Perfect summer preserves

Canning basics

• Fill boiling water canner two-thirds full of hot water. About 30 minutes before filling jars, start to heat.

• Use only new lids and canning jars that are free of nicks and cracks. Just before filling jars, heat lids in small saucepan of hot but not boiling (180°F/82°C) water until sealing compound is softened.

• Wash, rinse and air-dry jars. Ten minutes before filling, place jars, metal funnel and 1/2-cup (125 mL) metal measure in canner rack; heat to hot but not boiling (180°F/82°C).

• Fill hot jars using funnel and measure and leaving recommended headspace. If necessary, wipe rims with damp paper towel.

• Centre lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight.

• Return jars to canner. Add boiling water to cover by at least 1 inch (2.5 cm). Cover and return to boil; boil for specified time.

• Turn off heat. Let water stop boiling before removing jars. (Removing jars too early may cause leakage due to change in pressure.) Lift up rack with jars. With canning tongs, transfer jars to flat rack to cool and set, about 24 hours.

• Check that lids curve downward. Refrigerate any that do not and use within three weeks.

• Label and store jars in cool, dry, dark place for up to one year.

Setting point

• Plate test
Place two small plates in freezer before beginning to boil preserve. A few minutes before suggested boiling time, remove pot from heat. Drop 1/2 tsp (2 mL) preserve onto one chilled plate and let cool. Tilt plate; surface should wrinkle when pushed with fork. If too liquid, return to heat. Return plate to freezer. Repeat test every few minutes, using coldest plate, until desired consistency.

• Spoon Test
A few minutes before suggested boiling time, stir, lift up spoon, hold high and parallel to top of pan and tip enough for preserve to run off. Before setting point is reached, liquid is thin and runs off quickly, usually in two streams. As preserve nears setting point, liquid thickens and runs off more slowly as the two streams begin to merge. When setting point is reached, liquid will run off slowly and two drops will run together forming sheet that hesitates on edge of spoon.

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