Making Jams, Marmalades and other Conserves

[LimeSlice]

Now there is a good point -where can I get jars from? I don't use many jars to begin with, so don't get empty ones often and nobody to save them for me...can you buy small jam jars online or something?

I want to do some preserved fruits...

[StrawberryMumma]

Hey Alexis

Don't know if you are heading to perth anytime soon, but I have bought some jars from a company called Plasdene (they are in canning vale).

[thepixie]

I got mine at a catering supplies shop. They were about $1.30 each from memory.

[LimeSlice]

Aceness Thanks girls!

[Nadine216]

This is my project for NEXT year Christmas. Making preserves .. grandma style.

[Trillian]

If you want to do proper conserves then you really need a good set of vacola jars. Otherwise you can just reuse ordinary jars - jam jars, sauces (kantong, leggos pasta sauces etc). You can use the lids that come with them, but for years and years my nan only ever used parafin wax to seal them and then covered with plastic held in place with a rubber band.

[Bathsheba]

Yep, you can use any jar that has a metal lid that seals properly... ideally with a seal indicator. You can't use jars that have plastic lids. Remember to boil them first for at least 10 minutes. Drip dry them upturned on clean cake racks on the cleaned sink, DON'T use a tea towel on the inside of the jars. Better for a tiny bit of boiled water to be inside as you pour in the boiling jam than germs introduced by fingers or a tea-towel. This is how I do it anyhow. I love the sight of rows of cooling jarred jams etc.

ETA: invest in a good set of metal tongs... long ones... to get the jars out of the boiling water... use a clean oven mit to transfer them to the racks. Try to pour in the jam using a sterilised metal funnel as soon as possible. ETA: alternatively (especially if you are short on water) you can wash the jars in warm soapy water, rinse, then sterilise in a hot (200'C) oven for 10 minutes.

[thepixie]

Or use an electric steriliser - the one you use for your baby bottles! That's what I do