Quick Plum Preserves Recipes

PLUM PRESERVES RECIPE

Steps:

• Chop each plum into quarters and discard the seed. Weigh the chopped plums with a kitchen scale to get 3¼ pounds.
• Add ⅓ of the plums to a large pot. Sprinkle with one cup of sugar. Repeat layering until all the sugar and plums are added. Sprinkle with the lemon and orange zest.
• Heat over low flame until the sugar begins to dissolve, stirring occasionally. Juice enough oranges to get half a cup of orange juice. In my case, it took two oranges.
• Stir the orange juice into the plums and bring to a rolling boil. Lower the flame and set a timer for 30 minutes.
• After cooking for 30 minutes, your preserves should reach the right consistency or gelling point. Skim the surface to remove foam then ladle the hot jam into sterilized hot jars. Leave ¼ inch headspace, wipe the rims with a kitchen towel, and screw the lids on hand tight. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

QUICK PLUM PRESERVES

Steps:

• Coarsely chop plums and stir together with sugar, water, and cinnamon stick in a 2-quart heavy saucepan. Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally (more often toward end of cooking to prevent sticking), until thickened and reduced to about 2 1/2 cups, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Discard cinnamon stick and cool preserves. Transfer to an airtight container and chill, covered.

PLUM-VANILLA PRESERVES

Steps:

• Start with our step-by-step canning how-to.
• Put the plums, sugar, vanilla beans and cinnamon sticks in a large, wide saucepan. Squeeze the lemon juice through a strainer into the pan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture boils, about 10 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until a candy or deep-fry thermometer registers 220 degrees F, about 30 minutes. (To be sure that the mixture has reached the gel point, spoon some onto a chilled plate and put in the freezer until cool. The liquid should set; if not, continue to cook and retest after a few more minutes.) Remove the pan from the heat and let cool 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, sterilize four 8-ounce canning jars and lids.
• Return the plum mixture to medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring, then add the plumcots. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the plumcots are tender, about 5 minutes. Discard the cinnamon sticks.
• Fill the jars with the plum mixture, leaving 1/2 inch headspace, then seal and process.

PLUM PRESERVES

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a large saucepot.
• Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves.
• Cook rapidly almost to gelling point.
• As mixture thickens, stir frequently to prevent sticking.
• Ladle into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space.
• Adjust two-piece lid caps.
• Process 15 minutes in a boiling water canner.