Jam

mrslovetocook

Help!!! My batch of strawberry jam has a nasty scum on the top. How do I get rid of it before putting it into jars? I think I read somewhere to disolve a piece of butter into the mixture. Is this right? Thanks my friends.

cannylass_2

yes it is!! sounds bizarre but it seems to work!

tessie_bear

i put a bit of butter in at the end of cooking and it gets rid of the scum

mrslovetocook

Thanks a lot. It worked and jam is now potted and labeled. Not quite W.I standard but nicer than Mr A. Cannylass. do you hale from the north east, given your name?

thriftlady_2

mrslovetocook wrote: »

Help!!! My batch of strawberry jam has a nasty scum on the top. How do I get rid of it before putting it into jars? I think I read somewhere to disolve a piece of butter into the mixture. Is this right? Thanks my friends.

It isn't nasty. I just left it on the top of my jam pots. But, yes you can stir ina bit of butter if you want, or scoop it off with a slotted spoon.

mrslovetocook

Its my first attempt, Thriftlady. I didn`t want the jam to go mouldy if there was unwanted gunge in the jar. Where does it come from? Maybe we need Heston Bloomenthal (? spelling) on MSE.

floyd

According to my WI book, if you put butter in there is an increased chance of early spoilage so don't use it if you intend to keep jam for over 6 months.
I skim mine instead, not because I'm arsed about early spoilage, I just don't like adding extra ingredients to something unless absolutely necessary.

recovering_spendaholic

I find that since I have been using Jam sugar to make my jams and marmalade I don't get hardly any scum on the top at all. Don't know why?

cannylass_2

no, mrslovetocook, am a london girl originally!! but dad a scot and i have inheritted his frugal ways i think....lol!!!

mrslovetocook

nothing wrong with frugal. cannylass. Thats why we are all logging on to this wonderful site.

thriftlady_2

On River Cottage last night they explained that the scum was simply lots of tiny air bubbles and no problem at all.