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olychick2

Refreezing berry juice for jam making?

6 years ago

I cleaned out my freezer and thawed a bunch of berries to make room for more important things, thinking I'd just make jam while I'm in covid jail. But I got about a gallon of juice and pulp after I removed all the seeds. Not sure I want to use so much of my sugar stash to devote to jam right now.

How much would the quality and flavor of the jam be affected if I refroze some of the juice/pulp. Would I just end up with beautiful but flavorless jam in the future? Any opinions?

Comments (12)

  • 6 years ago

    I have had to do that several times and had no real loss of flavor. I do cook it down a bit though to reduce the water content then when it I'd cool I put it in a couple of quart jars leaving enough headroom, sealed with plastic wrap held in place with jar rings. I did try once using a freezer bag. Not a good experience. Somehow the bag got microscopic holes and while it was thawing juice ran everywhere and I had to throw it all away since I couldn't be sure of the purity.

    Olychick thanked ediej1209 AL Zn 7
  • 6 years ago

    Thanks, if I refreeze, I'd probably put it in mason jars to do so, just to be sure it doesn't leak.

  • 6 years ago

    It'll be fine....if it doesn't leak!!

    Olychick thanked lindac92
  • 6 years ago

    Just be sure to leave about 1" headspace since it will expand during the freezing process.

    Olychick thanked ediej1209 AL Zn 7
  • 6 years ago

    growing up, we used frozen grape juice concentrate to make jellies. flavorful! paraffin sealed the jars.

    Olychick thanked bragu_DSM 5
  • 6 years ago

    I know bragu...I miss the paraffin seals! Seems to me we used to chew it like gum when we opened a new jar of jam? Not sure how good it was, or if I'm even remembering correctly.

  • 6 years ago

    I agree, it will be fine, and with the amount of sugar that goes into jam,even low sugar jam, I don't think any possible reduction in flavor would be noticeable.

    I often freeze apple cider in mason jars, just leave plenty of head space. I find that the wide mouth jars work best, that way I can thaw it slightly and just dump it out of the jar to thaw in another container if I choose.

    Annie


    Olychick thanked annie1992
  • 6 years ago

    I know I can freeze berries or their juice for jam, which I do every year. I was more concerned about thawing and seeding the berries, then re-freezing the juice - will that reduce the quality and flavor?

  • 6 years ago

    No.

    Olychick thanked sheilajoyce_gw
  • 6 years ago

    Thank you all!

  • 6 years ago

    No, I don't think you will reduce quality or flavor. I've thawed berries, divided them into freezer packs for smoothies and then refroze them and they were fine, no one knew the difference.

    Annie