Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Eating and Drinking => Cooking, Storing and Preserving => Topic started by: Elaine G on July 03, 2020, 20:42

Title: Strawberry Jam!
Post by: Elaine G on July 03, 2020, 20:42

So following a recipe from a reliable source I made some strawberry jam.

Well actually I made 6 jars of strawberry sauce with strawberries on top  :lol:

Suggestions please where I went wrong, and how to get the strawberries mixed in next time. It tastes good by the way, just is a bit messy and looks silly!

Thanks
Elaine
 

Title: Re: Strawberry Jam!
Post by: snowdrops on July 03, 2020, 21:05

Is the sauce set? With whole fruits it’s advisable to let the jam cool a bit so it begins to thicken & then  stir to allow the fruit to suspend in the mix before bottling in hot jars, then stir again .

Title: Re: Strawberry Jam!
Post by: Elaine G on July 03, 2020, 21:59

No snowdrops the sauce is not set. So I should have let it cool a bit first?
The recipe definitely said to put into jars while hot.

Elaine

Title: Re: Strawberry Jam!
Post by: Aunt Sally on July 03, 2020, 22:52

Strawberries are low in pectin.  What did you use to give the pectin for setting ?


https://www.allotment-garden.org/recipe/jam-jellies-marmalade/

Val explains pectin here (I use jam sugar which has pectin added).

Title: Re: Strawberry Jam!
Post by: mumofstig on July 04, 2020, 09:14

If it is still a sauce, how well did you test for set? Perhaps it needed longer cooking to reach setting point?

Title: Re: Strawberry Jam!
Post by: snowdrops on July 04, 2020, 11:41

Quote from: Elaine G on July 03, 2020, 21:59

No snowdrops the sauce is not set. So I should have let it cool a bit first?
The recipe definitely said to put into jars while hot.

Elaine

Ahh if it’s not set I’d try reboiling it with a bit more lemon juice if that’s what you used for the pectin element. As for cooling it you still wouldn’t want to put your finger in it lol as it stays incredibly hot for a long time. As it goes off the boil & begins to cool it will start to thicken (if a set has been reached) . You can add liquid pectin or redcurrant juice to aid setting but I never do.

Title: Re: Strawberry Jam!
Post by: Elaine G on July 04, 2020, 22:27

Thank you for your replies.
I used strawberries , jam sugar and lemon juice, so I expected it to set OK.

Will give it another go and boil a bit longer next time, and let it cool a bit before bottling.

All an interesting learning curve  :lol:

Elaine

Title: Re: Strawberry Jam!
Post by: snowdrops on July 04, 2020, 22:41

My recipe says 5-7 minutes of boiling for a set, mine took 17 minutes  :mad:. Don’t forget to resterilise your jars, a pain,but essential

Title: Re: Strawberry Jam!
Post by: mumofstig on July 05, 2020, 10:05

I found a jam sugar thermometer really helped as it shows setting point temperature.
Now I don't bother testing for set 'til the  jam is near that point on the thermometer, it saves me a lot of dithering  :D
Only £1.99 plus P&P if you haven't got a local store, https://www.lakeland.co.uk/8776/Jam-Making-Preserving-Pan-Kitchen-Thermometer