How to Make Jam at Home: Tips and Tricks

Homemade jams are always an interesting and fascinating occupation. Try and experiment with various tastes and fruits to prepare some special, extraordinary or exotic fruit jam for your friends and family. It would be good to know the processes needed to prepare delicious jam. In this article you will find out how to make jam at home and what tips and tricks you can use in order to prepare the delicious handmade jam.

Consistency is important

It is very important that your jam has the right consistency. In this case the role of pectin or gelatine is crucial. Sometimes fruits can have enough pectin, because many fruits have it. Pears, apples, oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, plums, cranberries, currants or blackberries have a lot of pectin. On the other side bananas, grapes, cherries, blueberries, peaches, apricots, strawberries or pineapples are low in pectin. In this case, when there is too little pectin, pectin should be added. You can use powdered, liquid or natural pectin. 

Cooking time is important as well. Water should evaporate and pectin will do its job. Put some pectin on a plate and check its consistency with a spoon or a finger. Remember to add some lemon, lime or orange juice or citric acid. 

Sterilize the jars

Sterilizing the jars in the oven or water bath is very important. Sterilizing helps preserve the jam for longer. Preheat the oven to 120-140 degrees Fahrenheit and sterilize the jars and metal lids for 10 to 20 minutes. Boil the jars with the jam over low heat for 10-15 minutes, but the boiling time depends on the size of the jars.

Jam should be sweet, so use white sugar or cane sugar. Make jam without sugar and use low sugar pectin or natural sweeteners, such as maple syrup, stevia, agave syrup, date syrup, erythritol, monk fruit or even liquid honey. What is more you can use sweet fruits such as figs, sweet apples, pears, pineapples, peaches, apricots, ripe bananas, mangoes or strawberries to make sugar free jam. 

 Always look for ripe fruits. We also recommend using organic fruits from local farmers to support your local community. Remember to remove the foam while cooking your jam and use the long handled spoon or ladle. Label your jam with some handmade or bought labels and write down the name of the jam, the date when it was made and ingredients. 

Use your creativity but also read some articles or watch a few videos on how to make jam at home to improve your jam cooking skills. Don’t be afraid to experiment and always try something new to prepare your delicious, homemade jam and to create unique jam recipes.