Hi everyone!

I am a very new canner. At what point should the jelly most definitely be set? Before, while boiling, or after I water bath can it? I followed the recipe but my jelly has not set. I finished the water bath this morning. When I tilt the jar it seems to be too watery? I just don’t want this to happen again.

Is there any saving it?

by Ok_Possession_5241

3 Comments

  1. You can use it as sauce if it doesn’t set, you certainly don’t need to toss it. Will make a great syrup or ingredient in a meat sauce, salad dressing, etc or add it to some club soda.

    Also, sometimes it will take a few days after the waterbath to set up, so I would leave it on the counter for several days to see if it thickens up. If it doesn’t thicken up, you can try cooking all the jelly again and reprocess it or, leave it runny and when you want to use a jar, heat it to a rolling boil for about 2 minutes and then put it back in the jar and then into the fridge once it cools. I like the 2nd option because then you won’t waste money on the lids by having to replace them all if you do them all at once.

    P.S. Don’t stress it not jelling, it happens to the best of canners.

  2. timespassing_

    It may not set for weeks after processing. It will never be set while it’s hot.

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