Jam/jelly making

maypole

I was simmering loganberries to make jelly and then put them in the muslin so that the juice could drip through. I read now that I was supposed to simmer them in some water! can I add some water at this stage just before I add the sugar to dissolve, or would that not work?

2cats1kid

What stage are you at, exactly? I'd be inclined to take the loganberry mash and put it back in the pan with slightly less water than the recipe says (working on the principle that some would have evaporated in your initial simmer). If you put it through the muslin now and then add water, it's likely to be quite watery, I'd have thought, as you won't have got all the loganberry juice out and you'll have maybe added more water than you'd have ended up with if it had been in the mash from the start.

maypole

I simmered the fruit only, it has been throught the bag and I am now left with the juice ready to add the sugar to make the jelly, only now do I realise I should have added water at the simmering stage.

I am just thinking if I had added the water I would have more jelly!

2cats1kid

OK, in that case I'd bung in some water, but not as much as in the original recipe. And hope for the best!

maypole

Thank you for your help. I put in some water, just 1/2 pint and it seems ok, the jelly set ok and is now in the jars. I will know better next time.

I wouldn't care, I have made it before and I make jam every year!

:beer:

thriftlady_2

I think with 'wet' fruits like raspberries, loganberries and currants the water isn't strictly necessary as they produce lots of liquid by themselves. If you were using a hard fruit like crab apples or quinces then you need the water or else they's just burn.

maypole

thriftlady wrote: »

I think with 'wet' fruits like raspberries, loganberries and currants the water isn't strictly necessary as they produce lots of liquid by themselves. If you were using a hard fruit like crab apples or quinces then you need the water or else they's just burn.

I never add water to the rasps, but the loganberries recipe had water in it.

Nevermind it worked out ok. Thanks for your help