Small Batch Grapefruit Jam Food

SMALL-BATCH GRAPEFRUIT JAM

Steps:

• Place a saucer in your freezer for the wrinkle test, before you begin.
• Prepare the grapefruit: Cut off the top and bottom of a grapefruit and sit flat on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife and starting from the top, cut off the peel along the sides, working your way around until it is all removed. Turn grapefruit over and remove any remaining peel. You should not have any peel or pith left on the fruit.
• While holding the grapefruit over a large bowl, cut between the membranes of the fruit to remove a grapefruit slice. Continue to remove all the slices and give it a gentle squeeze to remove a bit of the juice. Repeat with all the grapefruits.
• Cook the jam: Add the grapefruit and juice to a large, non-reactive, heavy bottomed pot. Add the sugar and stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, over high heat, stirring regularly until the sugar dissolves. Once the mixture reaches a steady rolling boil, allow to continue boiling, testing regularly with the "wrinkle test", until it's set. It will take about 10-15 minutes. You can also monitor using a thermometer. The jam will set somewhere around 220° F., but the exact temperature will vary a bit, depending on your altitude, so verify setting with the wrinkle test.
• Ladle jam into small jars. Cover and refrigerate to use in the short term. Jam will keep several months in the fridge. (*As it is not properly "canned", do not store at room temperature).

SMALL BATCH GRAPEFRUIT JAM

Steps:

• Start by supreming the grapefruit. Do this by cutting the top and bottom off. Then, working from north pole to south, cut the rind off the fruit (you want to expose the interior surface of the fruit). When rind is entirely removed, use the knife to separate the fruit from the membrane of the fruit.
• Collect the naked fruit sections and their juice in a large bowl. Set any seeds you find aside. Bundle them up in a length of cheesecloth. They'll give the jam an extra hit of pectin.
• Once all the fruit is supremed, pour it into a large, non-reactive pot and add the sugar and the cheesecloth bundle containing the seeds. Stir until the sugar begins to dissolve.
• Turn the heat to high and bring the fruit mixture to a boil. Cook at a bubble, stirring regularly, until the jam reaches 220 degrees and passes the plate/sauce/wrinkle test (remove the pot from the heat source while you're testing to prevent scorching).
• When the jam passes these set tests, pour into prepared jars. Apply lids and rings and process in a boiling water bath for ten minutes.
• When time is up, remove jars from canner and let them cool on a folded kitchen towel. When jars are cool to the touch, remove rings and test seals. Store sealed jars in a cool, dark place. Any unsealed jars should be refrigerated and used first.

SMALL BATCH BLACKBERRY JAM

Steps:

• In a non-reactive pan, mash the blackberries with a potato masher. Add the sugar and heat the contents over medium heat, stirring gently, until the sugar is dissolved. Raise the heat to medium-high and boil the mixture until a drop mounds in a chilled dish (this took around 10 minutes for me).
• Pour the jam into a jar and cap the jar tightly. Store in refrigerator. This jam should keep for several weeks.

GRAPEFRUIT MARMALADE

Steps:

• Inspect two 5-ounce jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until marmalade is ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water.
• Thoroughly wash and dry the grapefruits. Run a zester around 2 grapefruits to produce ribbons of zest. Set aside. Cut away thin strips of peel from the other two grapefruits with a sharp paring knife.
• Peel off all remaining outer white parts of the fruit and discard. Cut the grapefruits into wheels. Remove any seeds.
• Put grapefruit wheels and zest strips into a non-reactive saucepan. Add sugar and stir well to cover fruit. Heat over medium-high heat until bubbling, mixing constantly. Smash the heated fruit until it liquefies. Reduce heat to low and cook over a steady boil, stirring often. Remove and discard any persistent white froth that won't disappear after being stirred. Continue to cook for about 10 minutes until marmalade begins to coat the back of a spoon.
• Add zest ribbons and cook for 5 minutes more. Place a small amount of marmalade on a plate and put it in the freezer. Test the consistency after 3 minutes.
• Remove the marmalade from the heat when the freezer sample meets your desired consistency.
• Pack grapefruit jam into hot, sterilized jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a clean knife or thin spatula around the insides of the jars to remove any air bubbles. Wipe rims with a moist paper towel to remove any residue. Top with lids and screw rings on tightly.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars 2 inches apart into the boiling water using a holder. Pour in more boiling water to cover jars by at least 1 inch. Bring to a rolling boil, cover, and process for 10 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and let rest, several inches apart, for 24 hours. Press the center of each lid with a finger to ensure the lid does not move up or down. Remove the rings for storage and store in a cool, dark area.

QUICK GRAPEFRUIT MARMALADE

Steps:

• Slice the grapefruit very very thinly with a sharp knife, into flat slices. then cut these into strips, and cut the strips into smaller bits. Keep all the juice that flows out, if it's a juicy grapefruit.
• Bring 6 cups of water to a boil, and then add the grapefruit slices and juice.
• Keep at a low boil, adding the sugar. Continue boiling for quite some time (20-30 minutes), until it begins getting thicker.
• The tricky part is knowing when to stop boiling. If you wait too long, it will become too thick when it cools. The important thing to know is it thickens a bit when cooling, so you have to stop it before it reaches the desired consistency. I put a porcelain dish in the fridge, then pour a little onto the dish - if it congeals a little, then it's ready.
• Before you bottle it, eat it with bread while it's still warm - it's delicious!
• Pour in any clean bottle, and refrigerate.