Preserve it! Series: Is it okay to wash canning jars in the dishwasher?
Washing and sterilizing are two different things.
Is it okay to wash canning jars in the dishwasher? Sure, it’s a convenient option, especially if you have a lot of jars to clean, and it’s a good way to keep the jars hot until they’re ready to be filled and go into the canner. (And just a reminder that canning jars should always be washed right before they’re used, whether they’re brand new out of the box or you’ve just taken them out of storage.)
But what about sterilizing canning jars in the dishwasher? Unfortunately, that’s a no – even on the washer’s “sanitizing” or “extra hot” cycles. To sterilize canning jars, they need to be fully submerged in boiling water (212°F at sea level) or fully immersed in an atmosphere of pure steam (again 212°F at sea level) for 10 consecutive minutes (longer if you live above 1,000 feet elevation). These criteria – maintaining a certain minimum temperature for a specified length of time – can’t be accomplished in home dishwashing appliances.
The good news is that canning jars generally need just a good wash and rinse, with no need to sterilize. That extra step need only be done when the processing time is less than 10 minutes.
Search our Preserve It Searies for detailed information on canning jars, the sterilizing process, and much more.
For further information on preserving, visit the National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP) at nchfp.uga.edu/ or contact your local Cooperative Extension office.
Brought to you by the UC Master Food Preservers of El Dorado County
Last updated July 2025