Pineapple has long ceased to be perceived as a rarity, worthy of only topping off the solemn table. We allow ourselves to enjoy this exotic fruit on a completely ordinary day. So, it's time to make pineapple jam. Just because it is a very tasty treat, from which not only kids, but also respectable adults will be delighted.
How to choose a ripe pineapple in the store
With the selection of exotics, many still have problems: we still have not had time to learn the signs of a normal fetus. And to make pineapple jam right and tasty, you need to take the raw materials ripe, but not overripe. You should focus on a number of proven signs.
- Smell. It should be light, but pronounced. If the aroma “beats in the nose” and seems heavy, the fetus is already overripe. Or maybe he began to rot.
- Top. The leaves of the “crown” should be juicy and thick, easily separated from the pineapple. A firmly topping tops says that the fruit is green, stale and yellow - that it is on the verge of spoilage.
- Elasticity. The ripe fruit feels soft to the touch, but the peel remains springy. Unripe fruits are hard, overripe - loose.
- Sound. Pineapple slap should be deaf. It becomes echoing if it is empty inside, that is, the fetus is overripe and “dried up”.
By the way, pineapple jam should be prepared immediately. In the refrigerator, the fruit quickly loses its flavor and acquires excess water content. If you don’t have a chance to jam right away, at least tightly wrap the purchase in paper.
Fresh pineapple jam: classic recipe
Jam can be prepared using the same rules that apply to harvesting from any fruit. The only clarification: the amount of sugar will have to be selected at your discretion. Pineapple itself is sweet, and the jam can be too cloying. So per kilogram of raw materials, different housewives put sugar in a very wide range - from 700 grams to one and a half kilograms. Accordingly, the amount of water is also being adjusted: 350 milliliters will be enough at the lower border, seven hundred will be needed at the top.
The main ingredient is cleaned, freed from the core, if necessary, "eyes" are cut out. Pineapple is cut into medium sized slices with a maximum thickness of one centimeter. Syrup is made from sugar and water; when cooled, they need to pour the slices of the fetus and leave them overnight.
At the second stage, the syrup is poured into an enamel container and boiled with regular removal of foam. Now it is poured into a bowl with hot pineapple.
The third step is to boil the syrup along with pieces of the fruit. Only it should not last long, from 5 to 7 minutes. If the pineapple jam, in your opinion, is still liquid, you need to remove the slices of the fruit and boil the syrup separately. When the consistency is correct, the pineapple is laid back, the jam is brought to a boil and immediately poured into sterile jars.
Alternative way
Some culinary experts believe that pineapple contains enough fluid to do without adding water. They prepare jam from it according to a different method: they clean the fruit and cut it in approximately the same cubes, after which it is passed through a blender or food processor. The resulting mashed potatoes are spread on a dry thick-bottom pan, and sugar intended for jam is poured here. One medium pineapple takes about two glasses. Keep on fire, stirring constantly, until all the sugar has dispersed. At the end (after turning off the fire), a little lemon juice is squeezed from pineapple jam. It is possible to pack on banks after cooling down.
Plenty of room for imagination
It is not necessary to make jam based on pineapple only. It is proved: jams are considered delicious, supplemented with apples, raisins, melons, mangoes (it is better to take their green variety), strawberries or rhubarb. Even with a pumpkin it turns out great! Experiment - and you will not regret your courage.