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3 jars of red jelly sitting on a wooden table top

How To Remake Jelly Or Jam That Didn't Set

Are you frustrated that your jelly or jam didn't set? Instead of putting up with runny jam, you can remake it easily it just takes a few minutes to save all your hard work.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Canning Time 10 minutes
Total Time 16 minutes

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

Powdered Pectin

  • For each quart of jelly or jam that you are recooking, you will need 1/4 cup of water, 1/4 cup of sugar, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and 4 teaspoons of powdered pectin. Measure this into a large pot and mix together.
  • Then add the jelly or jam that you want to recook and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly.
  • Boil hard for 1 minute then test a little on an ice-cold spoon to see if it sets up. If it doesn’t boil for another minute, if it does remove it from the heat, skim the foam and fill your mason jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
  • Remove air bubbles, wipe the lids clean and add the lids finger tight and process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes or according to your altitude.

Liquid Pectin

  • For each quart you are recooking you will need 3/4 cup of sugar, 2 tablespoons of liquid pectin, and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.
  • Bring the jelly to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly.
  • Remove it from the heat and quickly add the remaining ingredients, stir to combine.
  • Return the pot to the stove and bring the mixture back to a boil and boil it for 1 minute.
  • Test to see if the jelly is setting. If not then boil for another minute, if it is then remove it from the heat, skim the foam and fill your jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
  • Remove air bubbles, wipe the rims clean and add the lids finger tight and process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes or according to your altitude.

Without Adding Pectin

  • Pour the soft jam or jelly into a medium-sized pot and add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice for each quart of jelly you measured.
  • Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes
  • Test to see if it’s setting, if not continue to boil for 1 more minute if it is then remove it from the heat and skim off the foam.
  • Fill your jars leaving 1/4 inch of headspace and remove air bubbles.
  • Wipe the rims, add lids finger tight, and process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes or according to your altitude.

How To Remake Freezer Jelly With Powdered Pectin

  • Measure 4 cups of soft jelly into a small mixing bowl. Then stir a 1/2 cup of sugar into it until it has dissolved, it could take 3 to 4 minutes, then set it aside.
  • In a small saucepan heat up a 1/4 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of powdered fruit pectin on low heat. Stir it constantly until it has dissolved.
  • Then pour the heated pectin into your fruit and sugar mixture and stir well until it’s thoroughly blended. About 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Cover with tight lids and place into the refrigerator until it’s set. Once set, you can keep it in the fridge or freezer.

How To Remake Freezer Jelly With Liquid Pectin

  • Measure out 4 cups of jelly you want to remake and pour it into a small bowl.
  • Mix in 3/4 cup of sugar and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Stir it well until the sugar has dissolved, about 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Next, add 2 tablespoons of liquid pectin and stir for another 3 minutes until it’s dissolved into the fruit mix.
  • Pour it into clean containers and cover with tight-fitting lids. Place them in the refrigerator until set. Once set, you can keep it in the fridge or transfer it to the freezer.

Notes

Process jams and jellies in a water bath canner:
  • 0-1000 feet 5 minutes
  • 1001 to 6000 feet 10 minutes
  • Above 6000 feet 15 minutes

These values are from a nutritional database and automatically calculated, and should only be used as an approximation.