Easy Muscadine Jelly Recipes

MUSCADINE JELLY

Steps:

• Wash muscadines, place in a stockpot and add just enough water to cover the muscadines.
• Place over medium heat and bring to a full boil. (As muscadines begin to heat, start mashing them with a potato masher.)
• Reduce heat to simmer and cook for 15 minutes, continuing to mash muscadines.
• Remove from heat and pour mixture through a strainer into a large stockpot.
• Place stockpot over medium heat and bring to a full rolling boil that does not stop bubbling when stirred, about 5 minutes. Reduce to simmer.
• When mixture is at simmer level, add pectin to the juice and stir until well dissolved. Bring to full rolling boil and boil for 1 minute.
• Add sugar, stirring until dissolved. Bring to a full rolling boil and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Test to determine if juice has "jellied" according to pectin packaging instructions. If not, add more pectin from spare box, as directed on instructions.
• Pour jelly into hot sterilized jars. Skim foam off top of jelly. Screw the lids on jars and place into a prepared water bath canner with enough simmering water to cover 1 to 2 inches above jars. Add boiling water to canner if needed to cover jars.
• Bring to a boil and boil for 5 to 15 minutes according to pectin package instructions for your altitude.
• Remove from water. Place on towel, leaving about an inch between jars. Do not move the jars for at least 24 hours. Check that each jar has sealed before storing.
• Store in pantry, unopened, for up to 1 year. Once opened, store in refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

WILD MUSCADINE JELLY

Steps:

• 1. For one batch of jelly, use about 3 quarts of grapes and 3 cups of water. Do not use too much water it will ruin the flavor. Place in a pot and bring to a boils until skins are tender. Remove from heat and put through a fruit juice masher and strainer. When cool enough place in the refrigerator until next morning.
• 2. Strain through 2 thickenesses of cheesecloth. The juice is ready. Place juice in a large pot. Mix pectin with juices and bring quickly to a hard boil, stirring occasionally. Add the sugar at once. Stir sugar until it dissolves and bring to full rolling boil (a boil that can not be stirred down). Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; skim off foam using a metal spoon. Pour at once in sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
• 3. Wipe jar edge with a damp towel and seal with new lids according to manufacturer's instructions. Process 5 minutes in a boiling water bath. Makes about 8 half pint jars.

MUSCADINE JELLY

Steps:

• 1. Wash and remove stems from your grapes and cut in half, remove and discard seeds and skin Note:(Skip this step if using food mill)
• 2. add 2 1/2 cups water and grapes to pot and slowly bring to a simmer (be careful not to burn the grapes)
• 3. mash with potato masher and cool (Or run through food mill after cooled)
• 4. Pour into jelly bag and drain NOTE:(For Jam skip this step) While waiting for pulp to drain, get your jars ready...Put (8) half pint jars in the water bath to sterilize, and put lids in a small pot and simmer
• 5. Return juice to pot, bring to a boil, Add 1TBSP Lemon Juice, 7 cups sugar, and 2 Packages pectin and stir continuously to keep your pot from boiling over Keep at a rolling boil until 220 Degrees is met on Candy thermometer or a rolling boil is kept for 5 minutes
• 6. Remove from heat, skim off foam and fill jars with 1/4 inch head space...add lids, return to water bath pot and process for 15 minutes Allow to cool for 10 minutes, the remove jars and place on towel on counter, and leave for 12 hours...you should hear some pinging sounds as the jars seal. After 12 hours, push on lids to make sure they don't spring back to ensure they are sealed...store for a year, or enjoy as needed. Once opened, refrigerate .

BEST MUSCADINE JAM

Steps:

• Prepare grapes by cutting partway through the skin and popping the pulp/seed capsule out of the hull. Put pulp into one pot and the hulls into another.
• Simmer the pulp, covered, on low-medium until soft enough to press through sieve or food mill ~ 10 minutes. Add just a little water if necessary to prevent sticking.
• Meanwhile, chop hulls very finely in the food processor and return to their pot. Add just enough water to make it possible to simmer without sticking. Cook slowly, covered, 10 minutes or until hulls are softened.
• Peel lemon and chop peel finely. Use entire peel, including the white part, to ensure good jelling.
• Juice the lemon.
• Press pulp through a sieve or food mill to remove seeds. Stir sieved pulp into cooked hulls in a large pot.
• Add lemon juice and peel. Bring to a boil.
• Stir in sugar and return to a boil.
• Simmer, stirring frequently until the jellying point is reached ~ 1-2 hours. Timing is approximate and will vary depending on conditions and the amount of natural pectin in the fruit. Check frequently.
• Pack into hot, sterilized jars and process for 10 minutes in boiling water bath.

BASIC JELLY

Steps:

• Combine fruit and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook, partially covered, mashing occasionally with a potato masher, until fruit is very soft, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer mixture to a fine sieve set over a heatproof bowl; let drain without pressing on fruit, 4 hours. Strain again through sieve lined with damp cheesecloth. Measure juice; you will have 3 to 4 cups.
• In a large heavy-bottomed pot, bring juice to a boil. Add 3/4 cup sugar for each cup of juice. Add lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Return to a boil and cook, stirring frequently, 8 to 12 minutes. To test if jelly is done, dip a large metal spoon in, lift it horizontally above pot, and let mixture drip back in. Jelly is done when mixture has thickened slightly and drops of it slide together off spoon in a sheet. (Temperature should register 221 degrees on a candy thermometer.) Skim foam from top.
• Ladle jelly into clean containers, leaving 3/4 inch of headroom. Let cool completely. Cover, label, and refrigerate up to 1 month, or freeze up to 1 year.

MUSCADINE JAM

Steps:

• Inspect four 8-ounce jars (or two 16-ounce jars) for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until jam is ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water. Place a couple of small plates in the freezer.
• Wash grapes and cut in half. Combine grapes and sugar in a large pot over medium heat and bring to a boil. Maintain a medium to low boil, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking; make sure it does not get too hot.
• Check doneness by dropping a small spoonful of jam onto a frozen plate. Let sit for 1 to 2 minutes; if jam appears to gel, it is ready. Continue cooking if jam appears thin and runny.
• Transfer a portion of the jam mixture to a blender; puree until all hulls and seeds are ground. Set pureed jam in a pot to keep warm, and continue with remaining mixture.
• Pack pureed jam into hot, sterilized jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a clean knife or thin spatula around the insides of the jars to remove any air bubbles. Wipe rims with a moist paper towel to remove any residue. Top with lids and screw rings on tightly.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars 2 inches apart into the boiling water using a holder. Pour in more boiling water to cover jars by at least 1 inch. Bring to a rolling boil, cover, and process for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Remove from water and set aside until the entire canning jar cools and you hear the "pop" of the can sealing, at least 1 hour. Store and enjoy at your leisure!