{"id":3896,"date":"2008-12-03T12:45:49","date_gmt":"2008-12-03T18:45:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-367309-1145705.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=3896"},"modified":"2008-12-03T12:45:49","modified_gmt":"2008-12-03T18:45:49","slug":"jam-on-this-four-tips-to-save-money-time-and-the-environment-with-homemade-preserves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/articles\/jam-on-this-four-tips-to-save-money-time-and-the-environment-with-homemade-preserves\/","title":{"rendered":"Jam on This: Four Tips to Save Money, Time and the Environment with Homemade Preserves"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a>There may be some ironic, redeeming inspiration over the fact that the economy is in the can: the revival of home canning. As headlines lament the downward spiral of retail, the canning industry reports an inspiring increase in sales.<\/p>\n A key reason roots back to probably the same reason why our grandmothers routinely canned: it simply made economic sense. By making fruit preserves as home, you could get a better-tasting, higher quality product much cheaper. Today we can add environmental sense to that equation: home canning enables us to eat more local, organically-raised produce year-round, eliminating the need for fossil fuel based transportation costs.<\/p>\n Despite this rationale manifesto for home canning, getting started can prove to be a discouraging hurdle as the process \u2013 from fruit processing to hot-water baths \u2013 can seem overtly time-consuming. Not so, according to Linda Amendt<\/a>, the cape-crusader of home canning. Winner of over 900 awards in state fair culinary competitions and author of two cookbooks, Amendt is on a mission to help people rediscover for themselves the satisfaction and savings of home canning.<\/p>\n \u201cMaking a batch of jam is no more complicated than whipping up a batch of cookies,\u201d explains Amendt. \u201cAnd I promise, nothing off the store shelf will ever compare to what you make in your own kitchen.\u201d<\/p>\n Here are some of her tips to get off to a successful start in homemade preserves, the easiest route for novice canners. While the official growing season is \u2013 alas \u2013 behind most of us, stockpile these tips till next year and in the meantime use fresh apple cider, which is still available, for a great beginning project (recipe after the jump).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1. Start with One Fruit<\/strong> 2. Use High Quality Fruit<\/strong> 3. Try Tested, Modern Recipes<\/strong> 4. Add Pectin<\/strong>
\nFirst time making jam? Start with a simple one-fruit recipe, such as strawberry or peach.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cFocus on using fruit that has good flavor and texture,\u201d advises Amendt. \u201cDon\u2019t use bruised or damaged fruit as that may already have bacteria on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nDon\u2019t automatically reach for Grandma\u2019s recipe book for a jam recipe. Modern recipes have been tested for canning safety and are often much simpler.<\/p>\n
\nPectin, either powdered or liquid, enables the jam to readily jell and reduces cooking time. \u201cLong cook\u201d recipes that don\u2019t use pectin require a lengthy boiling time, often loosing the fresh fruit flavor.<\/p>\n