back from the summer holidays a doubt has arisen.
Do I have to sterilize 1.5 Ml PLASTIC tubes (the eppendorff) and I have some glass jars with lid (jam jars).
I have to put them in the autoclave sealed or with the cap slightly unscrewed?
I usually put them unscrewed and then, WHEN the sterilization cycle has finished, I close them immediately.
Tips?
whether you need to sterilize them depends upon what you intend to do with them. However if you choose to sterilize them then you should keep the jar unscrewed so that the pressure can equalize inside and out. I would not tighten the cap to the jar until the interior has dried (there will be lots of moisture). We usually put the jar in a warm oven overnight to speed up the drying.
I also suggest that at the time of autoclave, tops of bottles/jars should not be fully tightened, but loose enough as to allow for gaseous escape and prevent them becoming pressurized when heated and after that drying should be done in oven for overnight before use.
I suggest you do not close the lids tight when you sterilise them, however, you have to dry them in an oven just after rinsing them with distilled water before putting them in an autoclave.
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