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Gooseberries.

cowslip2cowslip2 Posts: 137
in Problem solving
Help with hearing aids we have had. So good. How about Gooseberry Jam? For some reason we have had trouble setting the jam. Seems a joke but twelve jars of "Anything but set" jam!. Oh dear, Oh dear. Any advice greatly appreciated. We deserve some sarcasm I guess.

Posts

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    My jam making bible says 1 and a quarter pints of water, 4lbs of gooseberries and 5 lbs of sugar. No additional pectin or lemon juice needed, so perhaps it just needs boiling for longer. Did you test for setting point or use a jam thermometer?
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    I use this recipe, which always works but I do have to boil it for much longer than it says!
    https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/gooseberry-jam


    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • joy.wheeliesjoy.wheelies Posts: 1

    I've made Gooseberry and elderflower jam recently with mine.  Didn’t think it was ever going to set, added tspn of lemon juice and it set almost immediately.
    However I did not use as much sugar as Buttercupdays. I only had 500g and used 300g sugar. After cooling slightly, as per my recipe, I then added the elderflower cordial.
    Hope yours set eventually. 

    I'm looking forward to eating mine very soon.

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    My 'bible' dates from 1947. It gives comprehensive detail on the whys and wherefores at every stage and has always worked for me.
    However it is quite possible that newer, sweeter varieties of gooseberry contain less pectin than the old ones and so the additional lemon juice helped to restore the balance, Another possibility is that they have simply ripened more this year than usual. I know that mine are normally a little on the green, harder side here, when I finally give in and harvest them :)
  • cowslip2cowslip2 Posts: 137
    Thank you all. Lots of help. Will try again with lemon. Old fashioned way of testing, Buttercupdays, drop on saucer on a cold slab. Suspicion gooseberries may have been a tod on the ripe side, which wouldn't have helped!
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