Mixed Berry Quick Jam Recipes

EASIEST MIXED BERRY JAM

Steps:

• Chop the frozen fruit from each bag into pea-sized chunks (you can mash the thawed fruit with a potato masher if you prefer larger fruit chunks in your jam - I don't, I like jam that has a chunky texture, but spreads easily).
• In a large pot, combine fruit and sugar.
• Bring mixture quickly over high heat to the gelling point (it actually takes quite a while, in excess of ten minutes - and stir constantly, or fruit will stick to the bottom and burn).
• After fruit has reached the gelling point (thick enough to slide, as one 'flake', from a cold spoon), remove from heat.
• Ladle into sterilized jars, apply seals and rings, and process for 15 minutes, with whole jars submerged at least 1-2 inches under boiling water.
• That's it! Six bags, six cups. Chop, mix, boil to the gelling point, fill jars, process, DONE, all in less than an hour.
• NOTE: the Ball Blue Book calls for 9 cups of "berries" (i.e., blackberries, young berries, dew berries, etc.,) - six 12 oz. bags of mixed berries yields slightly less, but approximately that much.

MIXED BERRY QUICK JAM

Steps:

• Place the berries (either thawed or fresh) and lemon juice in a medium saucepan & muddle until they are a crushed, liquid consistency.
• Heat over medium, stir in pectin & heat to a rolling boil that you can not stir down.
• Add sugar, stirring well - bring back to a rolling boil & hold there for 1 minute.
• Remove & transfer to clean, sterile jars.
• Store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

MIXED BERRY JAM FROM FROZEN BERRIES - SMALL BATCH

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients in a large saucepan, and let stand for at least one hour as the fruit defrosts. This can be overnight.
• If using the wrinkle test for the setting point, place a couple of side plates in the freezer.
• Heat the mixture on a very low heat to allow the sugar to dissolve and the fruit to release its juice. Stir gently occasionally.
• Heat jam jars in a low oven to sterilize at 100°C/220°F/Gas Mark 1.
• Once all the sugar has dissolved, turn up the hob and heat the jam quickly to a rolling boil. After a couple of minutes, start testing the jam's set using your favourite method.