[Yorkie]

Am considering making my first ever jelly (crabble) but don't have anything fancy to strain it through - am reluctant to spend £19 on Lakeland's set unless it really makes it a lot easier.

In the absence of that set, what do people suggest I use?  Someone said I could use a tea towel (clean etc) but I can't work out what to suspend it from as I don't have a stool as described in Val's book.

Any thoughts?

Ta 

[Patricia]

Hi Yorkie, I had hubby install a cup hook under my cupboard so that I can hang my jelly bag from it and the bowl goes under this sat right on the counter top. I did try the stool thing, but found it very akward. The hook works much better. Oh and good luck with the jelly. I made Apple and Mint yesterday. It is scrummy!!!

[Poolfield2]

Hi Yorkie, I have a proper jelly bag that was cheap, it has loops on the top and I thread 2 garden canes through loops and hang it over the top of an empty swing bin base. The bowl sits in the bottom of the bin and catches all the drips.

[Yorkie]

Mmm now that's an idea - garden canes and a swing bin.

Can probably improvise with said tea towel, knotted corners, and a bowl or plastic container as you describe.

Ta all.

Can then get a jelly bag on its own from lakeland next week 

[Mosslane]

I made a jelly bag out of left over curtain netting - plain no fancy flower pattern or anything. Sew it to a point at the bottom so your juice runs from the one place. Like the previous poster I just hang it from the handle on my kitchen cupboard and put the jug underneath. Just made lovely bramble jelly and this is the second year for the bag, just wash it and sterilise it before I use it. Good luck

[Poolfield2]

Hope it works for you,homemade jellies are brilliant.

[Beetroot queen]

At the moment I use a muslin cloth suspended by hair bobbles (unused ) onto the handle of my slow cooker, with lid over the fruit to stop flies etc

works a treat

but next week I am off to lakeland to buy a proper set, I deserve it, well thats what i am telling myself 

[Yorkie]

Well, as I was in town anyway, I looked at the lakeland jelly bag.  It's elasticated round the top, rather than loops, so it has to suspend from the strainer contraption.

Decided against it but another shop in town had a strainer bag with loops so have treated myself to that.  They also had a preserving pan on offer, ££ cheaper than Lakeland in the sale, so have got that too - though couldn't bring it home on the bike and must wait till next Tuesday to collect it.

Crabble jelly here I come 

[Poolfield2]

How did it go Yorkie?

[Yorkie]

Stage 1:




And stage 2:




Am repeating the process, which means the 3rd stage (sugar) probably won't happen till tomorrow night 

[flowerpower]

I start with a large bowl on countertop, put cake cooling rack over the top. Then place colander on that. Then I use J cloths (Own brand equivalent) as a liner. You then don't have to wash the filter.

Suggest this as an overnight option or put somewhere out of the way.

[Yorkie]

That's worth thinking about as a method, too - ta 

[Poolfield2]

No bath for you tonight then

[Yorkie]

 

It's stage 3 tonight, in the new preserving pan 

[hindy]

It's stage 3 tonight, in the new preserving pan 

What shop did you get the preserving pan from Yorkie? We only have really expensive shops around here that sell them.