How to Make Peach Preserves

Fresh peaches are delicious eaten on their own, sliced over cereals and ice cream or made into pies and cobblers. You can enjoy their sweet flavor year-round by making jam during the summer peach season. This recipe makes 7 cups or 7 (8-oz.) jars.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 3 lbs. peaches to yield 4 cups crushed fruit
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 7 cups sugar
• 3 oz. liquid fruit pectin
• Jars
• Pots
• Sugar
• Spoons
• Ladels
• Damp cloths
• Hot water
• Lids
• Food processor
• Lemon juice
• Peaches
• Colander
• Pectin

1. Wash jars in hot soapy water and rinse. Place them on a rack in the sink and pour boiling water in and over each jar. Drain. Keep the jars hot by transferring them to a cookie tray and placing it in a 200-degree F oven.

2. Prepare the lids by placing them in a saucepan of gently boiling water.

3. Place the peaches in a colander and rinse them under cool running water. Cut the peaches in half, then remove and discard the pits. Place the fruit in a food processor and process for 35 to 45 seconds until it is quite smooth.

4. Measure the crushed peaches into a 6- or 8-qt. pot. Stir sugar and lemon juice into the fruit and mix well. Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly.

5. Add fruit pectin and return to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.

6. Remove the jam from the heat and skim off and discard any foam using a metal spoon. Ladle the jam into a liquid measuring cup and fill the jars immediately to within 1/8 inch of the tops.

7. Wipe the jar rims and threads with a clean, damp cloth.

8. Remove the jar lids from boiling water using tongs and place them on a paper towel. Wipe them dry.

9. Place the lids on the jars and screw them on tightly. Invert the jars for 5 minutes, then turn them upright.

10. Check the seals after 1 hour to make sure the lids are curving down.

Tips & Warnings

• When using a 2-piece lid, both pieces need to be sterilized in boiling water.
• If desired, the water bath process may be used in place of the inversion method. Follow the first 8 steps. Place lids on jars and screw them on tightly. Place jars on a sturdy rack in a canner or large saucepan of boiling water to cover the jars by 1 to 2 inches. Place the lid on the canner and bring water back to a boil. Boil 5 minutes for 8-oz. jars. Remove jars from the canner and let cool. Check the seals after 1 hour to make sure the lids are curving down.
• Jam making is a very hot process. Take extreme care.

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[nels4688]

on 8/25/2007 Ball canning suggests different proportions - 1/3 c lemon juice & 7 1/2 c sugar - and 6 oz liquid fruit pectin