Cost of making jam ?

viv0147

I am thinking of making Jam in my breadmaker but first of all I would like to know if its cost affective. I bought strawberries from lydl £1.99 buy 1 get 1 free, I checked out the cost of silver spoon preserving sugar £1.43 1kg, and the silver spoon pectin £1.17 (39g)=3 sachets so what advice can you offer thanks. Viv

Barneysmom

Hi, I found it only works out cheaper if you can get your fruit for free.
I made 3lb of plum (plums from neighbour's tree),
and 12lb of blackberry last year.

I got the blackberries from the park, and I looted a carrier bag of apples to go in with them from a tree that grows wild on the side of a dual carriageway I use (not saying where lol)

That way I only had to pay for the sugar. I use half ordinary and half jam sugar, and didn't need pectin as the apples contain enough for setting.

If you want to, buy the strawberries so you get the fun of doing your own home-made jam?

rachbc

I also only make with free fruit - scrumped blackberries, quinces from the garden, windfall apples and sometime pyo as its loads cheaper. Do you have a market near you were fruit maybe cheaper?

I thought jam sugar had pectin added already?

Barneysmom

Yes, I think it does, I forgot about that.


http://www.silverspoon.co.uk/home/products/sugar-and-syrups-for-cooking/jam-sugar

midnightraven3

i've never used jam sugar
nor added pectin

either a recipe with apples in
or some lemon juice works

as others have said only cost effective if you grow/get fruit free or cheap
but like with a lot of things, so much more satisfying than shop bought for lots of reasons

mumto1_2

BArney'smum - Jam sugar has pectin in it......... that's why it's called jam sugar!

It is only cheaper if the fruit is free - I am amazed at how much berries cost here vs. Canada pick-your-own. But th taste makes up for the cost...

And I rarely buy fruit for preserves... except for chili jam and mango chutney - can't scrump those!

thriftlady_2

Strawberry jam will need pectin. Lemon juice will do it but I'd use jam sugar to be sure.

There are lots of fruits that are naturally high in pectin eg apples. I posted a list somewhere on this baord yonks ago.

I too make jams and jellies with free fruit from my garden or the hedgerows or gluts bought at the farm shop. PYO is cheaper than buying from a supermarket.

On the rare occasion I have bought strawberries or raspberries to make jam it has not been cost effective, it has however been very delicious and immensely satisfying.

Penelope_Penguin

thriftlady wrote: »

Strawberry jam will need pectin. Lemon juice will do it but I'd use jam sugar to be sure.

Lemon juice doesn't contain pectin, though, does it? I make lots of strawberry jam, and never use pectin, or jam sugar i make sure the fruits aren;t wet or over-ripe. A few green fuits will be fine, and aid setting. Once the jam is made they take on the red colour, so you don't spot that they're there

I make rhubarb/ginger, plum, damson, strawberry, raspberry, blackcurrant and marrow/ginger from fruit in the garden. No idea if it's cheaper, but it's certainly better :T

Barneysmom

mumto1 wrote: »

BArney'smum - Jam sugar has pectin in it......... that's why it's called jam sugar!

QUOTE]

I know, that's why I posted the link, I'd forgotten for a min

ginvzt

Hmmm.... I love making jam. Our favourite at the moment is raspberry and lime and no, I do not use pectin for that. Might have to go and open a new jar now!

Barneysmom

Raspberry and lime? Sounds gorgeous, how do you prep the limes, do you use the juice or chuck the lot in? Makes mty mouth water.:)