A great way to use up all of your Florida oranges before they spoil is to use them to make preserves. Orange marmalade is a tasty treat that everyone in the family can enjoy. Orange jelly or marmalade is very versatile and can be spooned into yogurt, used as an ice cream topping, mixed with sorbet, served over bread or pancakes, or used in dozens of other ways. Making preserves is easier than you might think, and it wasn’t that long ago that most people made their own fresh jams and jellies every year from fresh fruit. The art of canning preserves is making a real comeback as more and more people try to save money and make more sustainable food choices. This year you should order a box of Florida oranges and make your own orange preserves.
Don’t be intimidated if you’ve never made preserves before. Making preserves does not require hard to find ingredients or any type of special equipment. The ingredient that makes the preserves gel is Pectin. Pectin is found naturally in the orange peel, but you can also add pectin and sugar to make sure the preserves gel. When selecting the citrus fruit you are using for your preserves, research which citrus contains more pectin. For instance, Clementines naturally have higher amounts of pectin than Florida oranges so they are an easier fruit to make preserves with. You will also need canning jars and lids that have seals. It is important that the lids of the jars have seals. Make sure you read up on how to create a hot water seal before you start making the preserves. Having the right seal will allow the preserves to stay fresh for up to a year.
The most important ingredient you need to make orange preserves is high quality Florida oranges. The quality of the fruit that you use to make the preserves will play a large role in the taste of the finished product. Using oranges that have been shipped to commercial stores and have been treated with sugar and preservatives will result in jam that doesn’t taste exceptionally well because those fruits are already at an advanced stage of spoiling. The best oranges to use to make marmalade or jelly are Florida oranges that are shipped directly from the grower. Those oranges, along with grapefruits and tangerines, are shipped just after picking and will arrive at your house fresh, natural, and totally preservative free. If you want to make stellar tasting jam and preserves use the highest quality fruit you can buy.
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Article contributed by Hale Groves, providing fresh fruit baskets, gift baskets and Florida oranges and citrus, including delicious navel oranges, honeybells, ruby red grapefruit, valencia oranges, tangerines and more! Visit HaleGroves.com for more information.
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