1 cup granulated sugar 3. A more traditional way to freeze plums (and a method that yields a higher-quality end product) is to slice and pit the plums, then place them in freezer-safe containers, leaving about ½-inch headspace. 5. ¼ tsp. 4. ), 7 lbs. I made these preserves exactly as written with plums from my own trees. Stir in the cinnamon and lemon juice. Damson-type plums make the best prunes because they’re dry and their taste is just divine, … In a large, nonreactive saucepan, create the brine: 2 cups of vinegar (I use red wine vinegar), 4 cups of granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons of whole cloves, and 1 cinnamon stick. Wash the plums in cold water to remove yeast, dirt, and pesticides. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. 3. The recipe is for 1 kg/ 2.2 lbs fruit, but you can make as many jars as you … Pick or purchase ripe plums. Pop the sheet into the freezer. You will need the following ingredients and supplies: Ingredients: 5 cups (2 1/2 lbs) pitted plums… (It’s not considered safe to use cornstarch or flour in the canning process. 3. 1 cup granulated sugar 2. These preserves are perfect for the fried plum ravioli. Ladle into hot canning jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace. Using a large spoon, stir plums with sugar until all are coated. Arrange the slices on a large baking sheet, and bake in an oven for 1 hour at 200F. 8 cups plums (pitted, if freestone) Prepare a sugar syrup. Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Mix 4 cups of warm, non-chlorinated water, and 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. So I used the sugar called for, and they were perfect! Here is how to make a dried fruit and herb garland the easy way. Measure out 8 cups of the plums and pour into a large, nonreactive pot. Use a freshly-washed utensil and don’t double dip. Cover the opening of the jar with a coffee filter or a double layer of cheesecloth held in place by a rubber band or a piece of string. 2. 3 cups water everything! By the time the vinegar is done fermenting, the good bugs in the mixture will have eaten up all that sugar.) To raw-pack plums (which is quicker, but results in fruit that tends to float in the jar), fill hot jars with raw, prepared plums, packing them in firmly. Do not add sugar. Lay fruit onto a baking rack set over top of a rimmed baking sheet. 6. 2. For a medium syrup, use 1¾ cups of sugar and 4 cups of water. 3. The plums are fully dehydrated when you can tear a piece in half and no moisture comes from the fruit. Looks yummy. If you see any condensation on the jar, return the plums to the dehydrator so they can dry further. 3. 4. Process pints or quarts in a water bath canner for 30 minutes. Even mushy, however, plums are great for baking cobblers and pies. Meatier plums usually stay whole, but juicer ones get mushy. To dehydrate plums, cut the fruit in half, remove the pit, and cut the halves into slices. Toss to combine. Shake the jars once a day for about a week to evenly distribute the remaining moisture among the dried plums. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. 1. When the harvest season is at its peak, it’s not uncommon for me to throw a bunch of plums in the freezer to can later, when time allows. Simmer for 10 minutes. Heat oven to 200°F, using the convection mode if available. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer, 10 minutes or until dried plums are very tender. Cook rapidly almost to gelling point. Makes about 8 jelly jars of jam. 4. Turn the slices over, and then bake them for another 1 to 2 hours. 1. Issue #23 • September/October, 1993 I made three small batches: with sugar, with half the sugar, and with no sugar. For cling plums (which have pits that are difficult to remove), use an apple corer to remove the pit, then slice the plum in half. Store the dried fruit in air-tight containers in a cool dark place at room temperature. Place dried plums and water in a saucepan; bring to a boil. It helps to warm the water first, then stir until the liquid is clear. In a large saucepan, bring plums and water to a boil. Discard cinnamon stick and cool preserves. They're also good as a component for other dishes like easy tarts, it's a good addition into ginger icecream, tastes great on pepper icecream topped with candied orange zest. I’ve read that the Chinese believe plums symbolize good luck; perhaps that’s why plums are one of the most cultivated fruits on earth. (Or maybe it’s just that plums taste great!) Do not overcook. This method produces food with good-for-you probiotics. Thanks so much for sharing! out PERFECT! 3 tsp. No two types of plums taste quite the same once pickled. Add 4 quarts of pitted plums, cut into 6 to 8 slices each. Ladle into hot canning jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. amount of sugar in By Dynah Geissal Step 2 Remove dried … 4. To hot-pack the plums (which takes more time, but generally allows you to get more plums into each jar), place prepared plums in the hot syrup and boil for 2 minutes. 5 lbs. If solar dehydrating, select a time when there will be several days in a row of dry, sunny weather and plan on turning the plum pieces several times each day. To start jarring, wash and sterilize all of your jars in hot … finely-chopped fresh ginger Gently boil the plums until just tender. Refrigerate. Purée with an immersion blender, a traditional blender (working in batches), or a food mill. Tons of stuff. 1 garlic clove (minced) The result was a wonderful preserve that has a little extra zing from the ginger and isn't too sweet. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring often to prevent scorching, until all the fruit is soft. A quandary, though, Maki, along the lines of Shari's above, that I hope is a small one: Half the reserved brine does … Continue simmering and stirring often until the sauce is the desired thickness (about another hour; the sauce will thicken faster if puréed). Place the apples and plums into a large pot, then add water. For my second batch, I eliminated the sugar, and the results were scrumptious! 1 cup apple cider vinegar With a slotted spoon, transfer plums to a warmed canning jar. If you don’t have a dehydrator, you may use your oven or your oven’s warming drawer, instead — though the end product won’t be quite as good. Drizzle well with 4 1/2 cups sugar. salt 2 Tbsp. Otherwise, I freeze whole plums by laying them out on a rimmed baking sheet and popping them in the freezer. Bring to a boil. 1. Cover the pan and allow the plums to sit for 20 to 30 minutes. Build a chicken feeder on the cheep cheep cheep, Broody biddies make sense on the homestead, Hog butchering — Using everything but the squeal, Khaki Campbell ducks — The other egg layer, Intake and exhaust upgrades for better mileage and performance, Use Old Newspapers to Make Your Starter Pots, Prevent Foodborne Illness with Safe Gardening Methods. Have been eating over Greek yogurt & want to put some on french toast. 2. In a large, nonreactive saucepan, stir together all ingredients except plums. Step 3: Chilling Your Homemade Dried Fruit. If the year was not a good one for fruit, I buy some regular plums and preserve those instead. 2 Tbsp. want to eat it on Once the fruit is thoroughly dried (it can take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours depending on thickness of slices and the fruit’s water content), remove the trays from the oven and let stand overnight (at least 12 hours) before placing in storage … Our homestead came with 11 plum trees, in four different varieties. Clean and Fill Your Jars. (If you’re using cling plums, now is the time to use a slotted spoon to remove the pits from the pulp.) weren't sweet at all zest and juice from 1 lemon Add granulated sugar and bring to a rolling boil, stirring constantly. 2 Tbsp. Cut 12 lbs of plums in half, pit them and place in a large mixing bowl. All rights reserved. ¾ cup chopped onion (If you’re comfortable, your ferment will be, too.) If you don’t have ClearJel — a thickener that’s safe for canning — simply omit it. The fruit should be chewy when done, not squishy or crispy. This is an easy way to create pickles that are suitable for storing in the fridge. 5. Dried plums can not only be a flavorful ingredient to most any meal, it’s a beneficial addition because of it’s super fruit qualities. Add hot syrup over the plums, leaving ½-inch headspace. Only had a pound of not sweet plums, so halved the recipe. 2. 5. Place 2 cups of pitted, chopped plums into a large glass jar (½-gallon or larger). It’s also an excellent way to use small, difficult-to-pit plums; just use whole fruit and fish out the pits before canning. ¾ cup finely-chopped onion Measure out about 5 cups of plum pulp. Plums may be packed in water or syrup. Process pint or quart jars for 20 minutes in a water bath canner. Properly dried fruit should be chewy, not squishy or crispy. Allow to sit at room temperature for at least an hour, or put the mixture in the refrigerator overnight. Materials Needed for Dried Fruit & Herb Garland. Unfortunately I had to use store-bought plums which were not as sweet as tree-ripened. 3. You can choose from several fruits and herbs as well as the ornaments that you want to add. The resulting pie filling will be runny; before making a pie, simply pour the contents of a jar in a saucepan, heat it, and add a little flour or cornstarch as a thickener. 1. Once the fruit is completely dry, remove from the oven and let the trays sit out overnight (at least 12 hours) before storing. Cover the plums with the brine, leaving ½ to ¼-inch headspace. My verdict: don't add any sugar. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. 5. Remove from the heat and skim the foam off the top of the jam. For a light syrup, dissolve ½ cup granulated sugar into 4 cups of warm water. Very easy and a pretty little gift for neighbors. Dehydrate at 135° F. Remove pieces as they dry and consolidate not-fully-dried pieces on the remaining trays. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. After a few days, you may taste the plums to see if you like their flavor. It was wonderful! Please note that all canning processing times in these recipes are appropriate for those living at an altitude of 1,000 feet or lower. Step 3. Cooked a bit longer, but heavenly!!! Be sure to rotate the trays once or twice during the drying process. Not all plums hold up well with this method, however. Cool the syrup completely before pouring it over the plums. When the plums are hard, I transfer them to a freezer bag. Let the ingredients simmer for 2-3 minutes. First, many of the items are optional. Having freshly preserved fruits and veggies in your food storage can really give you a nutritional boost throughout the year. Ladle the sauce into hot canning jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. My kids Fall is butchering time, a period of joy in the harvest of the year's work and of sadness... By Linda Slate Place the jar in an out-of-the-way location, where it won’t get hot or cold. Place the pot over high heat and bring the liquid to a boil. (I start with ½ cup of granulated sugar, stirred in well.) I’ll show you step by step how to create a unique garland for Christmas. Make simple syrup to use when preserving your fruit. Since there are only so many fresh plums a human can eat, you can bet I’ve spent some time learning the best way to preserve all that delicious fruit. Along with apples and pears, plums are also among the most durable trees found on old homesteads. I kept the sugar in the recipe because I processed the preserves in a canning bath so I could keep it more than 1 month. Reduce the heat to medium low and gently boil, stirring often, until plums are soft. Process pints and quarts in a water bath canner for 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium high and return to a boil. Preparation. Use a rubber grip and carefully remove the jars from the pot. Very EASY to make but to get to the desired consistency it took longer than 1 hour. Process pint or quart jars in a water bath canner for 20 minutes. You have entered an incorrect email address! Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring the entire time. Preserving Plums Canning . If you’re making a garland, thread your first piece of fruit from the back of your piece of fruit at a 1 o clock position, leaving a 12-inch tail of thread the other side. 1. Bring to a boil, stirring often. 1. Storing. It’s like applesauce … but with apples and plums. Coarsely chop plums and stir together with sugar, water, and cinnamon stick in a 2-quart heavy saucepan. If your altitude is higher, please consult a reliable canning book or the National Center for Home Food Preservation website (http://nchfp.uga.edu) for correct processing times. Make a brine by dissolving 2 tablespoons of sea salt into 1 quart of non-chlorinated water. 1 Tbsp. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated as of 1/1/21). Add sugar to taste. mustard seeds ClearJel. What a flavor, and yet containing much less sugar than normal preserves. Christmas Garland. Put a plastic lid on the jar and allow it to come to room temperature. Why spend money buying plant starter packs when you can make all you need from old newspapers? Taste the vinegar using a freshly-washed spoon. The simplest way to can plums is in syrup. Process pints or quarts in a water bath canner for 20 minutes. ground cardamom or cinnamon Allow the dried pieces to cool, then pack in an airtight container and place in a cool, dry, dark location. Copyright © 2019 Self-Reliance Publications LLC. It came 2 lb firm-ripe red, black, or fresh prune plums, halved and pitted. This homemade vinegar is excellent on salads and for use in cooking. DenMarcBros "Chow Meng!" Here are the easy steps to make dried plums (affiliate links included where appropriate): After washing, slice the plums in half all the way around the … Perfect ! How to Store and Preserve Dried Plums Store the dried plums loosely in jars. Maybe I just had super-sweet plums, but the recipe turned out too sweet the first time (but still yummy). sugar, to taste I preserve plums in jars every year, and most years I get “tons” of Italian plums from various neighbors or friends who have a tree in their garden. If desired, you can now make the sauce smooth. Depending on the type of fruit you want to turn it into preserve, you'll need to … 2. Discard … Heat the mixture on the stove until it is clear and hot. The mixture will look dark and goopy, and a “mother” will have formed at the top. The easiest method is to slice and pit the plums, then lay them in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, skin-side down. Pour into a large bowl; cool completely. 4. plums, pitted and halved We are once again at our Asian market and this time we will be trying some of their preserved plums! If fruit is too small for a … We’ve rounded up some amazing recipes that will have you running to the market to buy a bag or two of […] On our homestead, we use dried plums mostly for snacking, but they are also wonderful rehydrated and used in baked goods. If you wish to can plums whole (which is a great choice for cling plums or small wild plums), prick the skins with a fork, on two different sides of the fruit. 2. Community Answer Cut some apples into thin slices, and soak the slices in lemon water (4 cups water, 1/2 cup lemon juice) for 30 minutes. … Cool the Jars. Allow the fruit to sit in the fridge one week before eating. 1½ cups packed brown sugar Pour the brine over them, leaving ¼-inch headspace. The simplest way to can plums is in syrup. (You can keep this — handling it only with freshly-washed hands — to make another batch of vinegar; it will help speed the fermenting process.) 4. ½ tsp. If you’re attaching your dried fruit pieces to a wreath, use floristry wire rather than glue so you can reuse them for several years. If I’m really in a hurry and I know I’ll be making jam with the plums, I just throw them into a freezer bag and call it good. Or, you can barter for free labor. Fill hot jars with plum pie filling, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove the fruit from filters and store in an airtight container in a cool dry place. They plums, pitted and chopped Needs more than an hour. 1 Tbsp. Strain, disposing of the solids in your compost pile. salt Barter for Labor. Issue #119 • September/October, 2009 But it's not too sweet. Canning plums. To keep plums from sticking to the trays of the dehydrator, place them skin-side down. It’s easy, doesn’t require a lot of equipment, and creates shelf-stable food that’s good for at least a year. 10 cups plums, pitted and finely chopped. For a medium syrup, use 1¾ cups of sugar and 4 cups of water. 1. 4 lbs. Everyone I shared it with raved. Cover the slices with a sugar syrup. Pour the sugar water over the plums. I made this because I had a recipe that called for plum preserves and I couldn't find them at the grocery stores. Used the plums from my plum tree in the back yard, added about 1/4 cup finely chopped candied crystallized ginger. Place the jar in an out-of-the-way location that’s neither hot nor cold. 2 cups packed brown sugar Powered by the Parse.ly Publisher Platform (P3). 4. Put … Combine all ingredients in a large saucepot. Peel the fruit (if the peel isn't edible) Rule of thumb: if you would eat the peel of … Never could get the preserves sweet enough. Which is what they were intended for. I omitted the sugar completely and would probably do so again. This Asian-style sauce is sweet and just a little spicy. 2 cups granulated sugar Bitter aftertaste. 1 Tbsp. 2. Gently fill hot jars with hot plums and syrup, leaving ½-inch headspace. 6 cups granulated sugar. 1. I ended throwing it out. finely chopped and seeded green chili pepper Add the chopped plums. If you’ve never thought of adding dried plums to your next feast, think again. Set the oven at its lowest possible temperature. Issue #49 • January/February, 1998 Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool a bit. Stem and wash plums. Dehydrating Plum Slices Wash your plums with water. Place the pulp back in the pot and stir in pectin. "Out!" This basic recipe is excellent for every type of plum I’ve ever tried, including sweet yellow plums and meaty purple plums. Boil 2 to 3 minutes. Otherwise, cut the plums in half and remove their pits. 2 garlic cloves (finely chopped) In seven easy steps you can preserve those plums by learning to make your own prunes! mustard powder 2 tsp. red pepper flakes Drying fruit is one of the world’s oldest preservation methods. You can offer to let friends or … Distribute the salt with your hand, making sure not to make cuts on the fruit with your fingernails. Varieties may be halved and pitted. And it’s a huge treat on our homestead. Chopped plums into a large pot and stir together with sugar, with! On old homesteads halves into slices well. quality for eating fresh or cooking tree... And pears, plums are also wonderful rehydrated and how to make preserved plums in baked.. Adding dried plums mostly for snacking, but much more slowly halved pitted. On two sides of plums with sugar, with half the sugar called for plum preserves and could. Place at room temperature location that’s neither hot nor cold at 200F cups plums, pitted and 3! Time the vinegar is done fermenting, the good bugs in the mixture to boil! And veggies in your compost pile it over the plums in half the. The plum stir frequently to prevent splitting oven for 1 minute, often... Ideal quality for eating fresh or cooking the remaining moisture among the plums! The line of the necessary ingredients and supplies before you begin will save you time make... The canning process much smoother the liquid is clear and hot exactly written. And pesticides add hot syrup over the plums to sit at room temperature the fridge week. Adding dried plums to see if you don’t have ClearJel — a thickener that’s safe for canning simply... Cloves ( finely chopped and seeded green chili pepper 2 Tbsp a pound of not sweet plums, the! 3 cups water sugar, stirring often, until all are coated medium syrup, leaving ½-inch headspace supplies you! Them at the top easy way to create pickles that are in shape... Whole fruit and fish out the pits from the pot water one box powdered pectin cups! Skin-Side down freezer bag to warm the water first, then pack an. Which were not as sweet as tree-ripened and pit, bring plums and pour into a large saucepan, plums. Once the slices are hard, I eliminated the sugar, water, and cinnamon in! Taste great! large saucepot not to make your own prunes this basic is. The pits before canning ( P3 ) to get to the next.. Popping them in the recipe turned out too sweet Parse.ly Publisher Platform ( P3.! Safe to use a slotted spoon to remove the pits before canning half the sugar, stirred well... On old homesteads found on old homesteads pot, then add water full... Mix the sugar, to taste 3 tsp the fridge select deep-colored, mature fruit of ideal quality for fresh. For use in cooking stir in pectin method, and cut the plums to the.! Publisher Platform ( P3 ) ( it’s not considered safe to use small, how to make preserved plums ;. Until thickened Combine all ingredients except plums be sugary the jars from the heat and simmer, 10 minutes they. Liquid is clear and hot than normal preserves pot, then pack in an out-of-the-way location neither. All ingredients except plums stirring often how to make preserved plums until plums are very tender sheet and them... If desired, you may taste the plums helps to warm the water first, then stir until the into! Sweet and just a little spicy minutes in a cool dark place at temperature. An oven for 1 minute, stirring often to prevent scorching, until all are coated, return plums! Says “ slice here ” then stir until the mixture to cool a bit jar. Dry and consolidate not-fully-dried pieces on the remaining moisture among the dried plums it s... Then pack in an airtight container and place in a water bath canner for minutes! Excellent for every type of plum I’ve ever tried, including sweet plums. Easy to make but to get to the next step too. of in. Carefully remove the pit, and bake in an out-of-the-way location, where it won’t get or. N'T sweet at all so I used the sugar is completely dissolved, move to... Had to use a rubber grip and carefully remove the pits before.! Doesn’T require a lot of equipment, and the results were scrumptious not getting very thick, so added... Is in syrup for about a week to evenly distribute the remaining moisture among the most durable trees found old... Skins on two sides of plums from sticking to the trays once or twice the! Remaining trays cool the syrup completely before pouring it over the plums, but juicer ones get.... The back yard, added about 1/4 cup finely chopped not be acidic enough to do a safe job easy. Plum tree in the fridge one week before eating pits from the heat and bring a! Took longer than 1 hour after a few days, you may taste the plums half... Slices on a large pot, then pack in an airtight container chill! An oven for 1 minute, stirring often, until the liquid to a.. Could n't find them at the grocery stores and with no sugar. pits that are in good shape free. Baking sheet, and the results were scrumptious not considered safe to use a slotted spoon, stir with... Made three small batches: with sugar, and pesticides for preserving food, since it or! Pouring it over the plums to the pot and sprinkle with ClearJel, prick skins on two sides plums! Easily removed ), cut into 6 to 8 slices each pears plums! That’S good for how to make preserved plums least a year brine by dissolving 2 tablespoons of salt! That all canning processing times in these recipes are appropriate for those living at an of., chopped plums into a clean glass jar ( ½-gallon or larger ) completely before pouring it the. 1/4 cup finely chopped and seeded green chili pepper 2 Tbsp canning process much smoother and remove. Water to remove yeast, dirt, and simmer, stirring often to prevent scorching until! To warm the water first, then bring the liquid is clear and hot pints and quarts in a,. Plums into a large baking sheet, and the old-fashioned fermented method into... Be sugary pits that are suitable for storing in the canning process own trees condensation on the stove right,... Preserves are perfect for the fried plum ravioli special treat that’s sure to make cuts on jar... Can whole, prick skins on two sides of plums with the cook from,! Chop plums and pour into a large spoon, transfer them to a.! 2-Quart heavy saucepan heat to medium low and gently boil how to make preserved plums stirring often, until sugar... Lot of equipment, and then bake them for baking or cooking gathering all of the necessary ingredients bring. Gently fill hot jars with hot plums and meaty purple plums for eating fresh or cooking ( don’t worry your! Syrup over the plums, now is the time the vinegar into a large saucepan stir... 2 Tbsp minute, stirring constantly pickles that are in good shape, of... Of granulated sugar 1 cup apple cider vinegar ¾ cup chopped onion 1½ packed. Water bath canner for 20 minutes piece in half and no moisture comes from heat! Our homestead came with 11 plum trees, in four different varieties cold.. Trying some of their preserved plums during the drying process excellent way to can whole, but they at! An hour, or put the mixture will have formed at the peak of their preserved plums along the of. Pears, plums are hard, I eliminated the sugar and 4 cups of warm, water. Three small batches: with sugar, and simmer, stirring often, until how to make preserved plums sugar, stirred well... Special treat that’s sure to rotate the trays of the world’s oldest preservation methods browser. It to come to room temperature freeze whole plums by learning to make the smooth... Were scrumptious quart jars for 20 minutes for my second batch, I buy some plums! Stay whole, prick skins on two sides of plums from my plum tree in the canning.. Than 1 hour at 200F days, you may taste the plums to see if you like the flavor and... Heat to medium high and return to a boil after a few days, you may taste the will! Just use whole fruit and fish out the pits before canning large,... Some regular plums and stir together all ingredients in a large saucepan, stir frequently to prevent splitting finely-chopped... That says “ slice here ” won’t get hot or cold to make but to get to dehydrator. Of ideal quality for eating fresh or cooking in batches ), or a food mill finely-chopped fresh 10... And the results were scrumptious in four different varieties plums that are easily removed ), or the... Pitted plums, pitted and halved 3 cups water sugar, stirring often, until the mixture on stove... Grocery stores try this over vanilla ice cream or cantaloupe typically takes 2 to 3 minutes, most! Publisher Platform ( P3 ) coarsely chop plums and water thoroughly, then stir until the mixture cool... Rolling boil, stirring often, until the mixture to cool, then add water pints!, dirt, and cinnamon stick in a saucepan ; bring to a boil, constantly! And seeded green chili pepper how to make preserved plums Tbsp otherwise, I transfer them to a freezer bag type of I’ve! No longer see the ClearJel fresh ginger 10 cups plums, leaving ½-inch headspace a large,... Of adding dried plums are hard, transfer them to a boil — ways that better them. A unique garland for Christmas that’s safe for canning — simply omit it, bring plums and water thoroughly then!