how many plums? jam maker help please!!

charliee_3

evening all, am trying to free up a bit of space in my freezer by actually doing something with the plums i got given in the autumn. with a view to making some jam I have just treated myself to 2 cute kilner jars (the ones with the metal latch, not the screw on type). They are 0.5l each.. i dont want to make loads too much, so how much weight of plums/ sugar do you think i would need to fill them both (so 1litre of jam)
I am a novice at jam making, so will normal golden caster sugar do as i dont have any jam suagr (or lemon juice)

i do have a pressure cooker, is it prudent to pasturise them at all (and if so how!), or will it be enough to sterilse the jars? do i put the rubber bit in the oven to sterilise or do i have to take it off the jar then get it back on boiling hot jar??

thanks in advance for help!!!

Valli

I wouldn't use kilner jars for jam - they are for bottling fruit AFAIK which isn't the same. You'd probably melt the rubber seal if it went in the oven... you can seal jam jars perfectly well with waxed paper and cellophane and an elastic band...

Morrisons have granulated sugar on ofer ATM - about 50p a bag - save your caster sugar.

I suggest you ask on The Preserver's year...
I'll get you a link
link here

Penelope_Penguin

I agree with Valli - Kilner jars aren;t designed for jam making. What you have aren;t Kilner jars , though, they're Le Parfait type.

Can you ask on Freecycle for some jars?

Plums have a high pectin content, so preserving sugar isn;t necessary (I never use it and make over 100 jars of preserves every year)

1litre of jam will weigh about 1kg, so I'd recommend (to allow for evaporation) about 1.2kg of ingredients.

Try this thread on plum jam (I'll merge this later to keep ideas together)

Penny. x

charliee_3

thanks, they say kilner on the side of them, but i know there are 2 types. shame as i thought the jam would look pretty in them... think i'll take them back as i have no use for them otherwise..