I have decided that it will be a lot easier to spend $40.00 and go down to the local grocery store and buy my jam.
I must have $100.00 in jam making so far.
And I must be jinked as to getting my jam to set. Never again.

How do you get $100 in making jam? Are you buying the fuit?

My wife started making jam last summer. She says some fruit has enough pectin in it to set on its own, and some fruit needs pectin added to set. Last year she made jam with American Plum from our land. Then this spring she did mulberry jam. We got 12 lb of mulberries one day and 16 lb a couple weeks later. She also made jam from currants, though we got less than 1 lb of currants. I don't think she's spent much money on the jam. But I did buy another tarp for harvesting mulberries. So that's $25.

I make 2-3 batches per year with frozen fruit. I use the no or less sugar product and because my fruits are pretty juicey I use double the amount and it works very well.
I use equal parts tart cherry, raspberry, strawberry and rhubarb and then brown sugar.,

Bryce

Well, I spent $45.00 on peaches. Most of the recipes called for 7 cups of sugar and I had to buy pectin.
And I had to deal with 84 peaches. . My buddy's wife told me I didn't have to peal the peaches when making jam. Because the peelings have a lot of pectin in them. But I'm not going to do this again.
I talked to my next-door neighbor and I'm going to have her make my jam.
I'm going to buy the peaches and everything else she needs, and she Is going to make the jam for me.

Work smarter not harder.

Biggest problem with not having the jam set up is not cooking to the required temperature and not adding enough Sure Gel. It is always best to add more than it calls for. You can re cook the jam that hasnt set up and add more sure gel. I always peeled our peaches some choose not too. Just blanche them in boiling water briefly and they peel easily.

I am still eating jam from 3 years ago. Still as good as ever.

Getting set up for the first time will be an investment. Buying jars, rings and seals then the cost of the fruit, sugar and sure gel. Jars can be saved from season to season. Some simple canning funnels, pressure cooker / water bath pot and kitchen utensils. Rings are reusable but need new rings for each new batch.

You can leave the skin on peaches when canning them too. They are better that way and much less work.

Last year, we put up 2 1/2 bushels from peaches I bought and a small amount more from peaches I grew. I gave a lot out and ate all the rest. I ran out a few weeks ago. I should put up at least 3 bushels of peaches this year.

Keith

peaches dont have a lot of pectin even with the skins

Freezer jam is what I like. Tastes more like fresh fruit and easier to cut back on sugar and still set up.

Since red raspberries are in season @ the same time as peaches, in some areas. I used to make a jelly of half of each in the jam, or jelly recipe.
Makes an awesome flavor , and gives you more options if you mix juices.

Bobs jam is tasty . Bob sent me some and it is mouth watering .

if it has sugar added I basically can't eat it , so I hear ya my patients for anything baked good , or high sugar is not there any more.


time is better spent fishing and eating fish , no sugar in fish.

I'm with you beav...just cause you CAN do something doesn't mean you SHOULD, , lol

I don't use a lot of jam or jelly, I just buy what I need, cheaper than buying supplies, jars etc...and I don't have to do the work....Jam is cheap in the store...

I hear you load and clear.
BUT I just made some strawberry freezer jam and It's already setting up. But I'm not changing my mind for next year.

And Bob does make some super great peach jam. And his home-made vanilla makes It even better. Thanks again Bob.

I've made some jelly in the past that didn't set up. Used it poured over my ice cream. So last summer I had extra raspberries didn't bother making jam or jelly. Just made syrup for my ice cream. I also dump some in can of sprite or 7up use it that way. Like that too.
Wife has raspberries starting to ripped right now. What she dont use for pies or something I will make more syrup.
Way the weathers been. Unless something happens going to be big crop of elderberry. Road side plants here are full of blossoms right now


Mac