Simple Shredless Orange Marmalade (or with shreds)
A delightfully sharp and tangy, simple shredless (or with shreds) orange marmalade that will appeal to young and old alike.
Servings 3 - 4 jars
Equipment
- 1 Preserving pan or similar sized pan
- 1 Slotted spoon
- 1 long wooden spoon
- 1 Metal sieve
- 1 jam funnel
- 1 ladle
- 4 x 280 ml Jam jars and lids (or your choice of sizes)
Ingredients
- 670 grams organic oranges
- 1 organic lemon weighing about 125 grams
- 1.59 kilograms granulated sugar can be warmed in oven to speed dissolving
- 1.15 litres water
Instructions
- Before you start, place 2 saucers in the freezer and sterilise jars (see notes).
- Wash the oranges and lemon to clean and remove any wax coating (even organic fruit can have a natural wax coating). See notes below.
- Pierce a hole in the end of the oranges and lemon (I used a large metal skewer).
- Place the fruit and water in as small a pan as they will fit (the water won't cover the fruit fully) and cover with a lid.
- Bring to the boil and then boil gently until soft (about 1 ¾ hrs) and test with a skewer. Do not lift the lid at any point before the end.
- When the fruit is easily pierced with a skewer remove from pan with a slotted spoon. Cut fruit it into quarters, remove pips and slice thinly.
- Transfer the hot liquid to a large preserving pan and add the cut up pulp.
- Place a few saucers in the freezer to test for set.
- Bring the liquid and pulp to the boil, then turn down heat to low and add the sugar. Stir with a wooden spoon until sugar dissolved (until no crunching sounds can be heard).
- Turn heat up to high to bring mixture to a rolling boil (see photo in post above) and time for 13 minutes (or reaches 105°C on a digital thermometer), still stirring. You can tell when jam is nearing readiness as a drop of marmalade will cling to wooden spoon as you pour it off.
- Test a few drops on a chilled saucer and put in the fridge for 30 seconds. If it forms a gel like crinkle when pushed it is ready. Otherwise carry on boiling for 2 minutes intervals and re-testing (mine took 15 minutes).
- Strain the marmalade through a large metal sieve placed over a clean bowl, squeezing the rinds with the back of a spoon. Or skip this step for marmalade with shreds.
- Push any scum to the side of the pan and remove with a metal spoon.
- Use a ladle and jam funnel (if you have one) to fill the hot sterilised jars and screw on lids immediately.
- Makes at just over 3 x 280 ml (9 oz) jars.
Video
Notes
- Before you start: Sterilise 4 x 280 ml (9 oz) jars and lids by washing thoroughly in hot soapy water (or take straight from dishwasher), fill jars with boiling water, empty and place on a baking tray. Bake in a preheated oven at 140°C for 20 mins and keep the jars there until ready to pot up. Place lids in a bowl and pour over boiling water. Use tongs to lift out and drain on a clean tea towel or draining rack.
- To clean the oranges and lemon, make a paste with bicarbonate of soda and water, rub it into the skins, and then rinse off with boiling water.