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Making Blackcurrant jam, any tips?

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  • 03-07-2015 9:25am
    #1
    juneg
    Registered Users Posts: 1,083 ✭✭✭


    Hi all,
    I have made jam before but I've never made blackcurrant. ( The birds always beat me to it! )

    Anyway I have a bumper crop this year and I am picking and freezing them each day.

    Does anyone have any good tips for making blackcurrant jam?
    I don't want to mess this up seeing as I have spent ages preparing the blackcurrants.

    Many thanks


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    #2
    dee_mc
    Registered Users Posts: 7,181 ✭✭✭dee_mc


    Don't go too mental with the lemon juice or it'll set too much.
    Plenty of saucers in the freezer for setting tests and you'll be grand!


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    #3
    Lemsiper
    Registered Users Posts: 689 ✭✭✭Lemsiper


    Too much lemon juice? Just add some pectinase.


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    #4
    dee_mc
    Registered Users Posts: 7,181 ✭✭✭dee_mc


    Lemsiper wrote: »
    Too much lemon juice? Just add some pectinase.

    Have you tried this? I can't find anything about using it for this purpose, I'm fascinated.


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    #5
    RosyLily
    Registered Users Posts: 2,919 ✭✭✭RosyLily


    Keep a very close eye on it when it's nearing the end of cooking. I left blueberry jam on a bit too long and it went to nothing. Got barely half a jar. Devastated.....haven't been able to make it as nice since.:(


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    #6
    Meath08
    Registered Users Posts: 55 ✭✭Meath08


    Blackcurrants are high in pectin so shouldn't really need lemon juice or added pectin.


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    #7
    Markcheese
    Registered Users Posts: 8,503 ✭✭✭Markcheese


    Does each berry need to be picked over/de stalked - individually - did red currant jam once took forever - wished I'd done jelly -

    Slava ukraini 🇺🇦



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    #8
    Meath08
    Registered Users Posts: 55 ✭✭Meath08


    Markcheese wrote: »
    Does each berry need to be picked over/de stalked - individually - did red currant jam once took forever - wished I'd done jelly -

    I've always done this, takes ages. Wish I knew of a short cut!


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    #9
    0lddog
    Registered Users Posts: 3,292 ✭✭✭0lddog


    What recipe will you be using ?

    As Meath08 says, you shouldnt need pectin.

    Congrats on the early crop, what region are you in ?


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    #10
    Markcheese
    Registered Users Posts: 8,503 ✭✭✭Markcheese


    Gonna just do blackcurrant jelly next time and pass it through a sieve -
    How so they do it industrially ? Can't imagine mr Chiver standing there all driving day -

    Slava ukraini 🇺🇦



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    #11
    katydid
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,351 ✭✭✭katydid


    Lemsiper wrote: »
    Too much lemon juice? Just add some pectinase.

    I have a load of blackcurrants too - going to make jam tomorrow. When I made it last year I didn't use pectin or anything; it set fine.

    I swear by my jam thermometer.


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    #12
    katydid
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,351 ✭✭✭katydid


    0lddog wrote: »
    What recipe will you be using ?

    As Meath08 says, you shouldnt need pectin.

    Congrats on the early crop, what region are you in ?

    I've had a massive crop here in the South East. Both blackcurrant AND gooseberry


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    #13
    0lddog
    Registered Users Posts: 3,292 ✭✭✭0lddog


    katydid wrote: »
    I've had a massive crop here in the South East. Both blackcurrant AND gooseberry

    I'd say mine will be ready towards the end of the month, as usual.


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    #14
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,467 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    I don't have any fruit bushes myself, but I have noticed that the fraughan bushes up in the hills seem to have some, albeit small, fruit on them already which is quite early. Should be a good season for them.


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    #15
    katydid
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,351 ✭✭✭katydid


    Alun wrote: »
    I don't have any fruit bushes myself, but I have noticed that the fraughan bushes up in the hills seem to have some, albeit small, fruit on them already which is quite early. Should be a good season for them.
    What are fruaghans?


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    #16
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,467 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    katydid wrote: »
    What are fruaghans?
    Fraughan or Fraocháin is the Irish name for wild bilberries.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilberry


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    #17
    katydid
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,351 ✭✭✭katydid


    Alun wrote: »
    Fraughan or Fraocháin is the Irish name for wild bilberries.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilberry
    Ah right, thanks, never heard the name


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