Jam scum after sealing
I made strawberry jam and bottled and sealed using wax discs. I'm planning on selling the jam but scum has formed on top. If I open the jars they will have to be refrigerated and won't last. Is there anything I can do to save my jam without opening them?
Best Answer
Did you skim the scum during cooking? Also, sealing with wax is no longer considered safe, especially if you plan to sell the jam. It's possible that what you see is mold and not scum.
http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_01/prevent_spoilage.html
You might be able to save your batch, if it's not moldy if you throw away the wax, and reprocess in a water bath canner using lids and rings.
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How do you get rid of scum in jam?
A foamy scum may form on the surface of the jam; this is normal and can be removed by adding a little butter (about 20g) to break the surface tension or by skimming it off with a spoon while your mixture is cooling.Can you fix overset jam?
Most obvious thing to try is to use one jar and attempt a reboil - scrape out the contents into a pan and slowly add a little bit of hot water to thin the mixture. Beat it in and reboil to setting point tests as usual. Pour into fresh sterilised jars.What happens when you overcook jam?
Your jam may taste bitter because it's over-cooked. Sometimes overcooked jam can be good thing, as it has a nice caramel flavour that will work well used in desserts. However if it's really overcooked the sugar will give it a bitter burnt taste. Sadly if the jam is burnt it's beyond saving.Why is my strawberry jam cloudy?
If your jelly ends up with a cloudy look, that could happen for several reasons. You could have used under-ripe fruit that released starch, turning the jelly cloudy. For some jellies, some recipes want you to strain it through a jelly bag, cheesecloth, or muslin cloth.Pearl Jam - Dance of the Clairvoyants
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