i many times sterilized it in microwave.microwave easier.but u just need to heat it.100celcius also can as long as the temp is hot when u touch ur finger,u will respond bck.it wont effect the bakery tray.u can use the same tray bck for food but u need to wash it with soap.i usualy moist the peat or just take the peat from the bag and put it in a microwave safe bowl or bakery tray also can.but if u wanna use bakery tray,dont use microwave coz the tray will reflect the waves to the microwave's wall and explode or broke.
i usualy heat it around 2mins for 3handful of peat.so u can calculate by that.sterilizing isnt necessary if u wanna use it to pot ur plants but if u wanna propagate,i suggest u to sterilized it so that mould/algae and whatever dont attack ur seeds or stem or leaf or anything la.
dont be TOO careful if u touch the peat with ur hands bcoz this is not TC.a little amount of bacteria is ok.this method just killing some bacteria and algea and mould agents.
Hope it helps!
