Autoclave Guide: What Can & Can’t Be Autoclaved

Autoclaving is an effective way to sterilize compatible laboratory materials and decontaminate certain biological waste. However, not every material, container, or solution can safely withstand the heat, pressure, steam, and moisture used during an autoclave cycle.

This guide focuses on gravity-displacement cycles used in laboratory autoclaves. It provides general information rather than an exhaustive compatibility list. Always follow the instructions provided by the material or container manufacturer, your autoclave manual, and your institution’s safety procedures.

Three Checks Before You Autoclave

Check the material. Confirm that every component is rated for the temperature, pressure, steam exposure, and duration of the selected cycle.
Check the container. Use an autoclavable container that allows steam to reach the contents. Liquid containers must not be sealed.
Check the contents. Make sure the load does not contain incompatible chemicals, solvents, bleach, radioactive material, or other hazardous substances.

If you cannot confirm compatibility, do not place the item in the autoclave. Consult the manufacturer, your laboratory manager, or your environmental health and safety team before proceeding.

What Materials Can Be Autoclaved?

Examples of materials commonly compatible with laboratory autoclaving include:

Borosilicate glassware designed for autoclaving
Stainless steel instruments and containers
Some polypropylene and polycarbonate laboratory products
Biological cultures, media, and compatible laboratory waste
Autoclave bags specifically manufactured for steam sterilization

Compatibility still depends on the individual product and selected cycle. A material category alone does not confirm that every product made from that material is autoclavable.

Can you autoclave plastic?

Some plastics can be autoclaved, but the product must be rated for the selected cycle. Polypropylene and some polycarbonate laboratory products are commonly designed for autoclaving. Repeated exposure may still affect their strength, clarity, or useful life.

Polystyrene, polyethylene, and high-density polyethylene generally should not be autoclaved unless the product manufacturer specifically validates the item for the intended cycle.

Check the product label, technical data sheet, or manufacturer’s instructions instead of relying only on the plastic’s resin name.

Can you autoclave glass?

Borosilicate laboratory glassware designed for autoclaving is commonly compatible. Inspect glassware for cracks, chips, or other damage before every cycle.

Do not assume that household glassware or an unidentified glass container can tolerate autoclave conditions. When processing liquids, loosen closures and use suitable secondary containment according to your laboratory procedures.

Can you autoclave metals?

Stainless steel is commonly compatible with steam sterilization. However, coatings, seals, handles, adhesives, and other attached components may not be. Confirm that the complete item—not only its metal portion—is rated for autoclaving.

The contents of a metal container must also be compatible. A steam-compatible container does not make an incompatible chemical safe to autoclave.

Can you autoclave liquids?

Compatible liquids may be processed using an appropriate liquid cycle and heat-resistant containers. Closures must be loosened or vented so that pressure does not build inside the container.

Use suitable secondary containment, leave adequate headspace, and allow liquids to cool before handling. Never autoclave a sealed liquid container.

Can you autoclave glycerol?

Whether a glycerol solution should be autoclaved depends on its concentration, formulation, container, and intended use. Follow a validated laboratory protocol and the instructions provided by the reagent and container manufacturers rather than applying one rule to every glycerol solution.

Can you autoclave glucose?

Glucose can degrade when exposed to heat, potentially changing the appearance or properties of a solution. Follow a validated preparation method for the specific solution. Depending on the application, the protocol may call for separate preparation or another sterilization method, such as filtration.

Can you autoclave pipette tips?

Only autoclave pipette tips, racks, and packaging that are specifically identified as autoclavable. Filtered tips and other specialty products may have components with different temperature limits.

If pipette tips are being decontaminated for disposal, follow your institution’s biological-waste procedures and use an approved autoclave bag or container.

Can you autoclave paper or fabric?

Do not place ordinary paper, cardboard, or fabric directly into an autoclave based only on its general material type. Some contaminated paper products or textiles may be processed as part of a validated waste or sterilization procedure, but they must be packaged and prepared according to the applicable instructions.

Can you autoclave materials containing bleach?

No. Do not autoclave bleach solutions or materials containing bleach. Bleach is corrosive and highly reactive. Heating it or combining it with incompatible laboratory chemicals may release hazardous vapors.

Do not attempt to prepare bleach-containing material for autoclaving using an improvised neutralization procedure. Follow your institution’s chemical-waste and environmental health and safety requirements.

Items That Should Not Be Autoclaved

Do not autoclave the following unless an approved, validated procedure specifically permits it:

Sealed containers or sealed liquids
Solvents, volatile chemicals, or flammable materials
Corrosive materials, including acids, bases, and phenol
Bleach or chlorine-containing solutions
Toxic or highly reactive chemicals
Carcinogens, mutagens, chemotherapeutic agents, or cytotoxic materials
Radioactive materials
Plastics, glassware, or containers without a confirmed autoclave rating
Items contaminated with unidentified chemicals

This list is not exhaustive. Autoclaving an incompatible or hazardous material may damage the load, damage the autoclave, or create toxic vapors or pressure hazards.

Preparing a Compatible Load

Material compatibility is only the first step. Proper load preparation is also necessary for steam to reach the material being processed.

Select a cycle appropriate for the contents and load type.
Separate liquid loads from dry materials and waste.
Loosen liquid-container caps or use properly vented closures.
Use only approved autoclave bags and prepare them according to their instructions.
Do not overfill bags, containers, baskets, or the chamber.
Arrange the load so steam can circulate around and reach each item.
Use appropriate secondary containment for liquids and materials that may leak.
Wear the required personal protective equipment and operate the autoclave only after receiving training.

Follow your autoclave manufacturer’s operating instructions and your laboratory’s validated procedures for cycle selection, load monitoring, and recordkeeping.

Looking for a Laboratory Autoclave?

TOMY SX-Series laboratory autoclaves offer flexible cycle programming for compatible media, liquids, glassware, laboratory waste, and unwrapped solid items.

Explore TOMY laboratory autoclaves or contact Amuza technical support if you have questions about your TOMY system.