Testing for the jell point

Appears in
The Art of Preserving

By Lisa Atwood, Rebecca Courchesne and Rick Field

Published 2012

  • About
Fruit spreads such as jams, jellies, and marmalades must be tested during cooking to ensure that they will jell properly once cooled. To do this, first place 2 or 3 small plates in the freezer. Cook the fruit mixture as directed in each recipe, then remove from the heat. Put 1 tsp of the mixture on a chilled plate and return to the freezer for 2 minutes. The mixture is ready if it wrinkles when nudged gently with a finger. If it doesn’t, continue to cook for 1 or 2 minutes longer, remove from the heat, and test again on a clean chilled plate.