Guest Guest Posted July 8, 2004 Share Posted July 8, 2004 I followed the directions to the letter, the only difference being that I started with frozen, concentrated juice instead of processing a bunch of apples to make my own juice. All measurements were exact, and it was cooked according to temperature, instead of using the plate or sheeting method to determine the gel stage. What did we do wrong, and how can we fix it?!?! I hate trying to make jelly! It's a major pain to me, and I can never get it right! Quote Link to comment
gardnmom Posted July 8, 2004 Share Posted July 8, 2004 The time I had trouble with jelly setting properly, the pectin was near the expiration date and I just brought it back to a boil and added another packet of certo, It worked. Quote Link to comment
Guest Guest Posted July 8, 2004 Share Posted July 8, 2004 Thanks, Lois! I guess I'll go buy some Sure-Jel today... so, it's okay to open it up and cook it again? I thought pectin was derived from apples, so I thought just using the juice would work. The instructions I had said that apple juice would work w/o added pectin. I guess I shouldn't take anymore shortcuts... Quote Link to comment
gardnmom Posted July 8, 2004 Share Posted July 8, 2004 Yes, apples do have pectin, but the sweeter varieties don't always jel, I don't make jams and jellies without the certo cause it doesn't always jel. Quote Link to comment
Linda Posted July 8, 2004 Share Posted July 8, 2004 when I make jellie or jams and it *hum* don't turn out ... i either run out to the garden and get some rubarb or we have more ice cream topping and yes you can open it up and re cook it with out any trouble. Quote Link to comment
Guest Guest Posted July 9, 2004 Share Posted July 9, 2004 LOL that is exactly what I do too. I have been known to pour the jelly onto the bread for the kids. Quote Link to comment
Synn Posted July 13, 2004 Share Posted July 13, 2004 LOL the only time I made apple jelly we used it for ice cream topping also. Quote Link to comment
Judy Moist Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 Nana: This last batch of crabapple jelly that I made, I had a hard time getting it to gel. It must have something to do with the humidity...But I reopened it and added more pectin to it and simmered it for40 minutes, it set up fine afterwards......... Quote Link to comment
Curry Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 My crabapple jelly didn't gel either! Read through all the replies and found out that certo expires (I didn't know that). Mine is expired. What I need to know is if I can put in Freezer Jam Gelling Powder (it's all I have in the house) if THAT will work? Quote Link to comment
Guest Guest Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 Check the Kitchen, LucyRN... I wrote a reply there! Quote Link to comment
Guest Guest Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 ok either you did not cook it long enough or the juice that you used (frozen) was to much water added to it....was it store bought??????they add water to the juice when the make into concentrate,,,,,,cook it longer and add a wee bit of lemon to it.....i make around 150 pints of jelly each year and most and i say most of it jells....what does not is use as syrup .......or i just re cook it then put it back in the jars,,,also i do not use Certo or grocery pectin ....I use Pomona Universal Pectin...i buy it by the lb or case which ever i can get my hands on .....you can double, quadruple and even more and add it all together and make jelly...it is so much nicer to make 40 jars at a time than 6,,,,,,,,,takes less sugar too...take care and keep the faith Quote Link to comment
Guest Guest Posted August 14, 2005 Share Posted August 14, 2005 I just ordered some of this Pomona Universal Pectin that you mentioned motherearth. From what I could read at their site, it allows flexibility as to how much sugar is required and has a much higher rate of jelling than the pectin bought in the grocery store, plus it's alot cheaper when you buy the bulk sizes... I'm excited to get it and try it out...although I have fairly good success with my jams, the times when they don't jell are frustrating... *pout* Quote Link to comment
Leia Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 Quote: ok either you did not cook it long enough or the juice that you used (frozen) was to much water added to it....was it store bought??????they add water to the juice when the make into concentrate,,,,,,cook it longer and add a wee bit of lemon to it.....i make around 150 pints of jelly each year and most and i say most of it jells....what does not is use as syrup .......or i just re cook it then put it back in the jars,,,also i do not use Certo or grocery pectin ....I use Pomona Universal Pectin...i buy it by the lb or case which ever i can get my hands on .....you can double, quadruple and even more and add it all together and make jelly...it is so much nicer to make 40 jars at a time than 6,,,,,,,,,takes less sugar too...take care and keep the faith Shawna Quote Link to comment
Guest Guest Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 When my jelly does not turn into jelly or jam does not turn into jam (which happens quite frequently for some reason any more), we use it for pancake syrup. LOL The grandkids love it on pancakes. I used to be able to make jelly and jam without any troubles... Quote Link to comment
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