Jams are always loved by kids and can be found in almost all households. You can always enhance the taste of a simple slice of bread by spreading a little bit of jam over it. All types of jams are available in the market but they are all processed with preservatives. The intake of chemical preservatives regularly is not good for health and you should avoid the food containing preservatives. So, why not preparing jam at your home instead of buying it from the market. Let’s check out the process for preparing a yummy plum jam with the help of these easy instructions and tips.
Complexity Level: Basic
Time Required: 40 Minutes
Resources Required:
- Three cups of plum
- Two cups of sugar
- One tablespoon sugar
- Half cup water
Instructions:
1. Picking and softening the plums
Pick fresh and ripe plums to make the jam for best taste. Put water in a sauce pan and add plums to it. Heat on low flame without covering it for 10-12 minutes. Now, when the plums have become soft add lemon juice and sugar to the mixture. Keep stirring continuously till the sugar dissolves.
2. Heating
When the sugar has dissolved apply medium flame to it. Put a thermometer on the pot to check the temperature of the mixture being heated on the stove. Keep stirring the mixture when it is on stove. Decrease the temperature after the mixture has boiled. Slowly, an oily liquid will float on top of the pot. Make sure that the mixture does not spill over while boiling.
3. Sterilizing the storing jar
Put the jar in a big pot and add water to it. Close the pot with a lid over the top and let it boil for 10 minutes. Let the jar cool for some time and then take it out. Wipe out the water on the jar with a kitchen towel.
4. Pouring the hot jam
Pour the jam out of the saucepan to the sterilized jar. Be very careful while pouring. Leave an inch of space above the jam when you are pouring it into the jar. After pouring the mixture in the jar, place the lid on the top and close it with a rim lightly.
5. Sealing
Put the jar in a big pot and let it boil for 10 minutes. Cover the pot with a lid when boiling. Take out the jar from the boiling water with the help of a jar tong. Place the jars on a towel in open at normal temperature. Let the jar cool for the next 24 hours. You may hear sounds from the metal lid while the jar is cooling. This is because of the creation of a partial vacuum while cooling.
6. Checking the seal
Once the jar has cooled down, the lid should have pulled in a little. If you press the lid and it goes down it means you were unsuccessful in sealing. You can repeat the process of sealing when making more than 2 jars of jam or else you can immediately refrigerate to keep it safe.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can frozen plums be used for making jam?
Frozen plums can definitely be used for making jam but thaw it before using. It is advised to use fresh fruits.
Quick Tips:
- If you do not have your own fruit garden or if you have one and you do not grow plums then it’s better to buy the fruit from the nearest farmers market.
- Sealed jars should be kept in a place where there is less exposure to heat and light. Once you have opened the seal, keep the jar in the refrigerator.
Things To Watch Out For:
Be alert when you are boiling sugar solutions as it can burn you quickly and seriously.
