How do you prepare pomegranates for jelly or jam?

POMEGRANATE JELLY





10 lg. pomegranates


1 (3 oz.) pouch liquid pectin or 1 (1 3/4 to 2 oz.) box dry pectin


2 tbsp. lemon juice


6 c. sugar





To extract juice, cut crowns off pomegranates and score peel of each in several places. Immerse pomegranates, one at a time, in cool water in a large bowl; break into sections and separate seeds. Skim off floating peel and membrane; discard. Drain seeds.


In a 5- to 6-quart kettle on high heat, combine seeds and 1/2 cup water. Cover and cook until seeds are soft when pressed, about 10 minutes.





Set a colander lined with cheesecloth in a bowl. Pour in seeds and liquid. Tie cloth closed. Wearing rubber gloves, squeeze bag to extract remaining juice. Measure; you need exactly 4 cups (if amount is short, add water).





IF USING LIQUID PECTIN, combine pomegranate juice, lemon juice, and sugar in an 8- to 10-quart kettle; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add liquid pectin and bring to a boil that cannot be stirred down. Boil, stirring for exactly 1 minute.





IF USING DRY PECTIN, combine pomegranate juice, lemon juice, and pectin. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in sugar and bring to a boil that cannot be stirred down; boil, stirring, exactly 2 minutes.





Pour hot jelly to within 1/4 inch of rim of hot, sterilized, 1- to 2-cup canning jars. Wipe rims and put hot lids and rings in place. Set jars on a rack in a deep kettle; add boiling water to cover. Bring to simmering; simmer 10 minutes. Cool jars on a towel for 2 days. Makes about 7 cups.

How do you prepare pomegranates for jelly or jam?
There are two basic ways to make pomegranate juice from fresh pomegranates. The first is to cut open a pomegranate and submerge it in a large bowl filled with water. Remove the seeds underwater; they will sink to the bottom while the white membrane holding them together will float. Discard the peel and membranes. Strain the seeds and put them in a blender. Pulse the blender only a few times so that the seeds are broken up. Place a mesh strainer over a bowl and pour the seed mixture through the strainer. Use a rubber spatula to help press the pulp against the strainer as to extract as much juice as possible.





The second way to juice a pomegranate is to use a juice press. I have an old fashioned press that I use. I wash the pomegranate and cut it into quarters or halves, depending on how big the pomegranate is. I then crush the sections with a press and strain the juice through a mesh strainer. I have found that this method takes half the time or less of the first method, but the flavor can be a little more bitter because you are squeezing the peel as well.



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