Easy Concord Grape Jam Preserve Recipe

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If we had to capture this Concord grape jam in one word, it’d be “classic.” Indeed, like the cherished strawberry jam of our childhoods, it’s a classic favorite. Whether enjoyed by the spoonful or tucked into your PB&J, classics are simple yet universally loved. It’s a taste of the past that never goes out of style and a reminder that some of life’s greatest pleasures are found in the simplest of flavors. We hope our Concord grape jam recipe becomes a timeless treasure in your recipe book. Enjoy!

Grapes used in this jam recipe

When our friend gave us a crate of Concord grapes, we weren’t sure what to do with them. We could have eaten them row but these are not the best table grapes out there. If you’re uncertain whether you’ve had Concord grapes before, they’re typically small to medium-sized, round, and deep blue-purple in color. Unlike other table grapes, Concord grapes have relatively thick and tough skins, which can be somewhat astringent and are usually not eaten. Concord grapes is a popular choice to make grape jams and grape jelly preserves

Simple Concord Grape Jam Recipe

Bursting with the sweet and tangy flavour of ripe Concord grapes, this jam is a nostalgic taste of summer preserved in a jar. With just grapes, sugar, and a touch of lemon juice, you can create a delicious spread that's perfect for spreading on toast, dolloping on pancakes, or adding a fruity twist to your favourite recipes.

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Resting time 8 hours hours

Equipment

• large pot
• wooden spoon or silicone spatula
• stainless steel colander or strainer
• potato masher
• potholders, oven mitts, trivets for hot dishes

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Ingredients

• 7 cups grapes
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 ½ tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Instructions

Preparing the grapes

• Begin by placing the grapes in a bowl of cold water or your salad spinner.
• Allow them to soak for a few minutes, then wash and destem the grapes.
• Remove any shriveled, moldy, or cracked grapes. Drain excess water using a colander or salad spinner basket.

Cooking the Grape Mixture

• Measure the required amount of grapes as per the recipe.
• Mix the grapes with lemon juice and sugar.
• Use a potato masher to break the grape skins and extract their juices. Allow the mashed grapes to sit for about 2 hours to help dissolve the sugar.
• Place the pot over medium heat, bringing the grapes to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave the grapes uncovered for 4-6 hours or overnight to enhance flavors. Use a mesh screen to protect your jam from flies and wasps.

Straining the Jam

• Use a mesh kitchen strainer or colander and a ladle or large metal spoon to press and rub the cooked grape pulp and grape skins against the mesh to push the pulp and juices through the mesh. This step will remove grape seeds and will keep most of the grape skins out. Jam should resemble soft ricotta cheese in consistency. If you don’t mind the seeds and like the skins, you can skip this step altogether.

Second Round of Cooking

• Return the grape jam to the pot and bring it to a boil over medium-low heat. Begin sterilizing Mason jars at the same time as you start this step
• One the jam begins to boil, reduce heat to a gentle simmer, stirring regularly, and simmer the jam for another 20 minutes.
• Perform a doneness test by spooning a teaspoon of jam onto a fridge-chilled plate. It should thicken to the finished product consistency.
• For a thicker jam, extend the cooking time by 10 minutes.
• (!) Ensure the jam is boiling as you proceed to can your Concord Grape Jam.

  Have your Mason jars ready because the next step, filling them with piping hot jam, must follow immediately.

Yield

The specified in this jam recipe quantity of ingredients should yield enough jam to fill two 8 oz. (250 ml.) mason jars. The final yield may vary based on your preferred level of doneness.

Preserve Type Jam

Cuisine European

Diet Halal | Kosher | Vegan | Vegetarian

Keyword canning grape jam | concord grape jam recipe | concord grape preserve | grape preserve recipe | how to make concord grape jam | Jam with simple ingredients | old fashioned jam recipe

Choose your preferred canning method to preserve your jam

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For those processing this preserve using water bath or steam canners. The processing time guidelines at various altitude is as follows:

0 – 1,000 ft: 5 mins

1,001 – 6,000 ft: 10 mins

Altitudes Above 6,000 ft: 15 mins

Ways to Enjoy this Concord Grape Jam

• Spread on Toast: Enjoy it as a classic breakfast spread on toast, bagels, or English muffins.
• Top Pancakes, Waffles and various desert: Drizzle this concord grape jam preserve over pancakes or waffles. Spoon it over vanilla ice cream, yogurt, or cheesecake for a fruity twist.
• PB&J Sandwich: Create a gourmet peanut butter and jam sandwich by spreading this concord grape jam on your favorite bread with peanut butter.
• Baked Goods: Concord grape jam is fantastic as a filling for thumbprint cookies, or as a layer in cakes and cupcakes.
• Salad Dressing: Mix this jam with olive oil and vinegar to create a unique and fruity salad dressing.
• Cocktail Mixer: If you opted for skinless and seedless version of our concord grape jam recipe, you can add a spoonful of it to cocktails, like a classic Old Fashioned or a refreshing spritzer.

Frequently asked questions

Can I Use Frozen Concord Grapes in this jam recipe?

You have the flexibility to use either fresh or frozen Concord grapes for this jam preserve. However, if opting for frozen grapes, ensure they were washed before freezing. It’s important to note that we do not recommend washing frozen berries.

Can I Substitute Other Grape Varieties to make this jam?

While you can make grape jams with various grape types, for this particular recipe, Concord grapes are a must! The name “Concord Grape Jam” isn’t just for show. You cannot replicate it’s unique sweet and tart flavor with other grapes. Additionally, our recipe’s cooking time accounts for the Concord grape tough skins. Using different grape varieties may require significant adjustments to the cooking time.

Can I Reduce Sugar and Add Pectin to make this jam?

Indeed, you can customize this recipe by reducing the sugar and adding pectin. A suitable substitution would be half a packet of pectin and 1 ½ tbsp. of sugar. Keep in mind that replacing sugar with pectin will change a flavor profile of your jam.

How can I increase size of this jam batch?

To scale up the batch, simply double or triple the ingredients. When doing so, ensure you use an adequately sized pot to maintain a jam layer no deeper than 5 inches. You’ll also need to extend the cooking time for each cooking round by 10 minutes and stir the jam more frequently to prevent scorching at the bottom.

Related recipes:

Mostarda Concord Grape Jam Recipe

Tired of the same old grape jam recipe? Get ready for a treat! Our Concord grape jam preserve draws inspiration from the centuries-old Italian Mostarda recipe and reimagines it as a sweet and savory grape preserve. Whether you need a sauce for your roasted meats or a jam to complement various cheeses, look no further!

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