Electric Jam Maker

lora

Thinking of buying for DD for Christmas. Is it any good ?

thriftlady_2

We have a thread about these here.

If your dd is keen on jam making I would recommend getting her a proper preserving pan as that is all you really need to make it. I can't see any advantage to making jam in a gadget personally;)

Penelope_Penguin

I wouldn;t bother, either In my kitchen, things only get in if they can do more than one thing (pans, knives, etc) or are the only thing for doing that job (cherry stoner, for instance ). I'd rather make jam in a big preserving pan.

Penny. x

Oldernotwiser

Some bread makers can also be used to make jam; could be worth thinking about.

thriftlady_2

But any big pan can be used to make jam For large batches a proper preserving pan with sloping sides is best, but all you do is boil fruit and sugar-you do not need a gadget for it.

You don't need a gadget for bread either just a bowl and an oven;)

morganlefay

Much as I don't want to disagree with thriftlady and PP who are wise and sensible, there are one or two good things about a jam maker. I'm an old bird and have been making jam for years. It involved big quantities of fruit, I almost always burnt the bottom of the pan (I was always very careful, but still did it) I almost always overcooked it (though I know exactly how to test for a set) and I almost always ended up with too much jam which wasn't very nice and got thrown away after a year or so. I now have a jam maker and apart from needing a space to store it in (that is a disadvantage) it's great. We like runny jam and that's what it does as the recipes are french and they like their jam runny. We eat it on yoghurt or occasionally toast. I like to make small quantities when the spirit moves me - the jam maker makes quite small quantities. It is very quick, easy to clean (better than soaking my burnt pan in Ariel for several days to get rid of the burnt stuff) and I'm not afraid of burning myself - as I often did on my 'real' jam pan. Jam making can now happen any afternoon I like - rather than being a great 'Occasion' when the kitchen was full of heat and nervousness. So if your DD is likely to suffer from any of the things that I used to suffer from when I made jam she might love a jam maker, even though it's not at all OS really ! (and is a big thing which needs big storage space). HTH !

lora

Thanks. This is exactly what I was thinking. DD would only want to make a small amount and might have more fun experimenting with recipes in this. I know it is another gadget to store but so is a large preserving pan. I believe you can also make rice pudding and caramel sauce in it. Thanks again.

Oldernotwiser

thriftlady wrote: »

But any big pan can be used to make jam For large batches a proper preserving pan with sloping sides is best, but all you do is boil fruit and sugar-you do not need a gadget for it.

You don't need a gadget for bread either just a bowl and an oven;)

But gadgets are fun if you have the room for them and breadmakers can save an enormous amount of time.

newgran_2

I have just bought the tefal jam maker from Lakeland, where they are reduced, and havent stoped playing with it since. Started using my breadmaker to make jam last week, having never made it in my life, and im just right side of 50. the jam was ok (from breadmaker) but only made small amounts. When i went to Lakeland to buy jars and saw that it was reduced I could not resist. At the minute whilst typing the jam maker is extracting juice to make some orange jelly. Whilst you can make jam in a pan on the hob my health would not let me stand long enough to stir the jam and keep testing so this is doing it for me. I sort of justified it to myself by saying I could wash clothes by hand but, I bought a washing machine, could wash dishes in the sink but people buy dishwashers.
Not very MSE but if it helps to make life easier. Mine is for Xmas but just got to use it now I think its great

thriftlady_2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

But gadgets are fun if you have the room for them and breadmakers can save an enormous amount of time.

Agreed about the fun part but not about timesaving in bread making:) My breadmaking routine takes less time than my old bm used to with the added bonus of being able to bake 4 loaves at the same time which is really timesaving. Bread takes time to make it's true, but not much of your time-a few mins to mix and knead, another few a couple of hours later, put it in the oven a bit later.

I do see how useful they are if you work all day, although I've just started making sour dough which takes all day to make but fits in fantastically with a working day. Mix and knead first thing -10mins, leave to rise all day, shape while you're getting tea, bake a couple of hours later;)

I also appreciate how useful gadgets are for people with health problems or limited mobility- something I often forget:o

thriftlady_2

lora wrote: »

I know it is another gadget to store but so is a large preserving pan. .

Well, that is of course true, but you can store other things inside the jam pan:D

And you can make small quantities of jam in an ordinary saucepan.

BTW thanks Morganlefay- I'm wise and sensible me:rotfl: