Food Prep - Making Grape Jelly Part 2

We already have made our grape juice, so let's jump right in to making the jelly :)

Grape Jelly 1h.jpg

Prepare Jars

Once jars are ready, I measure the juice into the big pot...

Grape Jelly 1i.jpg

Ratios

Grapes also have natural pectin, so we can add some, or we can bring it to the gel point and reduce. Check your altitude for the correct gel temperature. Here at 9000 ft it is 200* F.

I prefer to add pectin, because grapes can be fickle. You never know how much pectin they have until you are waiting, reducing, waiting, reducing...doing gel checks...then reducing some more.

For this recipe, we will need 1 C grape juice to 3/4 C sugar. And if you choose to add it, 1 T pectin per C juice.

I have 9 C juice, so will add 6 3/4 C sugar and 9 T pectin, all at once over medium low heat. (and I add my pad of butter ;) Do not add butter if you are not adding pectin. If you do you will end up with good grape syrup.

I also add in about 1/4 t lemon juice. I like to cut the sweet flavor slightly.

Grape Jelly 1k.jpg

Once the sugar is melted in, turn the heat up to med high, and stay nearby to stir and check the temp...

Grape Jelly 1l.jpg

We do not use ice, so never have any... Instead I stick my spoon rest in the freezer, then I dip a small spoon in the jelly and set it on the frozen rest... You can hopefully see, the jelly is almost at gel stage. Once it is, as soon as it cools on the spoon it will be gelled when I put my finger in it.

Grape Jelly 1m.jpg

Just keep the jelly on the heat a while longer...let it reduce a bit, then gel test again. Using pectin I generally only need to gel check twice. At lower altitudes it seems to gel better, but it worked here with a little coaxing.

Once it gels well, then fill the jars, wipe rims, add warmed lids and bands...

Process

Jelly is a water bath...so check your times. It is 30 minutes at our altitude for 1/2 pint jars.

Grape Jelly 1n.jpg

When they come out of the water bath, let them sit for at least 12 hours. Then they should all have gelled and lids should be popped.

And now, after a week of solid canning, I am pooped. I still have peaches to do tomorrow...but then I need a break so I can get some work done, haha. I need to make journals, and hair forks...edit photos, finish some custom work...so much to do!

Thank you for reading :)...I hope you enjoyed!

This is a {Steemit Original} All words and photos by Elew