do people bother sterilising jars

[ShinySideUp]

My jars come in a box labelled 'glass is factory cleaned but not sterile' which is good enough for me. I once did an experiment as part of an Open University course which demonstrated the number of fungal spores in any particular room. It consisted of opening a can of tomato soup and immediately putting half of it aside in a tightly sealed container. The other half was left open in the room for two hours then similarly covered and after two weeks the results from each container were compared. The opened half was covered in bacterial and (more likely) fungal growths which one would expect. The other, immediately covered, one showed much less infestation...but this is my point. Despite the sterile nature of the product and the fact that the container had been boiled to remove spores there was still some evidence of contamination that had been picked up in the very short time the container was exposed.

You can buy sterilised jars or sterilise them yourself but there is no way, outside a clean room, that you can prevent ingress of foreign bodies during the time the jar is open while honey is poured in. Being 'clean' is quite sufficient.

Also, as has been said, you can't sterilise the lids so what's the point of doing the jars.

 

[Beefriendly]

Minimum temp for complete sterilization and killing of bacterial spores is 121C for 15 minutes (think pressure cooker/hot oven)
Anything less is like pissing up a stick.
For example, to kill the spores of Cl.botulinum a sterilisation process equivalent to 121°C for at least 3 min is required.

 

[Beefriendly]

Also, as has been said, you can't sterilise the lids so what's the point of doing the jars.

Of course you can sterilize lids. Pressure cooker 121C for 15 minutes does a great job.
Lot of bad info on this thread on "sterilization" based on what some have got away with and not killed anyone with...yet.
Hey let's be real, it's unlikely given honey's properties....but if you sell your honey to Joe Public it's not a risk you should ever undertake.
Do the job properly or not at all.

 

[For want of a better word]

Minimum temp for complete sterilization and killing of bacterial spores is 121C for 15 minutes (think pressure cooker/hot oven)
Anything less is like pissing up a stick.
For example, to kill the spores of Cl.botulinum a sterilisation process equivalent to 121°C for at least 3 min is required.

Skuse me mate!!... Clostridium botulinum spore aint gonna kill you.. its the bloody toxins they produce that can cause the death thing...
But then who cares... 7 years of a medical degree and underpayment as a tech dont add up to six months sweeping the floors at the MIT !!

Yeghes da

 

[Beefriendly]

Skuse me mate!!... Clostridium botulinum spore aint gonna kill you.. its the bloody toxins they produce that can cause the death thing...
But then who cares... 7 years of a medical degree and underpayment as a tech dont add up to six months sweeping the floors at the MIT !!

Yeghes da

To be accurate the spores don't produce the toxin, the spores emerge to produce the bacteria that produce the toxin......
But what the hell hoppy, good to see you back to your most obnoxious self.
I'll bet you advertise your honey as Botulinum spores added no extra cost.
Just wash your hands in future before bottling your honey.

 

[For want of a better word]

Just keep "pisssing up your stick" ... usual old carp from the fishythymalarse!

Nos da

 

[Beefriendly]

Just keep "pisssing up your stick" ... usual old carp from the fishythymalarse!

Ohh give us a big kiss you old sweety...I'll even allow tongues. Me thinks you have been on the mead tonight...or you simply don't have a clue about sterilization.

 

[john t]

when was the last time you came across a moldy jar of honey ?

it has antibacterial properties im not a scientist , i just use common sense

 

[thorn]

when was the last time you came across a moldy jar of honey ?

it has antibacterial properties im not a scientist , i just use common sense

When I was in Italy a couple of years ago I visited a 3rd C BC Greek temple, and they had some honey on display in the attached museum that had been found in the temple. That wasn't mouldy, though I'd not have put a spoonful in my porridge.

 

[Beefriendly]

when was the last time you came across a moldy jar of honey ?

it has antibacterial properties im not a scientist , i just use common sense

Last year in well know local tourist attractions gift shop...some jars of soft set had separated the top layer was now liquid and was bubbling with microbial activity.

 

[john t]

Last year in well know local tourist attractions gift shop...some jars of soft set had separated the top layer was now liquid and was bubbling with microbial activity.

most likely it was incorrectly possessed-- extracting uncapped combs =water content to high, natural yeasts ,ie fermenting

 

[masterBK]

I think I prefer the term "possessed" rather than "processed" in this context.!

 

[user 6228]

most likely it was incorrectly possessed-- extracting uncapped combs =water content to high, natural yeasts ,ie fermenting

ahh the devil is in the detail.

 

[Swarm]

Makes me laugh all this alarmist reaction. We all need a glass bubble to live in or we die.
Wash jars just in case there is dust in them. Dry them and add honey. Nobody dies.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Makes me laugh all this alarmist reaction. We all need a glass bubble to live in or we die.
Wash jars just in case there is dust in them. Dry them and add honey. Nobody dies.

And throw away any honey if you think the bees that produced it have been drinking piss

 

[Erichalfbee]

And throw away any honey if you think the bees that produced it have been drinking piss

Oh God!
That’s probably my entire crop gone
I hope the septic tank can take it.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Oh God!
That’s probably my entire crop gone
I hope the septic tank can take it.

But remember it must be disposed of in a proper and environmentally sensitive manner.
I can do it if you like, for a nominal charge. I'll even give you a replacement bucket to save you cleaning the one carrying the offending substance when I return it.

Willing to help out anyone else in the same situation.

 

[Erichalfbee]

 

[Beefriendly]

Makes me laugh all this alarmist reaction. We all need a glass bubble to live in or we die.
Wash jars just in case there is dust in them. Dry them and add honey. Nobody dies.

Nope can't find any alarmist reaction in this thread. Some good factual information and the usual minimal attention to hygiene.
Perhaps you should spit in each jar for luck as well
There is a big difference between "due diligence" and couldn't give an eff when you are selling food to the public.

 

[Swarm]

Nope can't find any alarmist reaction in this thread. Some good factual information and the usual minimal attention to hygiene.
Perhaps you should spit in each jar for luck as well
There is a big difference between "due diligence" and couldn't give an eff when you are selling food to the public.