Can you use Milton to steralise jars for pickles/chutney?

[DorisIsALittleBitPartial]

I'm new to this, can you tell?
I've made lots of pickles and chutneys after our first year on our allotment. I tried putting the glass jars in the oven but when I filled them with chutney they exploded, probably because the chutney was too hot I think. But being impatient, I've started steralising the jars in Milton rather than try baking them again. We don't have a dishwasher so that's not an option.
Is it ok to use Milton? I've just told DH what I do and he thinks I'm wrong because he can't find it on google as an option!

I rinse jar and place them, still wet, in a hot oven to sterilise. I fill with jam etc when still warm but don't put the lids on until everything is cool enough to handle comfortably. If yours exploded, had you put lids on?

I wouldn't because it might taint the chutney with the smell of bleach smell but I suppose if you rinse well it should be OK. Google 'using Milton to sterilise jam jars' lots of other people do.

Wash jars in hot soapy water rinse well, dry and stand in the oven on 140C/120C fan/gas 1 for 20 mins (don't be tempted to do it quickly at a higher temperature otherwise the glass will shatter). Boil the lids for 9 minutes in a saucepan (make sure they are plastic coated inside and have no rust marks. Fill the jars right to the top.

You can also use the micorwave although I haven't done this myself.

Clean the jars as normal, rinse but leave the jars a little wet. Microwave for 30 - 45 seconds depending on the size of the jar.

You can also do it in a pressure cooker but that's too scary for moi!

Did you put the hot jamjars down on a cold surface?

Were the jars still warm when you filled them?

Thanks for the microwave tip though JamNan, I need a single sterilised jar tonight so that's probably going to be a quick and easy way of doing it.

By the way, Doris, if you have a lot of allotment produce to store I can recommend a dehydrator, fab for dried fruit slices and 'sun dried' tomatoes.

The jars were straight out of the oven and the jam was straight off the hob so think the filling was way too hot. I'm not very domestic goddess I'm afraid.
We rinsed them out before using and let the chutney cool down a bit, and yes tipped the jars upside down too.
Thanks for all the tips. Hadn't considered a dehydrator, will look them up.

I wouldn't, because it might taint the taste, but then it's used for food containers, so it's probably okay really.

I always do the jars in the oven, and then make sure a metal spoon is in the jar as it's filled. This is because my mother always did, and I've never experimented to see if it makes a difference, but I imagine it would conduct some of the heat away.

Dehydrators for sale on Group On today!

Ooh! Go for it! So far this week I've made semi dried tomatoes in oil, pear slices and am about to do cinnamon apple chips.

I've always made chutneys and pickles in the past to use up the allotment surplus but couldn't get through all that we made! The dehydrator brings a bit of welcome variety.