new to jelly making. first batch didn't set. tried reprocessing according to pick your own .org still no success but wonderful blackberry syrup.
Recip.
1 box sure-jel,
3.5 cups wild blackberry juice
5 cups sugar.
rolling boil for 1 minute.

any ideas before I make the same mistake twice? if it sets up like cement it would be fine with me.
Thanks,
Mike B.

> wrote in message
...
> new to jelly making. first batch didn't set. tried reprocessing according
> to pick your own .org still no success but wonderful blackberry syrup.
> Recip.
> 1 box sure-jel,
> 3.5 cups wild blackberry juice
> 5 cups sugar.
> rolling boil for 1 minute.
>
> any ideas before I make the same mistake twice? if it sets up like cement
> it would be fine with me.
> Thanks,
> Mike B.

1 minute doesn't seem long enough. And are you sure that the Sure-Jel was
fresh?

This recipe uses Sure-Jel. It says to bring it to a full rolling boil, then
stir in the sugar, then bring it back to a boil and boil for a minute.

http://www.food.com/recipe/blackberry-jelly-120915

pretty sure the sure gel is fresh but I'll certainly check before the next batch. I think you may be on to something with the processing. my instructions are very vague and it was just dump it all together and boil for 1min. later instructions said bring it back to a boil which made no sense. part of the troubleshooting said be careful of under or over cooking the pectin. thanks for the pointer and info now its off to the berry patch
Mike B.

On Wed, 18 Jun 2014 05:36:55 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

> new to jelly making. first batch didn't set. tried reprocessing according to pick your own .org still no success but wonderful blackberry syrup.
> Recip.
> 1 box sure-jel,
> 3.5 cups wild blackberry juice
> 5 cups sugar.
> rolling boil for 1 minute.
>
> any ideas before I make the same mistake twice? if it sets up like cement it would be fine with me.
> Thanks,
> Mike B.

I would bring it to a boil and reprocess with more sure-jel, making
sure I timed it perfectly this time around (but I'm not an experienced
canner either so it could be bad advice). The other option is to use
your "fail" as a sauce.

Go to this site and see if your question is answered
http://www.sbcanning.com/p/canning-tips-questions.html. If it's not,
scroll down to the link for joining the Facebook group and ask your
question there. HTH

--
I take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila

On 2014-06-18 8:36 AM, wrote:
> new to jelly making. first batch didn't set. tried reprocessing according to pick your own .org still no success but wonderful blackberry syrup.
> Recip.
> 1 box sure-jel,
> 3.5 cups wild blackberry juice
> 5 cups sugar.
> rolling boil for 1 minute.
>
> any ideas before I make the same mistake twice? if it sets up like cement it would be fine with me.
> Thanks,
>


I don't know about sure-gel. I usually use Certo for jams and jellies,
and that goes in after the fruit and and sugar has boiled. I usually
boil the fruit mixture longer than the instructions say.

If in doubt, do the set test in a cool inverted bowl.

> wrote in message
...
pretty sure the sure gel is fresh but I'll certainly check before the next
batch. I think you may be on to something with the processing. my
instructions are very vague and it was just dump it all together and boil
for 1min. later instructions said bring it back to a boil which made no
sense. part of the troubleshooting said be careful of under or over cooking
the pectin. thanks for the pointer and info now its off to the berry patch
Mike B.

---

I tend to boil things for longer than it says to do.