What is 'test for pectin'?

Thanks, Doug

You'll find out all about pectin etc in the general jam making articles - Making Jam and Jelly at Home – Introduction and Equipment, Making Jam and Jelly at Home – Ingredients, Fruit and Pectin, Making Jam and Jelly at Home – Methods

Hi just wanted to share with you that i have made the strawberry jam,plum jam and blackberry jam (twice) so far to date.
All enjoyed by family and friends.Thank you for easy to follow instructions,and great recipes.
regards
Mel

Help! I made strawberry jam yesterday with the recipe above. I have made it successfully in previous years but this year it won't set! I did put it in jars and put it in the fridge but no joy. Can I rescue it soemhow?

Thanks

Sue

Try tipping it out of the jars, re-heating and stirring in a sachet of powdered pectin (Silver Spoon). Don't forget to wash and re-sterilise the jars before you put the jam back in.

Where does it tell you how to test your jam for pectin?

Bev

Click on the Making Jam link. It's all explained!

Thanks Val! That worked wonderfully.

Help! I have today made strawberry jam for the first time.
A friend told me to turn the filled jars upside down, but didn't say for how long! I left them upside down and now have an air pocket at the bottom of each jar.
What do I do now? Will this affect the jam?
Apart from this, I was amazed how easy it was to make.
Karen

I can't think why your friend said to turn the filled jars upside down. Perhaps it was to re-distribute the fruit and prevent it coming to the top. However, the usual method for doing this is to allow it to cool for about 10 minutes and stir before potting into the jars. The air pocket could cause a problem. Is the jam still "pourable" or very set? If you can tip it out of the jars, re-heat, and then return to the jars (don't forget that you must re-sterilize them though) you may be able to rectify it. If not, I suggest that you keep it in the fridge and eat a lot of jam quickly!

okay this maybe won't rescue the jam but try it in future batches. When making the jam try putting in a couple of green/unripened strawberries. This is supposed to help thicken it. Do this myself and the jam always seems to come out thick enough.

I have made strawberry jam many years ago and we always had the pectin problem, sometimes lucky, sometimes not.
I followed your very simple recipe today and success !
Back to the pectin. I don't know if I can name the brand of jam sugar which contains the pectin.(a piece of cutlery..silver) It made an easy recipe easier.
Margaret

Silverspoon. But it is cheaper to buy ordinary granulated sugar and silverspoon dried pectin sachets.

I'm struggling to find dried pectin sachets in the shops. Do you know where these can be sourced ? I too need to rescue my strawberry (and redcurrant juice for added pectin) jam this year although it's worked fine in the past.

Morrisons and Asda stock the Silver Spoon dried pectin, along with some Co-ops. Sainsburys and Tesco usually have the liquid pectin (Certo) or their own equivalent.

I've made strawberry jam in the past with Certo pectin. It had in the instructions to turn jar upside down instead of processing it in a bath. I recently bought some Certo, but it no longer has that instruction. Anyone out there know how long to keep the jars upside down?

i have just made my first batch of strawberry jam and i have to say its lovely…couldnt keep the kids and hubby from trying to eat it out of the pan…lol
It didnt set at first then i cooked it again and it set no problem…..cant wait to have some on some crusty bread yummm…thank you for your recipe it helped me lots

just made dason jam with ordinary granulated sugar and it is perfect now i am going to make strawberry jam .do i need to use special sugar and why?

Damsons are full of pectin and do not require jam sugar. Strawberries, however, are not. You'll find it easier to get Strawberry Jam to set if you either use jam sugar (which has the pectin in it) or use ordinary sugar and add liquid or dried pectin.