Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Eating and Drinking => Cooking, Storing and Preserving => Topic started by: mumofstig on March 31, 2010, 18:51

Title: bought jam..urgh
Post by: mumofstig on March 31, 2010, 18:51
In the cupboard is a jar of home made blackberry jelly (for me) in the fridge was shop bought strawberry jam (for grandaughter).
The raspberry has been open for months and is still ok, the shop one has been open for 3 weeks and has gone mouldy already :ohmy:

Makes you wonder just what they do/or don't with it, as there is nothing 'extra' in the engredients list........sugar, fruit, pectin and citric acid  :unsure:  :(

Note to self....make strawberry jam this year, before the berries all get eaten  :D
Title: Re: bought jam..urgh
Post by: sunshineband on March 31, 2010, 19:00
You would think that shop bought would be full of preservatives wouldn't you?  :ohmy:
Title: Re: bought jam..urgh
Post by: mumofstig on March 31, 2010, 20:17
makes me wonder if the jars/lids get sterilized properly :unsure:
Title: Re: bought jam..urgh
Post by: sunshineband on March 31, 2010, 20:57
That's a point  :ohmy:
Title: Re: bought jam..urgh
Post by: chrissie B on April 01, 2010, 12:37
i think they dont put quality ingredients in every one knows if you dont put good stuff in you carnt get a good product in the end its probably cost cutting , at least you know whats in your own .
made some strawberry last year it was cheaper to but the jam but the flavour was way better than bought , jams here are expencive to start here and they dont tase all that nice.
just found a jar of gooseberry 2 years old and its great and since my plant diet will tast all the better .
all the best chrissie b
Title: Re: bought jam..urgh
Post by: catllar on April 25, 2010, 21:01
My favourite is apricot jam and there is nothing better IMHO than homemade. Last year I had over 20kgs from one small tree so am very pleased. I am disappointed that  I can't grow blackcurrants here cos b'currant jam is OH's fave - can't even find it in the shops here - only jelly available, and that falls off the bread!
Title: Re: bought jam..urgh
Post by: Elaine G on April 26, 2010, 23:22
I made a few jars of strawberry jam this year, but we never ate more than a couple of jars a year normally, so I thought it would last for ages.
Well, got home from work today and crisis! Hubby has opened the last jar, and what will we do when its gone :lol:
Just goes to show how much better the real thing is!

Elaine
Title: Re: bought jam..urgh
Post by: SarahB on April 26, 2010, 23:29
I am disappointed that  I can't grow blackcurrants here cos b'currant jam is OH's fave - can't even find it in the shops here - only jelly available, and that falls off the bread!
:blink: Why can't you grow blackcurrants?  Is it a climate thing?
Title: Re: bought jam..urgh
Post by: iggyboy on June 09, 2010, 22:17
spot on mumofstig! my missus made homemade red currant jam last year and we are down to the final half jar out of many jars! Cant wait for this years currants so we can start another batch. The neighbours are tapping their feet as well!! :D
Title: Re: bought jam..urgh
Post by: catllar on June 18, 2010, 20:14
Yes, it's a climate thing - too hot and too dry. I've got some friends who live a bit higher up in the mountains than me and they can grow them, it's about 3 degrees cooler where they live.  Still, I can grow apricots and lemons in my garden, so I shouldn't really complain, but we always want what we can't have don't we? ( I wish I was taller, slimmer and brunetter, but hey...)
Title: Re: bought jam..urgh
Post by: rhysdad on June 20, 2010, 22:37
I have enough damsons in the freezer for another 17lb of jam. Strangely the wife and kids aren't bored of it yet!! Lovely!!!