Jam making help for first timer

downshifter

nuttyrockeress wrote: »

i have some scales and some jam jars/various sizes and 2 huge apple trees in the garden......

I would like to get a maslin pan with my vouchers but what else willl I need?

Sugar - and any other fruit you fancy

misskool

nuttyrockeress wrote: »

i have some scales and some jam jars/various sizes and 2 huge apple trees in the garden......

I would like to get a maslin pan with my vouchers but what else willl I need?

Whatever you like really. You can buy jam jars sold for purpose or you can recycle. you can buy labels so they look nice or I just get peel off stickers from the wilko's.

If you want to make jelly, you can look into getting a straining kit but I just buy muslin by the metre from the fabric shop and hang it over a bowl in the kitchen overnight.


Otherwise the biggest expense in preserving is sugar and/or vinegar.

babyshoes

The only special equipment that is really useful, IMHO, is a thermometer. We do have a jelly straining bag, but muslin over a bowl held on with clothes pegs works well enough too!

Instead of a funnel, we use the top of a 2 litre milk bottle! You might think the plastic would melt from the heat, but it really doesn't. It is a good idea to hold it with oven gloves on though, as it can get hot.

Wee_Bargain_Hunter

While not essential, I've found a funnel very useful when making chutney etc. The kitchen gets less messy! I got a Kitchen Craft one from Amazon for less than £5. It has a small handle so you don't have to worry about the heat. It's normal stainless steel & washes perfectly. Sorry not able to post a link just now.

MissG_2

I made some damson jam yesterday and only 1 of my jars got 1/2 full as I ran out. I now have more damsons and was wondering if the is any way I can make more and add to the 1/2 a jar to make it full? Thanks

Penelope_Penguin

MissG wrote: »

I made some damson jam yesterday and only 1 of my jars got 1/2 full as I ran out. I now have more damsons and was wondering if the is any way I can make more and add to the 1/2 a jar to make it full? Thanks

Just make another batch and top up the half jar I always have a part jar when I make jam - that gets used first.

Ladyhawk

There may be a slight variation in colour though.


I have a jar of jam which gets all the dregs shoved into it so there are layers of strawberry, rasperry, red currant, damson, blackberry... obviously that one is just for me!

MissG_2

I put the jars in the oven first would I still be able to do this? Sorry this is the first time I have done it on my own. I'm making them to give to people as gifts. Thanks

valk_scot

MissG wrote: »

I put the jars in the oven first would I still be able to do this? Sorry this is the first time I have done it on my own. I'm making them to give to people as gifts. Thanks

Don't warm up the half jar, no. If you put a lid on it then it should be still clean enough inside. I'd keep the half and half jar to use myself though because it won't look as neat as the others. Fine to use though!

MissG_2

Thanks for your help. One last thing, the damsons have been frozen would I have to defrost them first?