Concord Grape Jam

Although I used to can many things, I still like to make my grandkids favourites, like Concord grape jam. Since we live here in amongst the grape vines so to speak, it is one of those natural recipes, but don't kid yourself, it really is very easy, just get the kids or your friends to help you with the only time consuming part of this recipe is separating the skins from the pulp of the grape. Since these are Concord grapes it's relatively easy!

For this recipe, you will need at least 10 cups of grapes, before separating them from the stems. wash all the grapes while on the stems, as otherwise they take in water. Once you destem the grapes measure, it should be 8 cups give or take a cup. Then, take two steel pots, large enough to hold 10 cups, then separate the grape skins from the pulp, you should end up with all the grape skins in one pot, the pulp in another, add 1/2 cup of water to the skins, put the pulp on to cook on medium high heat,cook for 15 minutes until tender; cook the grape skins on medium heat,gently for 15 minutes. Once the pulp is ready, toss all of the pulp into a fine sieve, over the pot of grape skins, press the pulp through scraping the bottom of the sieve, until all you have left are the pits and a bit of pink pulp in the sieve, toss that part out. Stir the contents of the grape skins pot, turn the heat to medium high, add 6 cups of sugar, cook and stir until the sugar has dissolved, bring to boil, boil for a full minute, then turn down the heat until the contents are still boiling, but not threatening to boil over, this is called a "rolling boil", let it go stirring occasionally for 10 minutes.


Jars need to be clean and hot, so I take a tall stock pot, large enough to hold at least 6-8 ounce/250ml jars, fill with hot water and jars and snap lids, (that's the flat part)and put it on to boil, boil for at least 10 minutes. You can do this while you are watching your jam. Take the jars out with tongs, keep the water boiling, because once you fill the jars with hot jam, clean the edges, put the rubber lined flat snap lid on then the ring, you put the whole jar back into the boiling water for 15 minutes to aid in sterilizing and sealing the filled jars.

So that's the whole process, 10 cups of Concord grapes, 6 cups of sugar, 6-8 250 ml jars, with 2 part lids (the flat snap part and the ring to tighten it)(I always sterilize more jars than I need just in case there is more product). This can be done in a couple of hours from beginning to end, there you have the best tasting grape jam on the planet, no additives, preservatives, just fruit and sugar!