FOODlog #221: Macerating Berries for Jam

Macerating - a technique of cooking I've learned recently that's actually so simple to do.

This is a technique used to make jam and all you need is fruit and sugar. The ratio should be around 1:3 sugar to fruit and all you need to do it dump sugar on the fruit and mix them together.

So if you're having about 3kg of blueberry or strawberry, you'll need 1kg of white sugar. Just simply add sugar to the blueberries and then mix them together. Just roughly mix them up will do, it doesn't have to be thorough.

The next thing you need for macerating those blueberries/strawberries is - time, about 12-18 hours. Just leave them alone in a pot covered, and after 12-18 hours, it's ready to be cooked.

Bring the pot up to a boil and then lower the heat to the lowest possible setting on your stove top or low fire and stir every 4-5 minutes. Depending on the amount of jam you're making, it should take around an hour. The amount of time needed to cook the jam will also vary depending on the desired consistency you like your jam to be. If you like it thicker then cook it longer, it not then cook it less.

Super simple and delicious. Serve it on toast or make a pie and it'll definitely be a show stopper.