I've got a bit of a glut of plums and want to preserve some but I don't want to make any more jam, pickle etc.
I keep reading about canning on American sites but they are talking about altitude and stuff. Is this weird American slang for something or should I go to the top of the Downs??!
Can someone explain what I do please? Is it just a case of putting stuff in jars with syrup and boiling the jars?
Thanks
You can bottle your plums. How? I don't have the faintest idea. Bet someone here knows though. Do a search in recipes and I'm sure you'll find the answer :)
my grandma used to use these jars that came with a rubber band, and a glass lid, and then those steel clips to clip the while thing together. you then had to boil the jars in a large pot of water for some time (half an hour or so) to sterilise and make a vacuum seal.
i think you can do it in a simpler way.
good jars with tight fitting screw lids, that 'pop' when opened (vacuum seal visible, basically). make a compote of plums, water and a little suger, some spices if you want. cook until soft, then fill into the jars while hot, huddle all the glasses together and wrap in towels to allow to cool slowly. in the morning, check that vacuum seal has set and you can pack them away for storage.
hth - check google for more info.
LL - in the UK, just use the 0-1000' figures.
http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/can_02/plum_halved.html is as good as any, I reckon. And http://missourifamilies.org/quick/foodsafetyqa/qafs227.htm expands on it.
We use a pressure cooker - much simpler. And we use either Kilner or Le Parfait jars. Still available. I have many to give away, since we don't do much any more.
or preserve them in brandy for christmas!
Thanks all..
Looby did something involving the best part of a bottle of Merlot some cloves and a cinnamon stick in the end, and then chucked the whole kit and kaboodle in the oven for gawd only knows how long..IN THE JARS!!!. I found this quite terrifying so took the dog for a walk, it seemed the safest thing.. Smelled marvelous I must admit. Apparently I can't try it yet and will have to wait until the weather gets cold, then it's going into a crumble.
Looby's OH.