Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Eating and Drinking => Cooking, Storing and Preserving => Topic started by: The Golden Heap on May 15, 2012, 19:36

Title: Jam / Pickle Kits
Post by: The Golden Heap on May 15, 2012, 19:36

I have dabbled in the past on a wet sunday making jams? and pickles?  I would like a decent started kit, (fingers crossed for fathers day) could anyone recommend a good all inlcusive kit?? thank you

Title: Re: Jam / Pickle Kits
Post by: Yorkie on May 15, 2012, 19:59

I'm not familiar with complete kits, but I have a combination of:

Kitchen craft maslin pan here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kitchen-Craft-Maslin-Handle-Stainless/dp/B0000C0TFF).

Canning kit here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tala-139-Jam-Canning-Set/dp/B003FXJ9PG/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1337107851&sr=8-11) or here through this site's main shop (http://www.allotment-garden.org/shop/search?q="jam%20making"%20AND%20kit).

Thermometer here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kitchen-Craft-Cooking-Thermometer-Stainless/dp/B0001IX0DA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337108090&sr=8-1).

And, not to mention the book by site owner John & his wife Val.  Available from John here  (http://www.allotment-garden.org/shop/our-books/jams-chutneys-preserves) with free seeds, or from other retailers.

Title: Re: Jam / Pickle Kits
Post by: Lawrence on May 15, 2012, 21:14

Quote from: Yorkie on May 15, 2012, 19:59

I'm not familiar with complete kits, but I have a combination of:

Kitchen craft maslin pan here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kitchen-Craft-Maslin-Handle-Stainless/dp/B0000C0TFF).

Canning kit here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tala-139-Jam-Canning-Set/dp/B003FXJ9PG/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1337107851&sr=8-11) or here through this site's main shop (http://www.allotment-garden.org/shop/search?q="jam%20making"%20AND%20kit).

Thermometer here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kitchen-Craft-Cooking-Thermometer-Stainless/dp/B0001IX0DA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337108090&sr=8-1).

And, not to mention the book by site owner John & his wife Val.  Available from John here  (http://www.allotment-garden.org/shop/our-books/jams-chutneys-preserves) with free seeds, or from other retailers.

Yes, definately buy the book.
Apart from that you need a pan, thermometer, funnel and some jars.
If you want clear jams then muslin works well, otherwise dont bother.
I now use my breadmaker to make Jam, maybe you should ask for one of those?
Seriously, buy the book first and then decide what you need.
I have always found that kits do not always represent the best value, just a quick way in.
And then you spend loads of money buying the stuff you should have bought in the first place!

Title: Re: Jam / Pickle Kits
Post by: The Golden Heap on May 16, 2012, 07:40

thanks for the advise, the great book was delivered a couple of days ok!