why is my jam and marmalade stretchy?

tiddly_widdly

As the title says I have stretchy jam and marmalade!!!:(

I didnt have this problem last year but although Im following the recipes it seems to come out stretchy, The flavours are great but it doesnt spread!!!!!

Help me if you can please

rinabean

Maybe you overcooked it? You have to stop cooking before it's jam consistency in the pot because it thickens when it cools. I don't know how to fix it, sorry

floyd

It does sound like its overboiled, the sugars start to caramelize and you end up with the early stages of toffee. There is little you can do to rescue it once it has happened. Sometimes mixing a few tablespoons of it with a splash of boiling water before you use it will loosen it enough to spread, it really depends just how far it has gone

suzybloo

I would say overcooked too - if you have a couple of pounds spare a sugar/jam thermometer is worth its weight in gold until you learn the right consistency. When its overcooked its ideal heated with boiling water for steamed puddings, middle of sponges etc if you cant use it as normal.

tiddly_widdly

sorry Ive not been around for a few days. thanks for the replies.

I do have a thermometer but I made the mistake of following the recipe. Ive made jam before but not marmalade. the recipe I was following said that when it was ready the millions of bubbles would then go thick and gloopy!!! so I waited and waited ... !
typical.

Next time I'll just go by instinct as normal, it doesnt normally fail me

thanks again, I was going to bin it but the sponge pudding idea sounds good.