Strawberry Jam (2024)

FAQs

How to fix runny jelly without pectin? ›

To remake cooked jam or jelly without added pectin, for each 1 L (4 cups) jam or jelly add 25 mL (2 tbsp) bottled lemon juice. Heat to boiling and boil jam or jelly hard 3 to 4 minutes, then test for signs of gelling.

“Just make up more juice. Add it to the rubbery jelly. Heat it very gently, stirring from time to time until the jelly has combined with the juice. No Need to add sugar.

Commercial pectin helps thicken jam made with low-pectin fruits, like blackberry jam, or vegetable jelly recipes, like pepper jelly. It comes in powder or liquid form, but the former is the most common. Add powdered pectin to the fruit juice, chopped fruit, or strained purée before heating the jam mixture.

Lemon is crucial to balancing those sweet flavors, but it also helps the pectin to firm up the jam. It can be added at the start of the cooking process or towards the end, but what must be taken into account is that adding liquids to the jam mixture will inevitably require the jam to cook for longer.

If your jam didn't set, it might need more pectin which can be bought in some stores. If you can't find pectin, consider adding some lemon juice with grated zest (rind) and/or some cooking apples which you should first boil in a (very) little water until the flesh softens.

If the jam is still liquid then we don't particularly recommend reboiling. It can be tried but there is a risk that the jam becomes over boiled, which also means that it will not set. The jam can also burn much more easily when reboiled. The thin jam can be repurposed as a sweet chilli sauce.

How to Fix Overcooked Jam Ideas. If it isn't scorched though, here are some ideas to try: Slowly heat it in the microwave a few seconds at a time and then use it as usual. If it is still too thick, add some water while heating it in the microwave and then use it as a delicious and unusual pancake or ice cream syrup.

Cornstarch - If your jam isn't as thick as you'd like it after 15-20 minutes of boiling, keep in mind that it will thicken more as it cools. You can also add a "slurry" to help thicken it. A slurry is a mixture of equal parts cornstarch and cold water.

If, on the other hand, the jam is rock solid, that means you've gone too far and cooked it too long. You can try adding a little water to thin it out, but bear in mind that after overcooking a jam, you can't really get those fresh fruit flavors back.

Sadly, sugar plays a huge role in set. If you cut the amount in the recipe and you don't compensate with a pectin designed for low sugar preserving, your jam may well be runny.

Can you reprocess runny jam? ›

To remake uncooked jelly or jam with powdered pectin

In a bowl, mix jelly or jam and 2 tablespoons sugar for each cup of jelly or jam. Stir well until dissolved (about 3 minutes). Measure 1 tablespoon water and 1½ teaspoons powdered pectin for each cup of jelly or jam.

No longer gate-keeping this food styling secret: microwave your jam for 30-45 seconds to make it glossy and more spreadable 💕👍🏻🍓

It's Not Only About Pectin

There's another reason why lemon juice is added to most jam recipes: for safe canning and to prevent the growth of bacteria. Bringing the pH level down means jars can be sealed in a regular boiling water bath in a reasonable amount of time (sometimes as little as 10 minutes).

Adding acid in the form of fresh lemon or lime juice is important for two reasons: First, it makes for a more well-balanced jam, returning some of the acidity lost with the addition of sugar. Second, pectin needs acid to properly activate, or firm up.

Cornstarch - Another plant-based thickening agent, cornstarch is a great substitute for pectin. Gelatin - For non-vegan menu items, you can substitute gelatin for pectin, but it will yield a different consistency.

In a bowl, mix jelly or jam, and for each 1 cup of jelly or jam, add 3 Tablespoons sugar and 1½ teaspoons lemon juice. Stir well until sugar is dissolved (about 3 minutes). Add 1½ teaspoons liquid pectin per cup of jelly or jam and stir until well blended (about 3 minutes).

Chia seeds act as a thickening agent

And if you're looking to make your homemade jam more nutritious, chia seeds can help with that, too. According to Gimme Some Oven, you can make a delicious jam at home using only fruit, chia seeds, and a little lemon juice –- no added sugar needed.

You do not need to reach a specific temperature beyond a “full boil” (a boil you can't stir down). Jam/jelly will be runny when you put it in the jars, and will jell when completely cool.