I bought my bread machine at home, but have I never used it except for making bread?
Our double-tube bread machine named Petri PE8990SUG was actually only used for kneading dough and baking bread.
One time, I saw a friend using a bread machine to make jam, and then I realized that this machine had many hidden skills.
On the weekend, I took out the endless apples at home and made a jar of clean and high-quality apple jam. The entire production process was so simple that there was no need to think about it.
Why choose a bread machine to make jam?
In the past, when making jam, you had to stand by the stove, guarding the pot, stirring constantly, and worrying that it would burn to the bottom. It took 40 to 50 minutes to cook like this.
After switching to a bread machine, my hands are completely freed.
Nowadays, most bread machines have a jam program, and the time and temperature have been set properly. You only need to put the ingredients into it and press the button.
The device I own called Petri PE8990SUG has a jam program that lasts 1 hour and 20 minutes. After completing the program, check the status. If you feel that the displayed state is not thick enough, then execute the program again.
There is no need to watch the fire or stir during the whole process, which is very suitable for lazy people or friends who are usually too busy raising children.
Material preparation is very simple
The apple jam I made this time used all the things I often have at home.
Fresh apples, after being peeled and cored, have a net weight of 500 grams. This weight can approximately fill two small jam bottles.
60 grams of rock sugar. I smashed some with a meat mallet to make it easier to melt.
20 grams of corn starch, dissolved with water in advance, and finally used to increase the consistency.
Half a lemon, squeeze for juice.
In this jam, starch and lemon juice play a key role. Lemon juice can prevent oxidation and discoloration of the apples, and can also adjust the sweet and sour taste. Cornstarch will make the jam more shiny and smoother in texture.
The production steps are actually two steps
After the apples are cut into small pieces, I then use a food processor to puree them. The jam made in this way will have a more delicate texture.
If you like a fruity texture, you can keep some pieces and not break them too much.
Pour the apple puree into the bread barrel, pour the crushed rock sugar into the bread barrel, pour the cornstarch water into the bread barrel, pour the lemon juice into the bread barrel, and then put the bread barrel into the machine.
Select the "Fancy Jam" program and press and hold the start button to start.
When the program ends for the first time, the jam is still a little thin, so the process is repeated once more to cook it to a point where the jam slows down when it is scooped up and does not drip immediately when it hangs on the spoon.
Bottle sterilization cannot be saved
The worst thing about making jam is that it won’t last long.
I was lazy and didn't sterilize the bottle properly before, and as a result, it started to grow hair within a few days.
Before making jam, the glass bottle and lid must be cleaned in advance, put into the pot with cold water, wait until the water boils and cook for ten minutes, take it out with a clean tong and turn it upside down to dry.
When the jam has just been cooked and its temperature is still very high, bottle it as quickly as possible while it is hot. Fill the bottle as much as possible to squeeze out the air.
Close the lid and turn it upside down immediately. This will create a vacuum in the bottle, allowing the jam to be stored for a longer period of time.
Wait until it's completely cool before placing it in the refrigerator.
What’s better about making your own jam than buying it?
If you turn over the jams in the supermarket and look at the ingredient list, you will often see a long list of ingredients that you cannot understand.
It would be easy to do it by yourself. It consists of four items: apple, rock sugar, lemon and starch, and they are all in a clean state.
Moreover, the sweetness can be adjusted by yourself. If you don’t want it to be too sweet, you can reduce the amount of rock sugar or use some sugar substitutes instead.
The applesauce made this time has just the right amount of sweetness and sourness. Spread it on freshly baked toast, or add it to plain yogurt and stir it before eating. The taste will give people an extremely comfortable feeling.
Children also love to eat it, so there is no need to worry about additives.
A little reminder
When making jam, if the apple itself is very sweet, the amount of rock sugar can be reduced appropriately.
At the beginning of the process, the starch water must be put in and stirred evenly, but be sure not to add it at the end, otherwise it will easily form lumps.
The jam program time of different bread machines is different. If the moisture is still high at the end of the first program, then execute the program again, and you can open it to check the status during the process.
When turning the glass bottle upside down, be careful because it will burn your hands. It is best to use a towel or anti-scalding gloves.
After opening the jam, you must use a clean spoon every time you use it to avoid contamination and extend its storage time.
Making a jar of jam by yourself does not actually take a lot of time. The key is to have the patience to wait for the machine to start working.
If you take the time to cook a can on the weekend, you will be looking forward to breakfast for the next week.
Making jam in a bread machine is clean, simple, and contains no additives. The key point is that the taste is very real. Give it a try and you will also get successful results in one go.
