Concord Grape Jam

Serves: 2

Lelia Marks

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

49

Spice

40

Sweetness

47

Sourness

34

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.4

Difficulty

Ingredients:

5 cups

Sugar

Directions:

1

Sterilize jars: Wash jars, lids, and screw bands in hot, soapy water, then rinse well

2

Dry screw bands

3

Put jars on a rack in canner or deep pot and add enough water to cover by 2 inches

4

Bring to a boil, covered, then boil for 10 minutes

5

Remove from heat, leaving jars in water

6

Heat lids in water to cover by 2 inches in a small saucepan until thermometer registers 180°F (do not let boil)

7

Remove from heat, leaving lids in water

8

Keep the jars and lids submerged in hot water, covered, until ready to use

9

Wash jars, lids, and screw bands in hot, soapy water, then rinse well

10

Dry screw bands

11

Put jars on a rack in canner or deep pot and add enough water to cover by 2 inches

12

Bring to a boil, covered, then boil for 10 minutes

13

Remove from heat, leaving jars in water

14

Heat lids in water to cover by 2 inches in a small saucepan until thermometer registers 180°F (do not let boil)

15

Remove from heat, leaving lids in water

16

Keep the jars and lids submerged in hot water, covered, until ready to use

17

Cook jam: Chill 2 small plates (for testing jam)

18

Slip skins from grapes and purée skins with 1 cup sugar in a food processor, then transfer to a 4- to 6-quart wide heavy pot

19

Stir in lemon juice, peeled grapes, and remaining 4 cups sugar and boil over moderate heat, stirring frequently and skimming foam, until pulp is broken down, about 20 minutes

20

Force jam through food mill set over a large bowl

21

Discard remaining solids

22

Return jam to pot and cook at a slow boil, skimming foam occasionally and stirring frequently as mixture thickens to prevent scorching, 35 minutes, then test for doneness

23

To test jam, remove from heat, then drop a teaspoonful on a chilled plate and chill 1 minute

24

Tilt plate: Jam should remain in a mound and not run

25

If jam runs, continue cooking at a slow boil, testing every 5 minutes, until done, up to 25 minutes more

26

Chill 2 small plates (for testing jam)

27

Slip skins from grapes and purée skins with 1 cup sugar in a food processor, then transfer to a 4- to 6-quart wide heavy pot

28

Stir in lemon juice, peeled grapes, and remaining 4 cups sugar and boil over moderate heat, stirring frequently and skimming foam, until pulp is broken down, about 20 minutes

29

Force jam through food mill set over a large bowl

30

Discard remaining solids

31

Return jam to pot and cook at a slow boil, skimming foam occasionally and stirring frequently as mixture thickens to prevent scorching, 35 minutes, then test for doneness

32

To test jam, remove from heat, then drop a teaspoonful on a chilled plate and chill 1 minute

33

Tilt plate: Jam should remain in a mound and not run

34

If jam runs, continue cooking at a slow boil, testing every 5 minutes, until done, up to 25 minutes more

35

Seal, process, and store jars: Drain jars upside down on a clean kitchen towel 1 minute, then invert

36

Ladle jam into jars, leaving 1/4 inch of space at top

37

Wipe off rims of filled jars with a clean damp kitchen towel, then top with lids and firmly screw on screw bands

38

Put sealed jars on rack in canner or pot and add enough water to cover by 2 inches

39

Bring to a boil, covered, then boil 10 minutes

40

With tongs, transfer jars to a towel-lined surface to cool

41

Jars will seal; if you hear a ping, it signals that vacuum formed at the top of cooling preserves has made lid concave

42

Remember that you may or may not be around to hear that ping (some jars make the sound after you remove them from water, and others in same batch may take a few hours); the important thing is for jars to eventually have concave lids

43

Preserves will thicken as they cool

44

After jars have cooled 12 to 24 hours, press center of each lid to check that it's concave, then remove screw band and try to lift off lid with your fingertips

45

If you can't, lid has a good seal

46

Replace screw band

47

Put any jars that haven't sealed properly in the refrigerator and use them first

48

Drain jars upside down on a clean kitchen towel 1 minute, then invert

49

Ladle jam into jars, leaving 1/4 inch of space at top

50

Wipe off rims of filled jars with a clean damp kitchen towel, then top with lids and firmly screw on screw bands

51

Put sealed jars on rack in canner or pot and add enough water to cover by 2 inches

52

Bring to a boil, covered, then boil 10 minutes

53

With tongs, transfer jars to a towel-lined surface to cool

54

Jars will seal; if you hear a ping, it signals that vacuum formed at the top of cooling preserves has made lid concave

55

Remember that you may or may not be around to hear that ping (some jars make the sound after you remove them from water, and others in same batch may take a few hours); the important thing is for jars to eventually have concave lids

56

Preserves will thicken as they cool

57

After jars have cooled 12 to 24 hours, press center of each lid to check that it's concave, then remove screw band and try to lift off lid with your fingertips

58

If you can't, lid has a good seal

59

Replace screw band

60

Put any jars that haven't sealed properly in the refrigerator and use them first