Did you ever dream of homemade jam but got put off by it because the procedure was intimidating? Well, guess what: You don’t have to be a master chef, and your pantry doesn’t have to be stuffed with fresh fruits. When using fruit juice concentrate, you are just a few simple steps from spreading the joy of homemade jam on your morning toast. Think of it as capturing sunshine in a jar – sweet, tangy, and oh-so-satisfying. Ready to dive in? Let’s jam!
Let’s be real, jam making from scratch with fruits can be a marathon. However, when it comes to fruit juice concentrate, well, this is the shortcut nobody knew they needed. Full of vibrant flavors and natural sweetness, it forms a great base for jam. And because it’s always in season, you can make it anytime, even on a whim.
Gather Your Ingredients
And here is what you need to come true in your dreams for making jams:
- Fruit juice concentrate: You can select any flavor of apple, grape, tropical blends, and so on.
- Pectin: The magic ingredient helps set your jam beautifully. Use specific pectin for low-sugar recipes.
- Sweetener: Granulated sugar, honey, or any natural sweetener, for instance, stevia. Adjust according to the taste.
- Lemon juice: For providing acidity that improves the taste and sets it.
- Add-mores: An optional added flavor. Add a few drops of vanilla extract, a sprinkle of cinnamon, or a little splash of rum added for a fancy twist.
Step 1: Prepare Jars and Lids
Wash jars, lids, and bands. Place jars in a canner, fill canner 2/3 full with water, then boil. Turn off heat, cover, and let jars remain in hot water until ready to use. Place lids in a small saucepan with water and bring to a low boil. Turn off heat and keep lids in hot water until ready to use.
Step 2: Prepare the Fruit Base
Choose fresh ripe fruit when you prepare your fruit for jam. Do not use overripe, blemished, or damaged fruit. It will spoil the quality of the jam. After you choose the fruit you will use, wash them well under cold running water, remove anything that is not fruit, including the stems, pits, and cores, and peel and chop larger fruit into pieces that are pie-sized for the jam.
Smaller fruit, such as berries, can be used whole or cut in half. If you prefer a smoother jam, you may want to mash the fruit with a potato masher or your preference of blender. Alternatively, you can mash the fruit with some sugar and lemon juice and let it sit for a few hours so that the flavor changes and more juice might leach out of the fruit.
Step 3: Fix up the Blend of Pectin
To mix pectin with juice concentrate to make jam, first bring the juice concentrate to a boil in a saucepan. Take the hot juice concentrate and place it in the blender or food processor, then add the pectin powder. Blend the mixture for about 10 seconds, while leaving the lid slightly askew (to allow for escaped steam) and scrape down the sides of the blender or food processor, then blend again for one minute, or until the pectin is developed.
Step 4: Cook the Jam
To cook the jam, place the prepared fruit mixture over high heat until it reaches a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. When the mixture starts to boil, add the pectin-fruit juice concentrate mixture, still stirring. Then, boil the mixture for 1 minute, to activate the pectin and ensure proper setting. After boiling, take your saucepan off of the heat. This stage of the jam-making process is essential for it to be the proper consistency when canning.
Step 5: Fill and Seal Jars
Using a ladle, carefully pour the hot jam into sterilized jars, leaving approximately ¼ inch headspace. Clean the rims, close them with the prepared lids, and screw the bands. Boil water canning the jars for 10 minutes. Remove jars from the water, and let cool. Check that lid’s seal they should suck down.
Storage and Serving Tips
To keep your homemade jam, store sealed jars in a cool, dark place for about 12 months. If opened, keep refrigerated and use within 3 to 4 weeks. For long-term storage, you may freeze your jam for up to a year, but be sure to thaw it in the refrigerator before use.
To summarize
Making jam using fruit juice concentrate is a fun and easy, way to bring the taste of your favorite fruits into your life year-round. Making jam with concentrate cuts out the time-consuming steps of peeling, chopping, or cooking down fresh fruit, which is great for beginners or experienced cooks who want to streamline their process. Fruit juice concentrates are available all year round, which means you can recreate traditional seasonal products anytime you like.
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