It is tricky to make jams at home. The homemade jam sounds tempting, but it is not that easy to make. Many times people end up with a runny jam instead of a firm and set one, especially if you are not using pectin. If you wish to take care of the same, there are some things you can do to fix it.
If your jam is runny, then the first thing you should do is to wait for at least 24-48 hours. It takes the jam some time to set. If it doesn’t set after that, you should cook it again for some time. You can also add pectin while recooking it. Another way to thicken the jam is to add chia seeds to it. If recooking on the stove didn’t help, you could also bake it on low heat. You can also add cornstarch to thicken it.
If it still doesn’t set, just make another batch or use it a little bit runny.
Reason Why My Jam Is Runny
If you make a jam at home, there is a chance that it may be a bit watery and runny. You need to know the reason behind it in order to know what to do to fix it. There are a few reasons that your jam is runny.
1. It Hasn’t Had Time To Set.
If you have just made the jam and it’s still runny, you should let it sit for at least 24-48 hours. The pectin in a jam takes time to set. One way to predict if the jam will set or not is to take some of it on the back of a frozen spoon. If it sets, the whole batch will too.
2. It Has Less Pectin Than Needed
Pectin is mainly used to make thick jams and help them set. Some fruits contain pectin naturally, while some don’t. The amount of pectin you add to the jam should be inversely proportional to the amount of pectin present in the fruit.
If you feel your jam is runny, you should add some more powdered pectin to it. Some of the fruits that are high in pectin are apples, black currants, and red currants. Some of the fruits with low pectin content are raspberries, apricots, and plums. Some fruits that would need a lot of added pectin are strawberries and cherries, as they have no pectin in them.
3. Not Cooked At The Right Temperature.
Many people don’t understand that you need to cook jam at a certain temperature or it won’t set. You need to cook it at around 105℃. You can check the temperature with the help of a thermometer (obviously).
Ways To Save Runny Jam
If you cooked the jam, but it’s runny, there are some ways that you can save the runny jam.
1. Wait It Out
If you feel that the jam is runny, the first step is to wait. Sometimes the jam takes 24-48 hours to set. Put the jar in the refrigerator and wait patiently. This is due to the fact that pectin takes some time to set.
2. Re-cook It
It is possible that the jam is runny because you haven’t cooked it at the right temperature. You can cook the jam again and make sure to maintain the right temperature. Then, add to washed and cleaned jars and put in the refrigerator to set.
3. Add Some Pectin
Another reason your jam is runny might be because of low pectin. You can add a cup of pectin powder when recooking the jam. This will definitely help it set. But make sure you don’t add an excess of it as that will make the jam very stiff.
4. Add Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are an excellent addition to your jam as they have natural gelling properties. You can add some chia seeds when cooking or recooking the jam. This will help thicken jam and make it delicious as well.
5. Add Cornstarch
If you don’t want to add pectin, you can also use cornstarch to thicken your jam. You just have to dissolve some cornstarch in water. Then, slowly add it to the jam while stirring it. This makes it consistent and thick. You can do this to thicken jellies as well.
6. Bake It On Low Heat
If you feel that cooking it on the stovetop doesn’t help, you can’t lay it on a baking tray and bake it in the oven at low heat. This will also help thicken and save your jam.
Conclusion
So, you don’t have to worry about it. If you have a runny batch of jam, there are ways that you can fix it. There are also a few things that you can keep in mind, so you don’t end with a runny batch at all. Even if you don’t fix it, you can still have it as it will taste delicious.
