Homemade Pectin (Canning)
Gather your apples in early summer for best results.
INGREDIENTS | MAKES 1 ½ CUPS
- 2 pounds small green, immature apples or crabapples
- 4 cups water
Wash apples, trim bad parts, and slice very thinly. Place in a large stockpot; add 2 cups of water for each pound of apples. Cover pan; boil 15 minutes.
Strain juice through cheesecloth. Do not squeeze the pulp. Reserve the juice.
Put pulp back into pan; add same amount of water. Cook 15 minutes over medium heat.
Strain juices through cheesecloth, without squeezing the pulp. When pulp cools, you can press some more juice from it.
Heat stock to boiling point. Ladle into sterilized jars, leaving ½" headspace. Remove air bubbles. Cap and seal.
Process in water-bath canner 10 minutes.
Is It Sugar?
Sugar substitutes are usually artificially made. The exceptions are sorbitol and xylitol, both of which are natural sugar substitutes found typically in fruits and vegetables. There is some question about the potential health risks in synthetic sugar substitutes, so if you’re considering dramatically changing your diet, it’s good to check with your physician first.
