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Grape Jelly Day
Today is grape jelly day. This is the simple recipe I'm using. (I've posted a slight modification, as I'm only using concord grapes.) Pictured is my first pass straining the juice through a cheesecloth. 10 cups of grapes makes a surprisingly small amount of jelly!
Ingredients
- approx 10 cps concord grapes
- 1 pkg fruit pectin crystals
- 5 cups granulated sugar
Directions
Rinse and drain grapes. Remove stems and any debris to make 10 cups (2.5 L).
In a large pot, crush grapes with potato masher. Add 1 cup (250 mL) water; bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
Scoop cooked grapes into a jelly bag or cheesecloth suspended over large bowl or jar. Let drip, without squeezing bag, until juice measures 4 cups (1 L), about 2 hours.
In large clean pot, bring juice and pectin to boil. Stir in sugar; bring to full rolling boil, stirring constantly with wooden spoon. Boil vigorously, stirring, for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam.
Using sterilized metal funnel and 1/2-cup (125 mL) measure, pour into hot sterilized 1-cup (250 mL) canning jars, leaving 1/4-inch (5 mm) headspace. If necessary, wipe rims. Cover with prepared lids; screw on bands fingertip tight.
Process in boiling water canner for 10 minutes. Transfer jars to rack; let cool, undisturbed, for 24 hours. Check for seal, ensuring that lids curve downward. If not, refrigerate and use within 3 weeks. Store in cool, dry, dark place for up to 1 year.




I have a question for the Cookbook community:
An opened jar of jelly is said to have a refrigerated shelf life of 6-8 months. This recipe suggests that if the jelly doesn't seal properly, it will have a refrigerated shelf life of three weeks.
Is this simply an abundance of caution, or is there some difference between an opened jar of jelly vs one that has never been sealed?
I think that's just an abundance of caution. I've read that you can keep fridge jams (with a high sugar content) for months without a problem. I personally never let jam linger that long in the fridge, any homemade jam that I want to store I just pop it in the freezer instead of canning it. I find this webpage to be informative: http://www.eatbydate.com/other/condiments/how-long-does-jam-last-shelf-life-expiration-date/ for my store-bought jams.
Thank you!