Jam Recipes using Clear Jel (2024)

Jam Recipes using Clear Jel (1)

Hi all:

Here is the information from the class at LRH's last night. We used a product call "Clear Jel" instead of Pectin. Below is information on both. Also, you will find several recipes using Clear Jel at the bottom of the post.....so please keep reading!.

·

Clear Jel

: Clear Jel®, a corn starch derivative, is a commercial thickening product used by bakeries and for frozen food. This product is used the same as flour or corn starch. There are two types of Clear Jel® available, “instant” and “regular”. “Instant” does not require heat to thicken. The product will thicken once the liquid is added. "Regular”, on the other hand, must be heated. This is generally the preferred type to use in products to be canned.The advantage is that it is more cost effective and often requires less than half (sometimes ¼) the amount of sugar that Pectin requires. It also lasts indefinitely.

General Directions: Replace cornstarch, flour, and tapioca as thickener with Clear Jel by: Adding Clear Gel slowly to hot or cold liquid using a wire whisk. Stir until smooth. Allow 10 minutes for cold liquids to reach maximum thickness. Refrigerate or freeze finished produces for future use if desired.


Conversion ratio

:
1 tbsp. cornstarch=1 1/2 tbsp. Instant Clear Jel

2 tbsp. flour or tapioca= 1 tbsp. Instant Clear Jel

Advantages:

• It is clear in color when cooked.
• It has excellent stability.
• It remains smooth.
• It prevents liquid separation and curdling after foods have been frozen.
• Cream sauces, custard, and puddings may be frozen with excellent results.

Advantages:

• It is less expensive than pectin.
• The amount of sugar may be adjusted without losing the jelling capacity.
• Recipes may be doubled, tripled or halved.
• The jam may be frozen or processed in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

Hints:

• Using Clear Jel® in making jams and jellies is not an exact science. Many factors influence the quality of the product. It is best to try a small batch and make adjustments before making larger batches.
• Use pint or 1/2 pint jars.
• Any fruit jam or jelly recipe may be used as long as the product is processed for 10 minutes or frozen. Substitute 7 tbsp of Clear Jel® for the pectin in cooked jams and jellies and 3-4 tbsp of Clear Jel® for the pectin in freezer jam recipes.
• For freezer jam follow the jam recipes on this sheet.
• Clear Jel® does not dissolve easily in liquid. To help dissolve the product mix the Clear Jel® with a little sugar before adding to the fruit or juice.

Problem solving

:
Jam is too stiff: To make softer, heat the product and add a little more juice or water, then reprocess.
Jam is too thin: To make stiffer, heat the product and add more Clear Jel® mixed with a few tbsp of sugar and dissolved in 1/2 cup of the product.
o Suppliers: Allison’s Pantry (Pleasant Grove), Kitchen Kneads (West Jordan), http://www.kitchenkrafts.com/, http://www.sweetc.com/

· Pectin: a non-digestible carbohydrate naturally found in the peel of many fruits that thickens jams and jellies. There are two types of pectin: regular (high-methosyl pectin) and special (low methoxyl pectin) Regular pectin is generally made from apple peel or from the white inner skin of citrus fruit. This type of pectin works with sugar and acid to form a gel. A low-sugar variety of regular pectin is also available. Low-methoxyl Pectin is extracted from the inner rinds of limes and lemons and is chemically different from regular pectin in that it uses a calcum solution, rather than sugar, to form a gel. Please note that “no sugar needed Pectin is not necessarily the same thing as low-methoxyl pectin. Ball brand lists the following ingredients: dextrose, pectin, locust beangum, xanthan gum,. Dextrose is the same thing as glucose, a monosaccharide (sugar), the other ingredients are all indigestible carbohydrates and aid in gel formation. Use liquid pectin (CERTO) if you want to avoid all added sugar from regular pectin.
o Suppliers: Any local grocery store, Ball/Kerr Home Canning (1-800-240-3340), www.kitchenkrafts.com/

The recipes below come from Instant Delite Recipes by Merrily Lloyd.


(Something you need to know about using Clear Jel is that you mix the wet ingredients together and then the dry ingredients together. Finally combine the two mixtures together when making Jam.)

Processed Strawberry Jam:
5 ¾ C ground strawberries
¼ C lemon juice
2 ½ C sugar
6 rounded Tablespoons Instant Clear Jel
1 package unsweetened Strawberry Koolaid.

Wash, stem, and grind ripe berries. Add lemon juice. Put in large sauce pan and bring to a boil. In a dry bowl, mix sugar, instant clear jel, and KoolAid. Slowly pour dry ingredients into fruit and blend thoroughly . Pour into sterilize canning jars and process for 10 minutes (Hot water Bath Canning)

Freezer Strawberry Jam:
2 C sugar
3 rounded Tablespoons Instant Clear Jel
1 package unsweetened strawberry KoolAid
5 cups diced, uncrushed fresh strawberries ½ C light Karo syrup

Mix sugar, instant clear jel, and Koo-Aid well. Add to washed and diced berries. Put in Karo syrup and stir until well blended. Put into containers and freeze.

Other Recipes using this product are (from http://skagit.wsu.edu/FAM/publications/using%20clear%20jel%2003.pdf

:

Cherry Jam
4 cups pitted chopped cherries
1/4 cup lemon juice
4 tablespoons Clear Jel®
Sugar to taste (approximately 1 cup)
Add lemon juice to cherries. Combine Clear Jel® with 1/4 cup of the sugar. Add to cherries. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Pour into jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Process 10 minutes in boiling water bath or freeze.


Apricot and Pineapple Jam

5 cups ground apricots
1 20-oz. can crushed pineapple, drained
1/4 cup lemon juice
7 tablespoons Clear Jel®
Sugar to taste (approximately 3 cups)
Add lemon juice to apricots. Combine Clear Jel® with 1/4 cup of the sugar. Add to apricots. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Add rest of sugar. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour into jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Process 10 minutes in boiling water bath or freeze.

Apricot Jam
3 1/2 cups apricots
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 1/2 tablespoons Clear Jel®
Sugar to taste (approximately 2 cups)
Add lemon juice to apricots. Combine Clear Jel® with 1/4 cup of the sugar. Add to apricots. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Add rest of sugar. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour into jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Process 10 minutes in boiling water bath or freeze.


Peach Jam

3 3/4 cups peaches
1/4 cup lemon juice
7 tablespoons Clear Jel®
Sugar to taste (approx. 1 1/2 cups)
Add lemon juice to peaches. Combine Clear Jel® with 1/4 cup of the sugar. Add to peaches. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Add rest of sugar. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour into jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Process 10 minutes in boiling water bath or freeze.


Berry Jam

4 cups crushed berries or juiced
1/4 cup lemon juice
7 tablespoons Clear Jel®
Sugar to taste (approximately 1 1/2 cup)
Add lemon juice to berries. Combine Clear Jel® with 1/4 cup of the sugar. Add to berries. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Add rest of sugar. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour into jars, leaving 1/4” headspace. Process 10 minutes in boiling water bath or freeze.

(Sources: http://skagit.wsu.edu/FAM/publications/using%20clear%20jel%2003.pdf, http://www.foodsafety.wisc.edu/assets/pdf_Files/Supplies.pdf, Instant Delite Recipes by Merrily Lloyd)

Jam Recipes using Clear Jel (2024)

FAQs

How to thicken up jam without pectin? ›

The secret ingredient to making jam without pectin is time. The fruit and sugar need plenty of time to cook and thicken. A long, slow boil drives the moisture out of the fruit, helping to preserve and thicken it at the same time. Fruit varies in water content as well, and some fruits may take longer to jam up.

How to use Clearjel? ›

To thicken one batch of fruit pie filling (enough for a 9-inch pie), start by mixing 1 tablespoon of Clear Jel with 1 tablespoon of water. Use a fork or whisk to make sure the mixture is smooth. Once combined, add the mixture directly to your pot of filling.

Should you stir jam while it's boiling? ›

5. Do Not Stir Once Mixture Is Boiling. Once your jam/marmalade it has reached a rapid rolling boil do not stir it. Stirring it will alter the temperature of the jam/marmalade meaning it will take longer to reach the setting point.

Does clear jel need to be cooked? ›

While heat is not required for Instant ClearJel to work, it can be heated. It works beautifully in our Apple Pie, for example, where the fruit gets tossed along with Instant ClearJel, sugar, and spices before being baked.

What is the difference between sure jell and clear jel? ›

A: Sure Jell is a very good choice if you are going to can jams and jellies. Clear jel will work but you have to have a perfect measure for jams and jellies. I have never used clear jel but have read where it is like corn starch and is used for thickening soups, gravies, also for baking.

Does lemon juice thicken jam? ›

With a simple lemon juice trick, your homemade jam will achieve your desired thick texture. Preparing jam is about capturing the sweet essence of the fruit while simultaneously cooking it down to the perfect syrupy consistency.

What is the best thickener for jam? ›

Add pectin.

While this trick won't work for jam recipes that already call for pectin, adding pectin to a loose batch of jam while re-cooking it almost guarantees that the jam with set back up nicely. Whisk a tablespoon of powdered pectin (preferably the no-sugar-needed variety) into the pot of cooking jam.

What is a natural thickener for jam? ›

Chia seeds act as a thickening agent

And if you're looking to make your homemade jam more nutritious, chia seeds can help with that, too. According to Gimme Some Oven, you can make a delicious jam at home using only fruit, chia seeds, and a little lemon juice –- no added sugar needed.

Does clear Gel go bad? ›

It doesn't go bad.

Is EZ Gel the same as Clear Jel? ›

Substitutes for Instant Clearjel in Baking

EZ Gel may be used in 2x the amount of Instant Clearjel in stabilized whipped cream. For Compotes and Pie fillings—Substitute equal parts cornstarch for Instant Clearjel and cook all filling ingredients over the stove until you reach your desired thickness.

Can I use clear jel instead of cornstarch? ›

Regular Clearjel® can be used to replace cornstarch or flour as thickening agent in cooking or baking, but cornstarch or flour should not replace Clearjel® for canning.

Why add butter when making jam? ›

The addition of ¼ teaspoon butter or margarine during cooking helps cut down on the foam formed. To fill the jars, pour hot fruit mixture into hot sterilized jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace. Process jams, preserves and conserves in a boiling water bath for the length of time specified in the recipe.

What is the best sugar for jam? ›

Coarse-grain white granulated sugar is best for jam-making as it ensures a good clear jam, but fine caster sugar can also be used. The coarse grains dissolve more slowly and evenly, giving a better result. Granulated sugar with added pectin is also available, but it shouldn't be necessary to use this.

Why do you put vinegar in jam? ›

The tartness of the vinegar subtly balances the flavor of the jam, bringing out the complexities of the fruit. Balsamic Vinegar Jams are not a sour or overly acidic finished product, simply a well-rounded, delicious batch of jam!”

What can I use if I don't have pectin? ›

Pectin Substitute
  • Citrus Peels - Naturally high in pectin, you can substitute citrus peels for pectin.
  • Cornstarch - Another plant-based thickening agent, cornstarch is a great substitute for pectin.
  • Gelatin - For non-vegan menu items, you can substitute gelatin for pectin, but it will yield a different consistency.

What can I add instead of pectin? ›

The secret however is simple… To add an additional fruit or juice that comes from the group of fruits that are very high in pectin. Most commonly, lemon and apples are used.

Can Knox gelatin be used instead of pectin? ›

Yep! You can in fact substitute pectin for gelatin, you just need to keep in mind the different textures and where they were derived from, but both will act as a gelling agent for your formula.

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