to the process, so it’s vital that you learn how long to boil jars to sterilize them, as well as how long to boil jars to seal them.

How Long to Boil Canning Jars to Sterilize

Memorizing how long to boil canning jars to sterilize them is easier than it seems: you’ll boil them for a minimum of 10 minutes at an altitude of 1,000 feet, adding a minute for every additional 1,000 feet of altitude. If you’re having trouble, just Google the altitude for your location.

This handy table should help you if you forget how long to boil jars to sterilize them for canning:

Altitude	How Long to Boil Canning Jars to Sterilize
1,000 feet	10 minutes
2,000 feet	11 minutes
3,000 feet	12 minutes
4,000 feet	13 minutes
5,000 feet	14 minutes

How Long to Boil Canning Jars to Seal

Boiling the jars to seal them is a little different. Make sure you leave the appropriate amount of headspace and boil your jars for up to 10 minutes, making sure to follow instructions specific to the contents of the jars to ensure the food is processed safely.

Different Kinds of Jars

Jam Jars

How Long to Boil Jam Jars to Sterilize

Sterilize jam jars by boiling them for a minimum of 10 minutes, following the chart above.

How Long to Boil Jam Jars to Seal

You can seal jam jars by boiling them for 10 minutes for most types of jam.

Pint Jars

How Long to Boil Pint Jars to Sterilize

Pint jars should be boiled for a minimum of ten minutes, plus an additional minute per 1,000 feet of altitude above 1,000 feet.

How Long to Boil Pint Jars to Seal

To seal pint jars, boil them for at least 10 minutes, making sure to allow additional time as needed for food that needs to be processed in the jar.

Quart Jars

How Long to Boil Quart Jars to Sterilize

Boil quart jars for at least 10 minutes, adding a minute as altitude increases according to the chart above.

How Long to Boil Quart Jars to Seal

To seal quart jars, boil them for a minimum of 10 minutes. Follow instructions for specific contents to ensure food safety.

Gallon Jars

How Long to Boil Gallon Jars to Sterilize

Gallon jars should be completely covered with water and boiled for at least 10 minutes to sterilize them. If you live above an altitude of 1,000 feet, add 1 more minute for every 1,000 feet.

How Long to Boil Gallon Jars to Seal

To seal gallon jars, boil them for at least 10 minutes (plus more time for specific contents, if needed).

Different Canning Contents

Salsa

How Long to Boil Pint Jars for Canning Salsa

If you’re using pint jars to can salsa–a favorite amongst home canners–you’ll want to boil the pint jars for 20 minutes.

Jam & Preserves

How Long to Boil Jam Jars for Canning Jam & Preserves

If you’re saving jam or preserves in jam jars, you’ll want to boil the jam jars for 10 minutes.