How to Make Plum Jam for Beginners

To Make the Jam:

Place 2 small plates or saucers in the freezer to chill – see Note 5.
Wash the plums and remove any blemishes. ...
Place the plums and water in a large, wide saucepan. ...
Bring the plums to a simmer over low-medium heat. ...
Cover the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the plums are soft, 15-20 minutes.

Do you skin plums before making jam?
How do you make plum jam from scratch?
How do you get plum jam to set?
How do you thicken plum jam without pectin?
What can I do with a lot of plums?
How long does homemade plum jam last?
Why do you add lemon juice to jam?
What can you substitute for plum jam?
Can you over boil jam?
Will my jam thicken as it cools?
Why is my homemade jam runny?
Can you Reboil jam that hasn't set?

Do you skin plums before making jam?

Plums and nectarines should be peeled, as their skins can be tough / chewy in jam. If you do want to leave the skins in, you might want to run the fruit through a blender or food processor to chop them up (after you remove the pits, of course). ... The skins will easily slide off now IF the plums are ripe!

How do you make plum jam from scratch?

Instructions

Place pitted and halved plums into the mixing bowl & drizzle with 4 1/2 cups of sugar. Stir plums until all coated with sugar. ...
Bring it to a boil uncovered, stirring occasionally. Boil until the mixture is bubbling uniformly. ...
Repeat step 2 a total of FOUR times.

How do you get plum jam to set?

Place in the oven and turn the heat on very low leave for about 15 minutes, remove just before filling. To Test for Set: After about 5 mins, spoon a little jam onto a cold saucer. Place it back in the fridge for 2 minutes then push the jam with your fingertip. If it wrinkles, the jam is ready.

How do you thicken plum jam without pectin?

The secret ingredient to making jam without pectin is time. The fruit and sugar need plenty of time to cook and thicken. A long, slow boil drives the moisture out of the fruit, helping to preserve and thicken it at the same time. Fruit varies in water content as well, and some fruits may take longer to jam up.

What can I do with a lot of plums?

Here are eight ideas to try with plums.

Pickled. Pack plums in jars with a spiced vinegar brine to make pickles that are stellar in cocktails or with roasted pork.
Caramelized. Brown plum wedges in a skillet with honey, then add them to a salad or serve over ice cream.
Poached. ...
Grilled. ...
Sauce. ...
Dumplings. ...
Cake. ...
Salad.

How long does homemade plum jam last?

Here's how long homemade jam lasts: For homemade jam using sugar and processed by canning in a hot water bath, you can expect to get about two years of shelf life when stored in a cool, dry place. Once opened, keep your homemade jam in the refrigerator for up to three months.

Why do you add lemon juice to jam?

But in food science, pH plays a key role, so it really is a matter of pH when you are making jam. ... The lemon juice lowers the pH of the jam mixture, which also neutralizes those negative charges on the strands of pectin, so they can now assemble into a network that will “set” your jam.

What can you substitute for plum jam?

If you're lucky enough to find apricots in their prime, substitute them for any jam recipe that calls for plums. Make sure to use more apricots than your plum recipes calls for since this sister fruit can be half as big, or just make apricot preserves instead.

Can you over boil jam?

Pectin, naturally found in fruit is vital to make your jam set. ... Undercook rather than overcook – runny jam can be cooked up again. To get rid of scum (which is just trapped air) at the end of cooking, stir in the same direction until reduced.

Will my jam thicken as it cools?

See, the truth is that the pectin web doesn't really solidify until everything cools down. That means it's tricky to tell whether you've achieved the gel point while the action is still hot and heavy. Enter the spoon: Before you start your jam, set a plate with a few metal spoons in the freezer.

Why is my homemade jam runny?

Cooking jam without pectin requires practice and patience. A runny batch happens even to the best home jammers. If, after waiting, you find the jam is still too loose for your liking, empty the jars back into a wide pot and cook again. Wash and sterilize the jars and try again.

Can you Reboil jam that hasn't set?

Give the jam 24-48 hours to set up (because truly, sometimes it can take that long for pectin to reach the finished set). If it still hasn't set, it's time to determine how much jam needs to be recooked. ... Place the pot on the stove over high heat and bring the jam to a boil.