Jam separates, fruit goes to top and stays there-what am I doing wrong?
The fruit may float to the top if the fruit was:
- underripe
- not fully crushed
- undercooked or cooked too slowly
Some tips may be to:
- Follow the recipe exactly
- If using added pectin, use the instructions for the brand of pectin being used. If not using added pectin, choose 1/4 slightly under ripe fruit and 3/4 fully ripe fruit and follow directions.
- Boil jam rapidly
- Make only one batch of jam at a time; do not double the recipe.
- Sterilize jars by boiling them for 10 minutes (this way you only need to process them in a water bath canner for 5 minutes)
You also may want to try the following:
- Once the jam has cooked, remove from heat and stir an additional 5 minutes
- Hold the ladle very close to the jar when pouring the jam into the jar