The appearance of mold in jam often becomes a good reason for throwing out the entire jar, because food contaminated with fungus is not only unpleasant to the taste, but also harmful. In order to prevent such a problem from arising, you need to learn how to properly prepare jam.
Instructions
Step 1
Be sure to sterilize jars and lids. It is not enough to rinse them with boiling water - a more serious heat treatment is needed. Steam sterilization should be carried out within 8-15 minutes, depending on the size of the can. Another option is to heat the cans in the oven at 140 degrees. Finally, special sterilization equipment can be used. It is very important to fill and close the jars as soon as possible after completing this procedure. If they stand on the table for a few more hours after sterilization, there will be no question of any cleanliness of the surfaces.
Step 2
Tighten the caps carefully. Often, harmful microorganisms penetrate into jars of jam precisely because the lid is not closed tightly. Use a seaming device to help solve the problem. It is impossible to choose ordinary nylon caps, especially those that are poorly cleaned and have already been used many times before. By doing this, you can be sure that mold will appear in the jam.
Step 3
Choose the right cooking time. A widespread mistake is undercooking the jam "so it doesn't get sugared." Use proven recipes, taking into account the characteristics of the food from which you are preparing the treat. Do not forget also that the fruit for jam must be washed properly.
Step 4
Choose the amount of sugar carefully. In this case, it is this ingredient that acts as one of the preservatives, so if there is too little of it, the jam will not be stored for too long, and soon mold will appear in the jar.
Step 5
Find a suitable place to store your jam. A clean, dry room is ideal. Dusty attics or basements and cellars with a high level of humidity are completely unsuitable for storing such products, however, alas, in most cases they are chosen. Dampness is especially dangerous: it can be the main reason for the appearance of mold in jam.
Step 6
If mold has appeared in the jam, but you need to save this canned product at any cost, first of all remove the plaque from the surface, while capturing the "clean" mass. Then transfer the fruits to one pan, and pour the syrup into another and put both on the fire. Put sugar in the first, and stir the contents of the second thoroughly until it boils. Then, pour the syrup into the first pot and cook everything together. Ready, mold-free jam should be poured into sterilized jars and closed with lids.
