[Livinhope]

I've just made gooseberry jam following Val Harrisons' recipe to the letter.  She says that the recipe..... 4lb gooseberries, 2 pints water, 4lb sugar...... should make approx 6lb.  I have ended up with 10 lb.  Have I gone wrong somewhere?

[crh75]

I think the recipe is wrong. 4lb berries +4lb sugar = 8lb plus the water! Nothing other than some water is lost in the cooking and things don't magically get lighter (although I wish I would!)
Just carry on, I'm sure it will be fine.

[Val H]

In theory, the amount of sugar used represents 60% of the final weight of jam. So, for 4 lb sugar and 4 lb fruit you should end up with 6.66 lbs of jam. In reality, you always end up with more! As long as it is setting, you've got a bonus.

[Livinhope]

Well that's how I worked out the maths but when it says 6 lb and it's 2/3 rds more than stated you do wonder.  Many thanks.  Buttered bread at the ready

[Val H]

I did think about putting 6 2/3rd lbs to each recipe............but it looked messy (especially as the publisher was insistent that I'd got to put metric equivalent measurements first and it was doing my head in working them out). I still work in imperial all the time.  .

[Livinhope]

Don't most of us, if the truth be known.  Our local pyo still sell in pounds and the weights and measure police haven't closed them yet.

Just to add... I did the pectin test with the meths, that was okay and it seems to be setting.  I've had some disasters with jam in the past so I followed your recipe to the absolute letter then panicked when I ended up with four jars more than stated. :blink:

Now off to make gooseb and ginger chutney, but I must deal with the strawberries first.