Black Cherry Jam Conserve Method Recipes

BC CHERRY JAM

Steps:

• Place cherries, apple juice, lemon juice, and pectin into a large saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil, and mix in the sugar. Cook the jam at a rolling boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and skim off any foam.
• Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack the cherry jam into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/4 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 over high heat, then carefully lower the jars into the pot using a holder. Leave a 2 inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary until the water level is at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a full boil, cover the pot, and process for 15 minutes, or the time as recommended by your county Extension agent.
• 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). Store in a cool, dark area.

BLACK CHERRY JAM - CONSERVE METHOD

Steps:

• Stone the cherries. This is best done with a cherry stoner. Make sure the stone is removed from each fruit.
• One third of the fruit - about two cups into quarters
• Put in a bowl cover with sugar add lemon juice. Stir. Cover and leave.
• Cook at a rolling boil until setting point of 105C and test by placing a teaspoon onto a frozen plate. If it sets, the jam is ready to be transferred to sterilized jars.

BLACK BING CHERRY PRESERVES

Steps:

• Combine the cherries and sugar in a large, heavy, shallow, non-reactive saucepan.
• Set aside to plump, several hours or as long as overnight.
• Add the water to the cherries and bring to a boil.
• Cook for 5 minutes; then add the lemon juice and boil rather fast until the juice has thickened like jelly and a candy thermometer reads 221*F.
• Remove pan from heat and allow the preserves to sit overnight, covered; refrigerate them, if you'd rather.
• The next day, reheat the preserves to the boiling point and spoon them into hot, sterilized canning jars and seal.
• Store in the refrigerator, or (better) in the freezer.

FRESH APRICOT AND CHERRY FRUIT PRESERVES

Steps:

• 1. Place a small plate in the freezer for testing if jam is ready later on. 2. Add prepped fruit, sugar, and lemon juice to a large pot . 3. Turn the heat on to medium high, and bring jam to a rolling boil for one minute. While waiting for jam to come to a boil, make sure that all sugar crystals are dissolved from the sides of the pot using a pastry brush that has been dipped in water. 4. Reduce heat, and let the jam simmer gently for approximately 30 minutes (This process could take longer for fruit that naturally contains less pectin.) Skim off any foam that rises to the surface with a ladle. NOTE: Jam continues to set as it cools, so a jam that is ready will appear thickened, yet it will not be nearly as thick as the final product. 5. While the jam is simmering, place washed and dried jars (without the lids) on a lined baking tray, and heat at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes. This is done to kill off any lingering bacteria that could cause jam to spoil later on. 6. When the jam has visibly thickened and appears gelled, turn the flame off, and place a spoonful of jam on the frozen plate. Return the plate to the freezer or fridge for a couple of minutes until cooled. Run finger through the cooled jam, or drop off of a spoon to check for the desired consistency. 7. If you feel the jam is done, you are ready to fill your still warm sterilized jars with the hot jam (with oven mitts, and over your paper-lined tray!), fit with lids, and process. If it is not ready, cook for a couple more minutes and repeat the test. 8. To process: Place a dessert plate upside down on the bottom of a large pot. Fill the pot ⅔rd the way full with water (you can always remove some later if you think the jars will cause it to overflow.) 9. Place on a high flame and bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn down to a gentle simmer, and carefully add up to 4 jars at a time with tongs. The water should cover the jars completely. 10. Let the filled jars simmer for 5-6 minutes to pasteurize, and help the vacuum lids form their seal. 11. After 5-6 minutes, carefully remove the jars from the water, and place on your counter. Let sit until cool. During the cooling process the lids should make a loud popping sound as they seal. If one of the lids fails to seal, it can be removed, reclosed, and processed once again in the water bath within 24 hours. 12. Label and share with family and friends!

EASY CHERRY JAM

Steps:

• Put two saucers in the freezer for testing the jam later on. Tip the cherries, sugar and lemon juice into a large, heavy-based saucepan and simmer uncovered over a medium-high heat for 35-50 mins, stirring frequently until thick and glossy.
• After 35 mins, spoon a little of the jam onto one of the chilled saucers. Leave for 1 min, press a fingertip into the jam. If it starts the wrinkle, it's ready. If it slides away, continue to boil the jam for 10 mins, then test again on the other saucer.
• Spoon the jam into sterilised jars and seal. Will keep for six months unopened (when stored in a dark, cool place), or opened in the fridge for three months.

CANNING CHERRY JAM

Steps:

• Place lids into the warmed mini slow cooker and prepare jars and canner.
• Sort and wash fully ripe cherries; remove any stems, leaves, and pits.
• Coarsely chop cherries into larger pieces, add to a non-reactive pot.
• Allow the cherries to come to boil, stirring the cherries often. Using a potato musher, press down on the cherries to extract their natural juices.
• Add pectin and stir well.
• On high heat stir the cherries continually, bring the cherry mixture to a hard boil.
• Stir in the sugar or sweetener of choice and return to a full bubbling boil. Allow the black cherry jam to hard boil for 2 minutes, making sure to stir constantly.
• Remove from heat and skim any foam which is present.
• Using a jar funnel and ladle, fill jars leaving a 1/4-inch headspace.
• Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean dishtowel dipped in water.
• Add warmed lids and rings to finger tight.
• Follow the instruction for processing jars in a steam or hot water bath canner using the processing time based on the altitude which you reside. See the chart for the correct processing time in the original post.