Jam making help for first timer

parsonswife8

Well billieboy,

Tried the no-cook jam recipe and I'm afraid to say that it didn't set like jam and is quite a pale pinky colour, not like proper strawberry jam at all.

So, it's back to conventional jam making for me!

However, it does taste really nice so am going to use it over bits of sponge cake topped with cream, as a dessert.

twink

parsonswife8 wrote: »

Well billieboy,

Tried the no-cook jam recipe and I'm afraid to say that it didn't set like jam and is quite a pale pinky colour, not like proper strawberry jam at all.

So, it's back to conventional jam making for me!

However, it does taste really nice so am going to use it over bits of sponge cake topped with cream, as a dessert.

i have often done the no cook jam with strawberries but found raspberries worked best, i kept in pots in the freezer and it was lovely through the winter on icecream or in yoghurt, a little taste of summer, but i never intended it to be a jam

parsonswife8

Well, the failed result of my attempt at this jam making recipe was eaten over some broken pieces of sponge cake, with a few fresh strawberries and some double cream.
It all slipped down quite nicely.
Yum!

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

billieboy_2

parsonswife8 wrote: »

Well billieboy,

Tried the no-cook jam recipe and I'm afraid to say that it didn't set like jam and is quite a pale pinky colour, not like proper strawberry jam at all.

So, it's back to conventional jam making for me!

However, it does taste really nice so am going to use it over bits of sponge cake topped with cream, as a dessert.

Well mine didn't seem to be setting so added another tablespoon of lemon juice as the recipe suggested and it seemed to set a bit better, a bit runny and very pale as you say. It also seemed very sweet. I've got half a jar of Certo left now but may try the raspberry jam as Twink suggests. I'm also saving jars now as it looks like our local park could have a good crop of blackberries! Haven't made jam for donkeys years but feel inspired to make some for Christmas presents (sorry to mention that this early!) and to do something useful in the dark Autumn evenings!

foreign_correspondent

the best strawberry jam recipe I have tried is the 'summer strawberry jam' recipe on the back of the jam sugar packets! Takes just 15 mins to boil, and as you mash the strawberries up you can make it as lumpy or as smooth as you lke! I made loads last year and we are just finishing it, so making more next week! It was the best strawberry jam i have ever had!
I can post the recipe if anyone needs it, but you do need to use jam sugar, and the recipe is on the back!

billieboy_2

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

the best strawberry jam recipe I have tried is the 'summer strawberry jam' recipe on the back of the jam sugar packets! Takes just 15 mins to boil, and as you mash the strawberries up you can make it as lumpy or as smooth as you lke! I made loads last year and we are just finishing it, so making more next week! It was the best strawberry jam i have ever had!
I can post the recipe if anyone needs it, but you do need to use jam sugar, and the recipe is on the back!

Thanks for that. Will look out for it when next shopping. If it's not on the back of the pack will request a recipe from you please! TBH the no cook recipe was a bit of a faff with all the waiting around. Would like to just get it made and potted up in a short period of time. And you can't really give the frozen stuff as presents:rotfl: !

Bunny200

I can remember years ago saying 'If I ever suggest making jam you have my permission to take me out and shoot me!' and yet here I am having gone strawberry picking yesterday decided to make strawberry jam:j which is boiling as I type,

This forum had a lot to answer for.... I now have a cleaner house, a smaller grocery bill, I make HM bread, got veggies growing in the garden and now I'm making jam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek:


I need a lie down

foreign_correspondent

billieboy wrote: »

Thanks for that. Will look out for it when next shopping. If it's not on the back of the pack will request a recipe from you please! TBH the no cook recipe was a bit of a faff with all the waiting around. Would like to just get it made and potted up in a short period of time. And you can't really give the frozen stuff as presents:rotfl: !

okey dokey - this really is fab fruity strawberry jam, so here is the recipe - just on the off chance it isn't on the bag of Jam Sugar you buy! Also this has all the stages in, and my own tips, including how to sterilise the jars, which recipes tend to assume you know how to do, which not everyone does!!

You need:

1 kg Jam Sugar (the sort 'with added pectin' - mine is silver spoon, think it was 75p for a 1kg bag)
800g (1 3/4lb) strawbs, stalks taken off.
knob of butter

and -
a big pan (4.5litre/8pint)
a spud masher
wooden spoon
a saucer
3 or 4 clean jars and lids.

ok, first wash your jam jars and bung them in a low oven to sterilise, lids and all, (but dont fix the lids on!) and bung a clean saucer in the fridge, then...

clean your strawbs, if you wash them make sure they are really dry (pat with a teatowel or something - my old auntie who was an ace jam maker used to swear by not washing them, I think this is cos any extra water can affect the set)

chuck them in a pan, and mash them up a bit with the spud masher - or liquidise for 'no bits'

chuck in the sugar. Switch the ring on, and warm the jam and strawbs up, stirring all the time.

Do not bring to the boil till all the sugar is dissolved.

chuck a knob of butter in and bring to a full rolling boil, i.e. one that bubbles hard and cannot be stirred down (like a mad strawberry jacuzzi!).

Start timing - boil for 4 minutes only. The recipe says to jar it at this stage but I always test to see if its set - get your cold saucer from the fridge, and drizzle a little blob on jam onto it, maybe half a teaspoon. Let it cool a little, then push the blob with your finger if the skin on it wrinkles it is about ready.

When you are happy it has set, grab your jars out the oven, ladle the hot jam in (fill them pretty much to the top as it will shrink a bit!) and pop the lids on, and screw on tight.

Done! quick and easy!

Hope that helps

billieboy_2

Wow that's really comprehensive and quick, four minutes boiling time! Thanks:T . Have added the jam sugar to my shopping list and will look out for some nice strawberries. BTW, when I used to make jam years ago, I bought the waxed seals and cellophane. Am I okay just using ordinary screw top jars?

billieboy_2

Is Tate & Lyle preserving sugar the same as "jam sugar"? That's all I could find just now. Didn't buy it just in case.