Is it really necessary to turn glass bottles on side?

[maple marc]

Last season I was bottling into beautiful glass bottles as I have done for years. I turned them on their sides as soon as I capped them, and suddenly three bottles started leaking around the threads. Never happened before. It was like the caps sort of loosened up. At first I thought maybe the caps were defective. I replaced them but it happened again. And it happened on a couple more bottles. After I cleaned up the mess and rebottled everything was OK.

It didn't happen again but here is my theory. I bottle consistently at 185 degrees. The caps are plastic, the bottles are glass. I think I filled these leaking bottles a bit higher than normal--right up to the threads. Perhaps the glass at the threads was hot enough to soften the plastic cap?

I asked my supplier about it and she suggested I not turn the bottles over. She said a lot of people don't, and they don't have an issue with mold. I was always told that you have to place the bottles on their side to sanitize the cap area.

Your thoughts?

Thanks

[buckeye gold]

simple solution...metal caps

[Haynes Forest Products]

I use the plastic caps with the safety seal and don't worry about tilting the bottles. I don't warm the bottles or heat the caps. I bottle at 190 and it does fluctuate up and down a sneak. I haven't had mold ever sense I went to a consistent water jacketed bottler that doesn't micro boil when heating. I also fill my bottles right up to the lip.

[Goggleeye]

We do turn them on their side. Several years ago, we had almost a dozen mold on us. However, we didn't have as good of temp control then, so that may have been a factor. The only time we've had some come out the top was due to our error putting the cap on.

[murferd]

Leaking is one of the reasons for putting on their side. If syrup can leak out, air can get in, then you don't get a vacuum seal.
When you tip, it leak checks & sterilize the cover. Just make sure you tighten covers until they are snug, then no issue.

[Haynes Forest Products]

I believe safety seal caps have eliminated bacteria laden air being sucked back into the bottle after cool down. I also keep my caps in a clean environment and don't let the kids play with them.