My Jam Didn't Set! What Should I Do? (2024)

FAQs

My Jam Didn't Set! What Should I Do? ›

For each quart of jam or jelly to be fixed, mix 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup water or white grape juice, 2 tablespoons bottled lemon juice, and 4 teaspoons powdered pectin in a large pot. So, if you made a batch of jam and have 10 eight-ounce jars that didn't set, that would be an average batch (10 cups or 2.5 quarts).

Add pectin.

While this trick won't work for jam recipes that already call for pectin, adding pectin to a loose batch of jam while re-cooking it almost guarantees that the jam with set back up nicely. Whisk a tablespoon of powdered pectin (preferably the no-sugar-needed variety) into the pot of cooking jam.

Warm the jam gently and add tablespoon or two of water to help to loosen up the mixture. It is difficult to give the exact amount of water as the size of jars vary and the level of set can be different, but aim for a consistency that is just slightly thinner than the warmed jam.

It may be because there is not enough pectin and acid in the mixture. Or it may be because the temperature of 104C was not reached when cooking.

Remaking runny freezer jam can seem like a pain, but it it worth the results. You have probably have already invested a good amount of money into fresh ingredients. We prefer using Certo Liquid Fruit Pectin when fixing runny freezer jam.

If the jam is still liquid then we don't particularly recommend reboiling. It can be tried but there is a risk that the jam becomes over boiled, which also means that it will not set. The jam can also burn much more easily when reboiled. The thin jam can be repurposed as a sweet chilli sauce.

Lemon is crucial to balancing those sweet flavors, but it also helps the pectin to firm up the jam. It can be added at the start of the cooking process or towards the end, but what must be taken into account is that adding liquids to the jam mixture will inevitably require the jam to cook for longer.

Once the jam is done cooking, it may look a little thin, but just remember that it will thicken in the fridge as it cools. For a thicker version (good for fruits that are low in pectin, like blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and peaches), add a tablespoon of pectin powder.

If it isn't scorched though, here are some ideas to try: Slowly heat it in the microwave a few seconds at a time and then use it as usual. If it is still too thick, add some water while heating it in the microwave and then use it as a delicious and unusual pancake or ice cream syrup.

Remove pot from heat and divide jam into sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch of space at the top. Seal and transfer jars into a boiling water bath. Make sure jars are covered with at least 1 inch of water; let sit for 5 minutes. Lift jars and let them cool in a draft-free place without touching, 8 hours to overnight.

Why did my homemade jam go hard? ›

If, on the other hand, the jam is rock solid, that means you've gone too far and cooked it too long. You can try adding a little water to thin it out, but bear in mind that after overcooking a jam, you can't really get those fresh fruit flavors back.

You will need approximately half the amount of pectin that is indicated by your recipe. Please be careful when adding pectin as too much will leave you with a set that is too solid and it is not possible to rectify this so always add less than you think is necessary and test the set and then add more if required.

1) The Saucer Test

Once you think that your jam has reached its setting point or has thickened, spoon a bit of the jam on the cold plate and tilt it vertically so the jam runs. You are aiming for a slow descent, not a runny mess. If it runs slow, it's set!

If the fruit you are using has low pectin levels, then you can add some more pectin and reboil the jam. Pectin is available in both powdered and liquid forms. Read the instructions on the packet to give quantities, add all the jam to a saucepan and stir in the pectin. Clean and re-prepare the jam jars.

If you do encounter a situation where your jam doesn't set up and is too soft or runny, don't despair! A really easy fix is to just boil another package of pectin and add it to the jam! It will still taste great.

Once the jam cools, you'll be able to see its final texture. If it's too loose, you can always cook it more or simply refrigerate it, which will firm it too.

Heat small amounts of jam in the microwave, a few seconds at a time, and then use as you would normally. If it's still too thick, add some water while heating in the microwave, and then use it as an unusual pancake or ice cream syrup.

It can be saved with a gentle rewarming to melt all the crystals. Either heat over the stove or even just in the microwave, depending on the quality of the jam. Also, using a fresh jar that has no buildup of crystals on the walls will further prevent the recrystallization of the jam.

Once the jam is done cooking, it may look a little thin, but just remember that it will thicken in the fridge as it cools. For a thicker version (good for fruits that are low in pectin, like blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and peaches), add a tablespoon of pectin powder.

Here's a simple rule of thumb: When using powdered pectin for cooked jam, add it to the strained juice or chopped fruit BEFORE heating. Next, bring the mixture to a full rolling boil (a boil that cannot be stirred down). THEN add the sugar. Bring to a boil again and boil for 1 minute.