Jam making help for first timer

rainbowrisin

Just to emphasise what samnmalc said - you don't have to use standard jam jars (well only if you're putting your jam in for a WI competition). Any glass jar will do. If you have one or two little pots (for example old fish paste jars) you can fill one or two of those if you haven't enough for a big jar. The little jars make lovely presents - although HM jam is far too nice to give away.

Nicki

If you can't get to grips with saucers or jam thermometers (which are a pain) you can simply use the dedicated jam sugar (which is only a few pence more than the plain stuff, so cheaper than shelling out on a thermometer if you haven't got one already) then boil for exactly 4 minutes. I've used this a fw times now with different fruits and it has always turned out perfectly.

ellas9602

wow

I can't believe all the replies I've had!

Thanks a lot, you've all explained it perfectly and made it sond really simple. I can't wait to try it.

I dont have a bread maker and think i will use my pressure cooker to cook it in, would this be big enough?

off searching for jars now...thanks guys!

ps..How much jam will I get out o the fruit I have..one jar??

hawk

SoScrooge wrote:

Hi Hawk

Have you got a recipe by any chance?

We have a plum treemon our allotment.... and I would love to make some plum jam.

Thanks so much.

SoScrooge

Just basically make it as any jam but skin the plums first

ellas9602

Do damsons need to be skinned first too?

ellas9602

another question sorry.....!

I have two old coffee jars but they have plastic lids..Do the lids need to be metal? I have also read that some people add a disc of cereal wraper..Is this neccesary?

hawk

no idea about damsons, but why a fly jam Lol, oh i found this http://thefoody.com/mrsbpreserve/plumjam.html

newleaf

I don't skin my Plums or Damsons and have never heard of anyone who does until now.

Plum Jam

6lbs Plums
6lbs sugar
1/2 - 1 and a 1/2 pints water

Wash, halve and stone the plums.
Crack some of the stones and remove the kernels form them, discard the rest.
Place the kernels in a basin and cover with boiling water for a minute, then drain and rub off their skins.
Place the plums, kernels and 1/2 pint water in the pan.
Bring to the boil and simmer gently, adding more water as necessary. When the fruit is tender and reduced, add the sugar. Stir until dissolved then bring to a rolling boil and boil hard until setting point is reached.
Pot into hot sterilised jars and seal immediately if using screw top lids (which I find the best way, waxed paper & cellophane is just such a faff).

Enjoy!

newleaf

ellas9602 wrote:

another question sorry.....!

I have two old coffee jars but they have plastic lids..Do the lids need to be metal? I have also read that some people add a disc of cereal wraper..Is this neccesary?

If you are going to be using the jam up soon ie; within a couple of weeks, the coffee jars will be fine. If you get any mould on top you can just scrape it off. The waxed paper would help prevent mould growing, but it's a faff to do - they have to be just the right size. I go for the metal screw top lids instead. Ask around friends and family, they'll soon present you with a large supply of suitable jars & lids, just remember to sterilise and heat before potting!
The other thing you could usefully buy is a jam funnel to help with potting up. As another poster says, getting burnt by hot jam is not funny, so a wide mouthed, metal jam funnel is very useful.

samnmalc

ellas9602 wrote:

another question sorry.....!

I have two old coffee jars but they have plastic lids..Do the lids need to be metal? I have also read that some people add a disc of cereal wraper..Is this neccesary?

No they don't need to be metal, just airtight. The cereal wrapper is not necessary as long as you fill the jar to the top.