[jaws]

A lot of preserves eg peanut butter, choc spread are coming in plastic jars. Can these jars be used successfully for home made jams and chutneys? Does care have to be taken with temperature?
Thanks

[8doubles]

Glass jars are easy to sterilise in the oven and will handle jam hot enough to be bacteria free.

If plastic was a good option for jam the commercial producers would be using them !

[mumofstig]

I don't use plastic jars. I know they could be sterilised with something like Milton, but I like to put jams and chutneys in while boiling hot, and close the lids quickly before mould spores or germs get in. I don't think I could do that with plastic jars without melting them 

Another thing to take into consideration are the chemicals in the plastic, if used for long term storage.

I suppose if you are making a small/one pot recipe then you could put it into a cold sterilised plastic jar and keep it in the fridge 'til it's used.