Plum Jelly (with added pectin)

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    This version of Plum Jelly contains added pectin. One of the benefits of using pectin, whether commercial or homemade from green (unripe) apples, is usually a firmer jelly and a shorter cooking time. Some people believe this shorter cooking time guarantees a fresher-tasting jelly, while others think the added pectin dilutes the pure fruit flavors, or changes the taste in general.

I prefer to use a Steam Juice Extractor to get the maximum amount of tasty juice from the plums. It processes a large amount of fruit with a minimum amount of hassle, and the resulting pure fruit juice is rich and thick with a luscious viscosity that makes it perfect for jelly.

If you prefer a more natural jelly and don't mind spending the extra time it takes to watch for the jelly to reach the jelling stage, try my recipe for "Perfect Plum Jelly (without using pectin)".

Btw, this is considered a reduced-sugar recipe. 

Makes ~6 half-pints 

•         6 cups fresh plum juice 
•         8 Tbs powdered pectin* 
•         4 cups sugar 

1.) Pour juice into a heavy-bottomed preserving pan. Gradually stir in pectin with a whisk.

2.) Bring mixture to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down, over high heat, stirring constantly.

3.) Add sugar, stirring to dissolve.

4.) Return mixture to a full rolling boil, then boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly.

5.) Remove from heat. Skim foam from the jelly of neccesary and ladle the jelly into clean warm jars, leaving 1/4" of headspace. 

6.) Wipe rims, then place lids on jars. Screw bands onto jars until finger-tight and process for 10 minutes in a Boiling Water Bath. 

7.) After processing, set jars aside to cool undisturbed for 24 hours. Check seal, and it it's concave, store in a cool dark place for one year. If seals didn't take (or if they pop back up when you press down on them) just stick the jar in the fridge.

*Pectins vary by brand. All commercial pectins will come with instructions for making jelly. Please refer to them. For this recipe I used Ball "Classic" Pectin.

Step-by-step photos of making Plum Jelly