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Making jams, chutneys etc - what could you not do without?

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  • #1

    Making jams, chutneys etc - what could you not do without?

    I'm hoping to preserve some of my harvest this year. I've ordered a couple of books and had a look round at equipment etc. It's obvious I could go out and spend a fortune on getting every last gadget but as a beginner, I'd like to ask the experts here what items they've really found invaluable? And as a supplementary, have you ever bought anything 'useful' that's turned out to just gather dust?

    As a starting point, I'm hoping to make jam and chutney/relish type things.

    Claire
    I was feeling part of the scenery
    I walked right out of the machinery
    My heart going boom boom boom
    "Hey" he said "Grab your things
    I've come to take you home."
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  • #2
    I make my jams and chutneys with a large saucepan, a wooden spoon and some muslin. My favourite book is The best Kept Secrets of the Women's Institute Jams, Pickles and Chutneys.

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    • #3
      A wide mouth funnel for ladling stuff into jars without half of it dressing the outside of the jar. Needs to have a wide bit at the bottom or you'll be there forever though
      Last edited by muckdiva; 12-06-2007, 01:01 PM.
      All at once I hear your voice
      And time just slips away
      Bonnie Raitt

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      • #4
        A maslin pan is a must really as is a jam funnel and some wooden spoons. I never use a thermometer so mine does indeed gather dust.

        I make quite a bit of jelly and rather than fart about straining it over night I now use a steam juicer and its a boon. Cristal clear juice ready for turning into jelly in minutes.

        The above and obviously jars are all I use and I recon to make between 150-200lb of varyous preserves a year.

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        • #5
          A large heavy bottomed pan, some wooden spoons, a good knife for chopping things up, a decent peeler, a wide mouthed funnel and jars (this last being definitely cadgeable)and a jug and ladle and a juicer for lemon juice.

          Being a bit of a novice with jam especially I still use my scales and things for measuring but most people have those anyway. Chutney is more forgiving if your quantities are a bit squwiff.

          I have a thermometer and after using if a couple of times have found that I can tell by the boiling rate and rims of the pan whether it it will set or not.

          Most of it as you've probably gathered is what we use on a day-to-day basis and if you are already cooking etc you will have most of it.
          Bright Blessings
          Earthbabe
          If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

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          • #6
            Lots of heatproof mats for hot pans and jars!

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            • #7
              Thanks everyone! Can't wait to get going now!

              Claire
              I was feeling part of the scenery
              I walked right out of the machinery
              My heart going boom boom boom
              "Hey" he said "Grab your things
              I've come to take you home."

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              • #8
                My advice would be ......... a dedicated cupboard to store all the jam jars you are collecting!

                I keep telling myself I must get that sorted as every cupboard I open a flood of jars just follow.
                ~
                Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway.
                ~ Mary Kay Ash

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                • #9
                  A 'proper' jam pan has been our best buy for sure - ours is a Kitchen Craft stainless steel one. It may seem expensive, but it will last forever, and I think it was worth the investment.

                  The thing I'd not bother with, is one of those sieves with a scraper/presser built in (not sure of it's proper name), supposed to make it easier to sieve tomatoes etc. It's rubbish!

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                  • #10
                    Found out this pm that the one thing I couldnt do without is a large, heavy bottomed preserving pan! Have I got one? No! Mmmm trying to make lemon chutney in a large saucepan isn't really working! Anyone got a spare preserving pan - or does anyone fancy coming and cleaning my hob? LOL! Bernie
                    Bernie aka DDL

                    Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

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                    • #11
                      Hi

                      I got one at a car boot sale.....for a couple of pounds...Why don't you have a hunt around a few.

                      SS

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