Canning Fruit Juice
It never seems to amaze me how I continually discover that there are virtually unlimited potential for canning a host of different foods. It is hard to imagine being able to can fruit juice and have it come out the same as that which you purchase in the grocery store. This is really a very economical means of obtaining very pure fruit juice when contrasting the prices charged in your local grocery store. If you grow your own fruit you are even saving more money but in the event you must buy all your ingredients the end product is worth the cost.
You will find that you can preserve the usual juices such as grape or apple but the best part of this skill is you can also preserve those more unusual fruits flavors which you simply can not find on the grocers shelves. Try an experiment and take a casual stroll along the fruit juice aisle the next time you visit Wal-Mart’s or Food Lion. You will be shocked at the continually escalating prices they are charging for juices which you can easily make at home. In addition, if you stop to read what goes into these beverages you will be stunned to discover there are a host of undesirable ingredients being added to either enhance the flavor artificially or to preserve the product with a longer shelf life. By making your own juices it is you who will determine what goes into the drinks you give your family.
There are several methods that you can use to preserve your juices. The first method is to strain the juice which usually provides a clear liquid. This is associated with cherry or grape juice. The second method I would like to mention is that which utilizes nectar such as apricots or peach. The nectar types of juices are generally thicker than the strained versions.
In order to successfully preserve your fruit juice you will initially seek out the particular fruit which you plan to use. Make certain that your fruit is totally ripened so you benefit from the full flavor. Many people find it interesting to be able to mix various fruits together to create a unique and unusual flavor.
Wash all fruits that you will be using in your juice than crush them up. You will next simmer the pulp to break down the fruit into a liquid. You will need to use one of two methods of extracting the juice from the pulp. The first method that I will mention is the drip technique. Her you place the hot pulp into several layers of clean cheesecloth and let it drip until the juice has been extracted. Do not try to force the juice out but merely let it naturally ooze from the cloth.
The second method which is recommended is the steam technique. This method employs the use of an appliance known as a stream juicer. You only have to place the fruit into the steamer and it is extracted for you. There are several methods that can be used to preserve the juice you have now extracted. In this article we will use the canning method involving the water bath canner rather than freezing it.
Let’s presume that we are going to can apple juice. First, we must assemble all of our necessary equipment and supplies before we begin. Next, we need to select the best quality apples that we can find. We can even create a custom blend if you so desire. I would highly suggest that you write these combinations down so you can duplicate them in the future. You would be better off to purchase your apples locally so that you can make your juice within 24 hours.
We are going to use the boiling water bath method all your preps should be performed as you have been instructed previously. Refrigerate your juice for approximately 48 hours before beginning therefore you must plan accordingly. Without mixing it you should carefully pour off the clear liquid and discard any sediment. Strain the liquid to obtain the clear juice. You can use a paper coffee filter to strain your juice. When heating up your brew do so quickly while stirring it continuously. Follow this process until the juice starts to boil. Immediately fill your sterilized quart jars leaving a 1/4-inch headspace in each. Process pints or quarts for 15 minutes in your water bath canner. With this finished you can now sit back and take a sip of your fresh canned apple juice.
The Author:
Copyright @2012 Joseph Parish
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