Make Pectin
Pectin is the component in fruit that "gels" fruit or juice into jam or jelly. Pectin is a polysaccharide, a form of carbohydrate structure. Most people who make jams and jellies at home probably don't realize that store-bought pectin is a relatively modern innovation. Your great-grandmother made her own, and so can you. Apple pectin is actually just unsweetened apple jelly. Making pectin is not hard to do and it's cheaper than the manufactured versions. Sometimes it's even more reliable. The finished pectin, or jelly, can also be used for other purposes, so it's a useful thing to have in your pantry or freezer.
Instructions
Make Homemade Apple Pectin
1. Cut 4 lbs. of tart, green apples into large chunks and put them into a large (5 qt. size) saucepan. Cut a lemon into 1/3-inch slices and add the slices to the apples. Leave the peels, seeds and cores; you need the whole apple and lemon. Barely cover with water. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring every 10 minutes or so.
2. Check your saucepan after 45 minutes; your fruit should be quite soft and your liquid should have reduced by about half. Place three or four layers of cheesecloth into a large bowl or pan and secure it to the rim, to form a bag. Or, place your jelly bag into a bowl that fits.
3. Pour your fruit and liquid into the bag. Allow it to drain until the fruit is mostly solid and dry. Press only lightly on the fruit, just allow it to drain naturally. Mashing or pressing your fruit in the bag will cloud your pectin. Remove the bag and fruit and add the fruit to your compost pile or discard it.
4. Pour your juice back into the saucepan and continue cooking over medium heat, stirring frequently. Reduce the volume to about 50 percent of what you started with. Watch it so it doesn't boil over; stirring will prevent this. However, it should boil. Remove any foam or residue that comes to the surface. Remove the foam as it collects to keep your pectin clear. This step may take as little as 20 minutes.
5. Remove the pan from the heat. Drop a spoonful of onto a cool saucer and allow it to cool. If it forms a jelly, you are done. If not, keep cooking, testing every 20 minutes. Once your jelly is forming well on the saucer, remove from the heat. If using canning jars, go to Step 6. If using freezer bags, skip Step 6 and proceed to Step 7.
6. Pour your hot pectin into 8-oz. canning jars and seal with the lids. Invert onto a dish towel to allow the heat to sterilize the interior of the jar and lid. When slightly cooled, turn jars upright to finish cooling. One 8 oz. jar is enough pectin to gel about 3 lbs. of low-pectin fruit or juice.
7. Allow your pectin to cool. Place 8 oz. of the cooled jelly into a freezer bag and remove excess air. Press the bag flat and freeze flat on its side for easy storage. Allow to thaw before using.
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