Monday, June 11, 2012

Microwave Raspberry Jam



I used to have this idea that only little old ladies who live in the countryside make jam in their kitchens, which is why I have never made jam before until now! The microwave method of making jam is awesome and saves you so much time. Not only that, but it only uses 3 ingredients and there is no setting agent like pectin required either. However, it does use lemon rind during the cooking process, and that perhaps helps to set the jam, since citrus fruits contain a high concentration of pectin. The lovely thing about this jam is that it's bursting with pure fruity flavour from the raspberries, it's like eating a raspberry concentrate. It tastes so much better than commercially manufactured jams.


You can use fresh or frozen fruit in making the jam, and in any combination of fruits  you like. I've used frozen raspberries here, and they were simply fantastic. Make sure you use a large Pyrex bowl for this as the jam will triple in volume as it cooks in the microwave, and you surely wouldn't want jam all over the turntable. The recipe is from Taste which uses 500g of fruit. I used only 350g of raspberries and scaled down the amount of sugar and lemon used proportionately. You can use other types of berries, stone-fruits like plums, peaches and apricots, or try pineapple or mangoes. Use these fruits in combination if you like and personalise your own jam. They make great gifts too!

Microwave Jam

Ingredients

1 lemon, halved
500g (1 pound) fruit remove stone or stalk and chop fruit
1 1/2 cups (335g) white sugar

Method

  1. Juice the lemon. Place fruit, lemon juice and the rind halves in a large microwave safe bowl. Cook, uncovered, on High/100% power, stirring occasionally for 6 minutes.
  2. Add the sugar and cook on High/100% power for 15-20 minutes, stirring every 2-3 minutes, or until the jam reaches setting point. (To do this, cool some jam on a chilled saucer and run your finger through it. If the jam wrinkles and stays separate it is ready to bottle.)
  3. Discard lemon rind and spoon the hot jam into a clean jar. Invert for 2 minutes then turn upright to cool.





8 comments:

Mel said...

I used to have this idea too, only old ladies do homemade jam but now we should not think that way anymore. Alot of people made their homemade jam nowadays. Though jam is easy to make but I have yet to make my own berries jam. (Raspberries is very expensive here!)

Nami | Just One Cookbook said...

Haha your story about old lady in country side crack me up. But I know what you mean. Living in California, fruits are really abundant and cheap compared to..let's say Japan. And a lot of people make jams etc for fun. Yet I have not tried...I have a canning get together with other bloggers in July, and I thought it's a great opportunity to learn...but it falls on the holiday weekend so I probably miss the chance. Your raspberry jam looks delicious, Fern!

Juliana said...

Oh! You are so funny...and I must confess that I had the same impression in regards to old ladies and jam :)
I like your microwave method...
Beautiful color your raspberry jam.
Thanks for this recipe Fern and hope you are having a wonderful week :)

LoLy said...

WOW, Looks heavenly amazing :D
I miss this place :D

lynds said...

Thanks for this recipe. Did this quantity only make the one jar of jam? I have only (in the past week) found your side so I've had a wonderful time reading your recipes. I also live in Sydney (Northern Beaches) and I have bookmarked your site.

Once again thanks for all your inspiration and your lovely recipes.

Fern @ To Food With Love said...

Hey Lynds,
Thanks for visiting my blog! Nice to meet another Sydneysider :)
The one jar of jam shown on the photo is from 350g of raspberries. If you use 500g, that should yield about 1 1/2 cups of jam.

Shu Han said...

WHen you can get fresh raspberries in summer, making your own jam is one of the easiest but most delicious and satisfying things to do! I love that raspberries and many berries don't need pectin to set, mother nature is perfect that way (:

Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...

Homemade jam is the best, but it is too expensive making here..