Grape Jam Recipes

LOW-SUGAR GRAPE JAM

Steps:

• Start by preparing jars and getting water in the canner heating. You want the canner hot, but not boiling, when the jars are ready to be processed.See full water bath canning instructions here.

OLD FASHIONED GRAPE JAM (NO PECTIN ADDED)

Steps:

• Seed grapes as discussed above by squeezing the grape flesh out of the skin and then cooking the pulp down. Put the pulp through a fine mesh strainer and then re-combine the filtered pulp with the grape skins.
• Add the skins and pulp into a saucepan along with the sugar and cook the mixture until it reaches gel stage, about 10-15 minutes. Experienced jam makers can watch for when the type of bubbles change and take on a glossy look. To be sure, test the consistency on a plate that's kept in the freezer or with a candy thermometer.
• Pour the jam into prepared canning jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Store in the refrigerator for immediate use, or process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow the jars to sit in the canner for an additional 5 minutes before removing them to cool on a towel on the counter.
• Allow the jars to rest for 24 to 48 hours to completely gel.

GRAPE JAM USING GRAPE MASH (GRAPE MUST)

Steps:

• Put a couple of spoons in the freezer. You'll use these later to test the jam for gelling.
• Prepare a water bath canner by filling it about 2/3 of the way full with water.
• Wash the jars and lids in hot soapy water. Keep the jars hot until you need them.
• Mix the grape mash, sugar, and lemon juice together in a stainless steel stock pot. Bring the jam to a boil and then cook over medium heat until it gels. If you have a lot of liquid in the grape mash it will take a while.
• Stir the mixture often to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the pan, as the liquid evaporates its more likely that the jam will stick.
• To test the jam to see if it's going to gel when it cools, get one of the spoons you put in the freezer earlier. Dip the back of the spoon into the jam. Give it just a moment and then touch the jam, if it has gelled on the spoon it will gel in the jar when it cools off. If it's still runny, it needs to cook down more.
• When the jam is cooked down and ready to be jarred, put the jars on a kitchen towel on the counter and ladle the hot grape jam into the hot jars. When the jars are full, wipe the rims with a damp cloth, and add the lids and bands.
• There's no need to put the bands on super duper tight, just put it on like you would put a lid on the mayonnaise before putting it in the refrigerator.
• Put the filled jars in the water bath canner and turn the heat up. Once the water starts to boil, set the timer for 10 minutes adjusting for altitude - this is the processing time.
• When the jars are finished processing, remove them from the water bath canner and put them on a kitchen towel on the counter. Let them cool.
• After 12 hours or overnight, remove the the bands from the jars and test the seals. If any jar failed to seal, put it in the refrigerator and use first. Store the sealed jars in the pantry.

GRAPE JELLY

Steps:

• Tip the grapes into a large saucepan set over a low heat, then cover and leave to gently cook for 5 mins until the juices start to run. Take a potato masher or fork and mash up the grapes. Leave to cook for about 10 mins more, mashing every now and again until the grapes are falling apart. Place a clean tea towel or kitchen cloth in a sieve set over a bowl, then pour the grape mixture into this. Let the mixture drip through for at least 1 hr or preferably overnight.
• Measure out the juice (you should have about 600ml) and pour it into a pan along with the sugar and lemon juice. Set the pan over a high heat and bring to the boil. Skimming any scum as it boils, let the mixture bubble until the temperature reaches 105C on a sugar thermometer. If you don't have one, put a small plate in the freezer for 5 mins, then pour a little of the juice onto the cold saucer. After 1 min, run your finger through; if the jam wrinkles slightly, it's ready. Pour the hot jam into a sterilised jar. Will keep unopened for up to 3 months.

CONCORD GRAPE JAM

Steps:

• Sterilize jars:
• Wash jars, lids, and screw bands in hot, soapy water, then rinse well. Dry screw bands. Put jars on a rack in canner or deep pot and add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, covered, then boil for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, leaving jars in water. Heat lids in water to cover by 2 inches in a small saucepan until thermometer registers 180°F (do not let boil). Remove from heat, leaving lids in water. Keep the jars and lids submerged in hot water, covered, until ready to use.
• Cook jam:
• Chill 2 small plates (for testing jam).
• Slip skins from grapes and purée skins with 1 cup sugar in a food processor, then transfer to a 4- to 6-quart wide heavy pot. Stir in lemon juice, peeled grapes, and remaining 4 cups sugar and boil over moderate heat, stirring frequently and skimming foam, until pulp is broken down, about 20 minutes. Force jam through food mill set over a large bowl. Discard remaining solids. Return jam to pot and cook at a slow boil, skimming foam occasionally and stirring frequently as mixture thickens to prevent scorching, 35 minutes, then test for doneness.
• To test jam, remove from heat, then drop a teaspoonful on a chilled plate and chill 1 minute. Tilt plate: Jam should remain in a mound and not run. If jam runs, continue cooking at a slow boil, testing every 5 minutes, until done, up to 25 minutes more.
• Seal, process, and store jars:
• Drain jars upside down on a clean kitchen towel 1 minute, then invert. Ladle jam into jars, leaving 1/4 inch of space at top. Wipe off rims of filled jars with a clean damp kitchen towel, then top with lids and firmly screw on screw bands. Put sealed jars on rack in canner or pot and add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, covered, then boil 10 minutes. With tongs, transfer jars to a towel-lined surface to cool.
• Jars will seal; if you hear a ping, it signals that vacuum formed at the top of cooling preserves has made lid concave. Remember that you may or may not be around to hear that ping (some jars make the sound after you remove them from water, and others in same batch may take a few hours); the important thing is for jars to eventually have concave lids. Preserves will thicken as they cool.
• After jars have cooled 12 to 24 hours, press center of each lid to check that it's concave, then remove screw band and try to lift off lid with your fingertips. If you can't, lid has a good seal. Replace screw band. Put any jars that haven't sealed properly in the refrigerator and use them first.

GRAPE JELLY

Steps:

• Combine fruit and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook, partially covered, mashing occasionally with a potato masher, until fruit is very soft, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer mixture to a fine sieve set over a heatproof bowl; let drain without pressing on fruit, 4 hours. Strain again through sieve lined with damp cheesecloth. Measure juice; you will have 3 to 4 cups.
• In a large heavy-bottomed pot, bring juice to a boil. Add 3/4 cup sugar for each cup of juice. Add lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Return to a boil and cook, stirring frequently, 8 to 12 minutes. To test if jelly is done, dip a large metal spoon in, lift it horizontally above pot, and let mixture drip back in. Jelly is done when mixture has thickened slightly and drops of it slide together off spoon in a sheet. (Temperature should register 221 degrees on a candy thermometer.) Skim foam from top.
• Ladle jelly into clean containers, leaving 3/4 inch of headroom. Let cool completely. Cover, label, and refrigerate up to 1 month, or freeze up to 1 year.

GRAPE JELLY

Steps:

• Sterilize and dry jars for jelly, and set side. I like to use my dishwasher. New lids are recommended for best results.
• Combine grape juice and pectin in a large pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, and stir one minute at a rolling boil. Stir in sugar for a few minutes to completely dissolve. Remove from heat.
• Ladle the hot jelly into the jars, leaving 1/2 inch of space at the top. Wipe rims of jars with a clean dry cloth. Cover with a lid and ring to seal. Let stand 24 hours at room temperature, then refrigerate. Jelly may take up to a week to set. Once set, it is ready to serve. Store in the refrigerator for up to three weeks, once set. If canning for long term storage, process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes, or contact your local extension for processing times in your area.

BASIC JAM

Steps:

• Stir together fruit, sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large heavy-bottomed pot. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved and mashing fruit with a potato masher. Add lemon juice; continue to boil, stirring frequently, until bubbles slow, chunks of fruit show at top, and mixture clings to a spoon but falls off in clumps, 10 to 12 minutes. Skim foam from top.
• Ladle jam into clean containers, leaving 3/4 inch of headroom. Let cool completely. Cover, label, and refrigerate up to 1 month, or freeze up to 1 year.

SURE.JELL CONCORD GRAPE JAM

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 well before filling.
• Slip skins from grapes. Finely chop or grind skins; set aside. Mix grape pulp and water in saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 5 min. Press through sieve to remove seeds. Combine skins and pulp. Measure exactly 6 cups prepared fruit into 6- or 8-qt. saucepot.
• Stir in pectin. 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 sugar. 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 10 min. Remove jars and place upright on 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.)

GRAPE JELLY

Steps:

• First make the grape juice using clean washed grapes.
• To 3 1/2 pounds of clean grapes add 1 1/2 cups water.
• Bring to a boil and simmer covered for 10 minutes.
• Strain and squeeze out all of the juice with a jelly cloth, or whatever means you have.
• In a very big pan, put 5 cups of the juice.
• Add the fruit pectin to the juice.
• Mix well.
• On high heat, bring to a full rolling boil, and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Stir in sugar all at once, and bring back to a full rolling boil, again boil hard for 1 minute stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat, skim off foam and pour into hot jars.
• If using paraffin, pour hot paraffin in on top of jelly.
• Or seal with canning lids.

GRAPE JAM

Steps:

• Remove the skins from the pulp and set them aside.
• Place grape pulp in stainless jelly pot with water.
• Bring to boil and simmer 5 minutes.
• Strain to remove the seeds.
• Chop the skins and add to the cooked pulp.
• Measure out 5 cups of the grape pulp mixture and return the pulp to jelly pot.
• Add sugar and butter.
• Heat on medium heat until sugar is melted, then adjust to high heat.
• Heat and stir to full rolling boil that will not stop.
• Add 1 pouch Certo and return to full rolling boil at high heat.
• Boil exactly one minute stirring constantly.
• Fill jars to 1/8 inch from the top.
• Seal with lids.
• Invert jars for 5 minutes.