Homemade Apple Jelly Without Pectin Food

HOMEMADE APPLE JELLY WITHOUT PECTIN

Steps:

• Mix together the apple juice, lemon juice, and sugar in a stock pot.
• Bring the mixture to a boil, constantly stirring.
• Continue to cook the mixture, constantly stirring, until the mixture reaches a temperature of 220° with a candy thermometer. If the jelly hasn't begun to gel once it's reached 220°, you may need to cook it just a little bit longer.*
• Remove the jelly from the heat, and promptly ladle or pour into clean and sanitized/sterilized jars for canning or freezing. Be sure to leave about a 1/2-inch gap at the top of each jar.
• Wipe the rim of each jar with a wet towel or rag, place the lid on, and tighten the band.
• At this point, you can either can the apple jelly or freeze it. I prefer water bath canning apple jelly, where I place the hot jars down in a boiling hot water bath canner with 1-2 inches of water over the jars. Then we process those jars in the hot water bath for about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Once canned, allow your jelly to sit undisturbed for 24 hours before labeling and storing in your pantry.

APPLE OR PEAR JAM

Steps:

• Place a small plate in the refrigerator to chill. (You'll use this later.)
• In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, cover fruit and any add-ins (see note) with 4 cups/960 milliliters of water. Bring to a strong simmer over medium-high heat. Cook until water is reduced by about 3/4, and fruit is soft and tender (or even falling apart slightly), 20 to 30 minutes.
• Add sugar and continue to cook, stirring occasionally at first and more frequently as the jam cooks and juices thicken until most of the liquid has evaporated and the fruit has really started to break down, another 30 to 40 minutes.
• As the jam cooks, the liquid reduces, the sugars thicken and the natural pectins activate. You'll notice the liquid go from a rapid, rolling boil with smaller bubbles to a slow, thick, tarlike boil with larger bubbles: This is the stage at which it's most important to stir constantly along the bottom of the pot to prevent scorching and sticking. (Sugar is heavier than water and will concentrate there, increasing any chance of the fruit burning.) It's also the stage at which splattering may occur, so take care in stirring.
• When the jam reaches a slow, thick boil, add lemon juice and incorporate any of the add-ins and continue to cook, stirring constantly until the jam has returned to its previously thickened state, about another 5 minutes. At this stage, the jam should look like a coarse, shiny applesauce. But if you'd really like to be sure, spoon a bit of jam onto the chilled plate, return it to the refrigerator and chill for 2 minutes. Drag your finger through it: It should hold its shape on either side without appearing watery or runny. If it doesn't, cook it a few minutes more.
• Using a spoon or other utensil, pick out any spices or vanilla beans. Divide between jars, leaving 1/4 inch of space from the top of the jar, and seal immediately. Can the jams (see our How to Make Jam guide for more instruction), or store in the refrigerator, using them up within a couple of weeks.

APPLE JELLY

Steps:

• Place apples in a large pot; cover with water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover, and simmer until apples are slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Crush cooked apples and simmer for 5 more minutes.
• Transfer crushed apples to a sieve or cheesecloth. Let drip into a bowl until all liquid has drained, pressing gently to release all the juice. Measure 5 cups apple juice, adding water if necessary to have exact amount. Stir sugar into juice; add butter to reduce foaming.
• Bring juice mixture to a rolling boil, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin; boil for exactly 1 minute to dissolve pectin, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off excess foam with a metal spoon.
• Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Ladle apple jam into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/8 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids, and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars into the boiling water using a holder. Leave a 2-inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary to bring the water level to at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a rolling boil, cover the pot, and process for 5 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours. Store in a cool, dark area. Refrigerate opened jellies for up to 3 weeks.

APPLE JELLY RECIPE

Steps:

• Bring boiling-water canner, half full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain jars well before filling.
• Remove stems and blossom ends from apples. Cut apples into small pieces. (Do not peel or core.) Place in large saucepan; add water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 5 min., stirring occasionally. Crush cooked apples; cover and simmer 5 min. Place 3 layers of damp cheesecloth or a jelly bag in large bowl. Pour prepared fruit into cheesecloth. Tie cheesecloth closed; hang and let drip into bowl until dripping stops. Press gently. Measure exactly 5 cups prepared juice into 6- or 8-qt. saucepot.
• Stir sugar into juice in saucepot. Add butter to reduce foaming. Bring mixture to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 min., stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.
• Ladle immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.) Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 5 min. Remove jars and place upright on a towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middles of lids with finger. (If lids spring back, lids are not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)

APPLE JELLY

Steps:

• Using the apple peels and cores from approximately 20 apples, place in large pot and cover with water.
• Bring to a boil and continue cooking for 1-1/2 to 2 hours until liquid is reduced by half and cores are mushy.
• Strain the liquid from the fruit and press fruit to extract all the remaining liquid. Measure this liquid and return to your large pot.
• Add the Sure Jell Pectin according to the package for the amoundtof liquid you have. Add sugar and stir on high boil for 1-2 minutes.
• Carefully ladel into sterilized canning jars, place flats and rings on and process in water bath for 5-10 minutes.

APPLE PECTIN FROM SCRATCH

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with quartered unpeeled apples, and then add just enough water to almost cover.
• Place on med-low heat stirring occasionally until the apples are fully cooked.
• Strain through a cheese cloth tied over a large container.
• (Secure by a cord tied around the rim.) Pour the hot apple mixture into the strainer, cover and let set overnight Do not press as this will turn the pectin cloudy.
• Collect the clear thick liquid To test the strength of the pectin, pour a little bit of rubbing alcohol into a glass and then drop in a spoonful of cold pectin.
• The pectin will coagulate into a jelly-like mass.
• If this can be picked up with a fork it is concentrated enough.
• If it cannot be picked up by the fork then the concentration is too weak.
• Boil it down to increase the concentration.
• Test again To use: Use 4-6 tbls.
• of homemade pectin for every 1 cup of prepared juice.
• Use equal amounts juice/pectin and sugar to make jelly.
• Place juice/pectin sugar in a large pan and place over med-high heat.
• Stir constantly to keep it from burning to the bottom of the pan.
• After the jelly comes to a full, rolling boil, let it do so for about a minute.
• To test, dip a large spoon into jelly mixture and then hold it over the pot sideways.
• If the jelly falls off the spoon in a sheet rather than a drop it is ready.
• Bring it to a vigorous boil on high heat.
• Remove from heat and bottle in hot sterilized jars.