Preserving, it has started

M.E.

If you run out of jam jars, use mugs. They can be sterilised as you do with jam jars. Then after filling with jam use a circle of wax paper, ( or the cereal packet liner cut up). Then use a circle of fabric or paper with an elastic band.

rosie383

Thanks M.E. I don't really have spare mugs either. Culled everything when I moved and have very little excess anything.
Can I use Kilner type jars? I have a couple of big ones.

M.E.

Kilner jars.... perfect. Indeed any container glass, mug, ceramic that can withstand the heat is fine for jam.

rosie383

Having tried and failed to find any jars at the cat boot today and none of the price and size I want in wilko I was so tempted to buy jars of cheap 28p jam and just empty and use them.
I won't do that because I wouldn't want to just chuck 30 jars of jam contents in the bin. Unless anyone could give me a way to use up many kilos of cheap jam in a day.

Failing that, can I still make my jam today and leave it in the pot til tomorrow or the next day when I can get jars? Or does it have to be potted up while it's still hot?

Wraithlady

Hi Rosie,

RE the cheap jam - decant the jars into a clean plastic box (clean ice-cream container will do fine) and keep this in the fridge. Use in jam tarts and puddings to use up.

Re keeping it in the pan - not a good idea imho. Firstly, the jam will set in the pan and scooping it into the jars after it's cooled runs the risk of it going furry- it can be reheated to loosen it but you risk overcooking it and a lot of the freshness may be lost (it may end up tasting too much like boiled sweets) .

Secondly, potting it up whilst it's hot enables the jars to form a pressure seal, which helps keep it for storage - I've had the occasional pot of jam that went bad but given on average 20-30 jars a year for over 10 years, that's not bad going.

Have you got room in your freezer for the damsons? If you have, then this would be a solution - if you have some, but not enough then you can stew them down to pulp and freeze that, which means that when you are able to just defrost and make the jam with the puree. I've done it myself, and it tastes pretty much indistinguishable from fresh - you can also use it for crumbles etc if you don't want to use it all for jam

Primrose

Yes, in an emergency you can keep it in the pot in which its cooked but damson jam usually sets quite solidly. Better to freeze the damsons or store in the fridge until ready to use.
However, as a last resort if you need to keep it in the pan, let it cool down and cover the surface with greaseproof paper or clingfilm before putting on a lid to keep flies and wasps away.


you will then have to spoon it out into hot sterilised jars when you get them and be prepared to pack it well down to get rid of all the aid bubbles.


Do you use glass recycling boxes in your area? Is it possible some of your neighbours will have thrown some perfectly good jars & lids away that you can forage if you asked them politely?

Wraithlady

TBH Primrose, I didn't know that - though I've always been very well supplied with jars - MIL saves me her Bon Maman jars which are lovely and easy to fill.

On the recycling note, I rarely throw away a sound glass jar. Just habit, I suppose

rosie383

Very helpful ladies. Thank you.
I will ask on Freegle if anyone has any jars. I had always kept jars before but ended up with lots taking up valuable cupboard space and I wasn't using them. I went through all my cupboards this evening and rounded up about 12 jars with various things stored in them which have now been emptied into wee bags. Those have all been washed and I will use them. Good suggestion to maybe decant cheap jam into a container and keep in the fridge to use for baking. Will try half a dozen.
Will also get 4 jars of the basic lemon curd for 22p (probably gone up in the last few months!) and make my favourite 'chuck it all in in 3 minutes' lemon curd loaf cakes which I can freeze.

euronorris

Picked a load of elderberries yesterday and made some syrup. Plan to make some more tonight, and then make some gummy bears with them.


Will still have loads left over, and the area is still overflowing with blackberries (despite picking loads more this weekend, making more jam, more coulis and apple and blackberry crumble! lol). So, have seen this recipe and really keen to try:


https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/hedgerow-ketchup


When it comes to muslin cloth, we have some huge ones left over from daughter that were NEVER used. Presume I can use them for this purpose, if it cut them down to size? Anyone know of any reason why I can't or shouldn't? As I say, they have never been used, so no risk of contamination.

rosie383

Thanks to the support on this thread I am now the proud owner of 2.pots of vibrant damson jam. Just had some.on toast and it's delicious.
Had a moment or 2 of panic as I got distracted and dumped all the sugar in with the fruit right at the start. Figured I had nothing to lose and just cooked it anyway.
Put the scrapings on a saucer and had it on toast. It set maybe a wee bit too much.

Need to go and get more jars so I can make more. Only managed 1kg fruit in my big pan. Maybe could.do 1.5kg next time as there was a.wee bit of room.
I have to admit to skimming off all the stones and skin leaving only the nice stuff. Seemed a lot that went in the bin but I want nice jam if.I'm going to make the effort of.making it. I remember damson jam with skin and stones when I was a.kid and it was truly awful.