I’m one of those cooks that has to multitask while I’m in the kitchen. Whether it’s grating cheese while the meat is cooking or measuring ingredients while water is boiling. I’m never happy just doing one thing when it comes to food preparation. So I was really excited when I was contacted about the FreshTECH Automatic Jam & Jelly Maker, “automatic” being a key word.
This jam and jelly maker allows the busy cook, like you and me, the ability to multitask while it consistently stirs the jam with a few presses of a button. I also loved the nonstick interior which made it very easy to clean. It was honestly one of the nicest appliances I have used in the kitchen and required only a leisurely effort on my part to make it all happen.
While the jam and jelly was cooking I had the time to clean up the kitchen, I loved that! When done, it was just a matter of filling the jars. From there you can go on to preserving them if that is what you want to do. These jams and jellies will not last long in my house so into the refrigerator they went.
A nice little cookbook was provided and you can choose either jam or jelly on the keypad which sets the timer. Recipes are also written for regular and reduced sugar choices.
If you are a jam maker this is a nice way to free up your hands with FreshTECH’s SmartStir technology that constantly and consistently stirs the jam. This eliminates any guesswork as to whether your jam is finished. This also means you do not have to turn on the stove, a plus during the summer months.
For the strawberry jam I chopped up my strawberries and mashed them slightly with a potato masher.
I added pectin to the bottom of the jam maker with my mashed strawberries on top. A 1/2 teaspoon of butter is added to reduce foaming. Sugar is added before the lid is placed on and twenty minutes later the jam is ready for the jars. It was that easy! No standing at the stove and stirring and sweating over a hot pan was necessary.
My boys have been smothering this over their breakfast toast. I really don’t mind it since it’s so easy to make another batch.
I was so excited to make a batch of pepper jelly in the FreshTECH as well. It is the best little appetizer to have on hand when someone stops by.
It was just a matter of chopping up my green peppers and jalapenos and placing them in the FreshTECH with cider vinegar, sugar, pectin and BAM the pepper jelly is ready in less than 25 minutes. SO great!
Served on a rice cracker with some cheese it is an irresistible little bite. You can’t eat just one or four…very addictive flavor if you ask me.
Strawberry Jam & Pepper Jelly
Ingredients
Strawberry Jam
- 2-2/3 cups crushed strawberries
- 3 Tablespoons Ball RealFruit Classic Pectin
- 1/2 teaspoon butter
- 3-1/3 cups granulated sugar (2 cups for reduced sugar recipe but more strawberries will be needed)
For the Pepper Jelly:
- 2-1/3 cups finely chopped, seeded green bell pepper
- 1/3 cup finely chopped seeded and deveined jalapeno
- 2/3 cup cider vinegar
- 3 Tablespoons Ball RealFruit Classic Pectin
- 1/2 teaspoon butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar (a reduced sugar amount)
Directions
- For the strawberry jam: Mash strawberries. Add pectin to machine, Add strawberries. Add butter. Press jam button and press enter. Appliance will begin stirring and in 4 minutes it will beep indicating it is time to add the sugar and place lid on the pot. At this point you'll have about 15 minutes before it's done and ready to put in the jars. Skim any foam if necessary (I didn't have any) and place in jars and preserve how you would like.
- For the pepper jelly: Add pectin to machine. Add pepper, jalapeno, vinegar and butter. Press jelly button (which defaults to 25 minutes) and press the (-) minus button until time reads 21 minutes. Press enter. In 4 minutes machine will beep indicating it's time to add the sugar and cover with the lid. When jelly is done place in jars and preserve to your liking.
Who wouldn’t love all of these in their fridge or pantry to get you through the winter months? Watch this video to see it in action.
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Disclosure: The FreshTECH Jam and Jelly Maker was provided to me to test in my kitchen. All opinions about this wonderful product are my own as I really did enjoy working with it. I look forward to creating many versions of jams and jellies in my home kitchen.
