Jam making help for first timer

zippychick

Hi Jackie, funny enough this is something I have been thinking about doing myself. Just found out a thread - jam for first timers, so there may be some answers in there!

off to read it myself

Zazen999

Easy peasy.

Boil your fruit until it is nicely cooked.

Add the same volume of sugar [jam sugar if apples aren't part of your fruit].

Reboil, so that when you spoon on a cold plate [keep in the freezer], it rumples when you push your finger through it.

Pour into clean sterilized jars.

Done.

The only thing you need is a deep pan; as the jam boils up to a big volume when cooking it. Otherwise, just a wooden spoon to stir. If the pan isn't hard-bottomed, then do it slower and not on a rolling boil as it can catch.

I use a ladle to get mine into the jars. But a good funnel will help. I put the spills straight onto bread

It should last years, as the sugar gives it longevity. You probably could freeze it but why would you?

All my jams have been just the cost of the sugar as I grow all my own fruit - but if you can get it cheap from a greengrocer then it brings the price down.

Pink.

Hi Jackie,

Making jam is very easy to do and can be addictive. Just use the same amount of cooked fruit to sugar (I use jam making sugar which has added pectin but from reading posts on here it isn't absolutely necessary.

The equipment that I have are a preserving pan (although any heavy based pan will do - sometimes for smaller amounts I use my pressure cooker without the lid), scales, jars and lids, labels, a saucer to check if the jam has set and an oven to sterilise the jars. Some people use a jam thermometer but I've never found it necessary to buy one. The most moneysaving way to get jars is to ask family and friends to keep theirs for you or ask on your local freecycle.

Costs involved will depend on where you get your fruit from. At this time of year I'm guessing that you will be paying for it, but in Autumn there are lots of free fruits available. I swear the jam tastes better if the fruit is free because you've gathered it yourself. Also keep your eyes peeled for any reduced soft fruit in the supermarkets.

You'll find lots of links with advice that should help you to get started on this thread:

The Complete Jam, Chutney and other Preserves collection

I'll add your thread to the link that zippy posted earlier as there is lots of advice on that thread and it will help to keep the replies together.


Pink

thriftlady_2

jackie_w wrote: »

Also, Can anyone tell me how long the jam lasts for? Can it be frozen?

Jam was originally made as a way of preserving the summer fruit harvest way before electricity. The huge amount of sugar in jam is what preserves it for a very long time- at least a year. So, absolutely no point in freezing it

If you're planning on making it now then you'll be hard pushed to find cheap fruit suitable for jam making. Summer and Autumn is jamming time. You can use frozen berries but fresh is best.

January is the time for Seville oranges though, these are what you need for marmalade so you could have a go at that soon.

Zazen999

I freeze all the fruit as I collect it and freeze it; once I have a few bags worth, I make the jam. Today, I have cleared all the fruit out of the freezer and am making mixed fruit jelly.

So, you could do the same with fruit collected cheap at greengrocers - just freeze until you get enough to use.

The first time I make it, I used about 400g fruit and made one jar worth. Just as practice!

northwest1965

I love making jam, very theraputic for me. It tastes so much better than that awful stuff you buy in the shops.
I buy any cheap fruit I can get my hands on, at the moment its plums (keep a look out in Aldi for their specials)

RAS

It is worth getting a long handled wooden spoon so that your hands are as far as possible from the slurping and burping jam (or chutney).

Use a stainless steel saucepan if possible and practice with a small amount of whoopsie fruit first.

Penny35_2

I am new to 'saving money' we are quite wasteful so want to make an effort this year.

I have never made jam before so really fancy trying it..can anyone point me in the direction of some reciepes also any tips.

Thanks

thriftlady_2

Best tip is to make jam when suitable fruit is in season-cheap and local if poss. Raspberries, strawberries etc are pricey but they will be less so in the summer months. Better still pick free blackberries and damsons or blag free fruit from friends and relatives with gardens.

For info on what you can be doing now look at this thread

The Preserver's Year

floyd

This will answer every question as well http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=349356