Every jam and jelly recipe that calls for pectin (the really old ones don't, but use massive amounts of sugar and cooking the jam or jelly to death to thicken it) and every manufacturer and type of pectin, calls for a different amount per batch. If you want to know how much pectin to use of the type you have, to acheive the results you want, read on.
A batch of jam or jelly is about 5 or 6 cups of prepared fruit. It can be up to 8 cups of p[repared fruit but if you go above this, heat will not penetrate quickly enough and the batch will not "set" or "gell". So DO NOT DOUBLE BATCH SIZES, or go above 8 cups of prepared fruit per batch.
By set or gell, also called gel or jell, we mean, how thick or firm is the finished jam, jelly or preserve? There is no single answer. It's whatever you like. Some people like a runny, syrupy jam or jelly, which flows and pours at room temperature. Others, like me, like a firmer jam or jelly, that stays where you put it, but still spreads with a knife. Finally, some people like a very firm gell, thyat you can almost cut into cutes.
The recipes I publish are designed to produce that middle level, medium firm.
Jams and jellies are as much art as science. Fruiits contain some pectin naturally, ranging from almost none like strawberries, peaches and citrus pulp, to those that have fairly high levels, like crabapples, most blackberries and cranberries.
So here is some general advice, which you will need to modify, based on your own experience and preferences Remember, you still have to follow the rest of recipe (lemon juice, sugar, heating, etc.) I'm ONLY talking about the amount of pectin below
Fruit - 6 to 8 cups of puree | Loose set | Medium set | Very firm set |
Strawberries | 4 tablespoons of no sugar needed pectin (1 packet) | 7 Tablespoons of no sugar needed pectin (1.5 packet) | 10 Tablespoons of no sugar needed pectin |
Strawberries | 7 Tablespoons of Regular pectin | 10 Tablespoons of Regular pectin | 13 Tablespoons of Regular pectin |
Blackberries | 3 tablespoons of no sugar needed pectin (1 packet) | 5 Tablespoons of no sugar needed pectin (1.5 packet) | 7 Tablespoons of no sugar needed pectin |
Blackberries | 5 Tablespoons of Regular pectin | 7 Tablespoons of Regular pectin | 10 Tablespoons of Regular pectin |
If gel formation is too strong, due to way too much pectin, the jam becomes stiff, lumpy or granular in texture.
Cooking too long, but not at a high temperature, can boil off water, without breaking the pectin down. This results in jam that is too stiff.
This also occurs if the temperature is too high, for too long, or the jam is not stirred frequently.
Using underripe fruit, which has more pectin than ripe fruit, with the same amount of pectin as the recipe requires for ripe fruit, also makes stiff jellies and jams. FYI, commercial pectin is intended for use with fully ripe (but not overripe) fruit.
Undercooking (it must hit a full rolling boil for ONE minute) or too little pectin or sugar leads to runny jam.
Overheating - that is too high temperatures or uneven heat distribution builds excess heat which causes the pectin to break down. This is why you shouldn't double batches - due to inherently uneven heating of home cookware - commercial canning equipment is design to heat more uniformly.
See this page for step by step directions on how to remake runny jams and jellies.
Pectin is commonly sold in large grocery stores, like Publix and Kroger, housewares sections of stores like local "big box" stores, and online. We have affiliate programs with two suppliers:
No-sugar needed bulk pectin:See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon
See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon
Regular (sugar needed) bulk pectin:
See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon
[ Easy Home Canning Directions] [FAQs - Answers to common questions and problems] [Recommended books about home canning, jam making, drying and preserving!] [Free canning publications to download and print]
Water bath canner with a jar rack
Pressure canners for gas, electric and induction stoves: Presto 23Qt or T-fal 22Qt
Canning scoop (this one is PERFECT)
Ball Blue book (most recent version)
Jars: 8oz canning jars for jams
Farm markets and roadside stands
Road trips and camping resources
Local Honey, apiaries, beekeepers
Consumer fraud and scams information
Home canning supplies at the best prices on the internet!
Maple Syrup Farms, sugarworks, maple syrup festivals
Environmental information and resources
Farms For Your Event for birthday parties, weddings, receptions, business meetings, retreats, etc.
Festivals - local fruit and vegetable festivals
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With this Presto 23 quart pressure canner and pressure cooker, you can "can" everything, fruits, vegetables, jams, jellies, salsa, applesauce, pickles, even meats, soups, stews. Model 01781
You can make jams, jellies, can fruit, applesauce, salsa and pickles with water bath canners, like this Granite Ware 12-Piece Canner Kit, Jar Rack, Blancher, Colander and 5 piece Canning Tool Set