Help! making chutney - what do I do about jars/lids?

[piemashandliquer]

Help please! 1st time chutney maker. Got the pot bubbling away, got some jars which I will sterilise in the oven. What do I do about the lids? Do I have to do anything with them? I don't have any wax discs, but I do have some baking parchment, should I use that before I screw the lids on?

Quick responses much appreciated!

It depends, really. You can just use the jam jar lids straight, but if you keep it for a long time they will tend to rust through. Wax discs don't help much though IME.

What are really ideal if you have them are instant coffee jars with plastic lids as they don't degrade the way the metal ones do. Having said that it'll be fine for several months just with the lids on normally.

(Obviously don't put plastic lids in the oven! I just rinse with boiling water)

I just use the jam jar lids as they are.

If I can be bothered, I turn them upside down and let them cool that way to make sure everything is properly sterilised.

Thanks for help, much appreciated. Its nearly ready.liara, i dont understand what you mean when you say you dry lids upside down. What do you do with them before that, wash them in sterilising fluid?

I boil the lids in water for a few minutes. Choose lids with a plastic coating on the inside then you won't have a problem with rust.

I've found even plastic lined lids do rust through in time, though, with chutney. I do make big batches though - I think chutney generally improves with keeping, so I'll often make enough for a couple of years. Chilli chutney is the worst for eating its way out of the jars, I find!

No, you make the chutney, put it in the jars, close off the lids and then turn it upside down.

Heats up all the air and the lid thoroughly so it's all sterilised.

I put the lids in the oven with the jars and use them as normal.