Can I salvage my runny marmalade?

[Albanach]

I think a series of mistakes led to a batch of tasty but very runny marmalade. The question is can I redeem it?

Here's what I did juiced and sliced grapefruit, oranges and a couple of lemons. Added water soaked overnight then bunged the lot into a pan and 'simmered' until peel was tender, added sugar and rapidly boiled for 25-30mins then jarred it up.

Now first mistake was probably putting the lemon juice in at the start as I belive it should go in at the same time as the sugar?
Second mistake was 'simmering' the peel mixture, I say simmer but all I did was have it on a low heat for 2 hrs ish and the mixture didn't reduce down as much as it should of.
Third mistake was not adding any lemon with the sugar (see mistake 1).

Now my question is can I put it all back in the pan, simmer it properly to reduce it down, then add the lemon juice (and maybe some grated bramley apple for extra pectin) plus a wee bit more sugar and boil rapidly for another 25 mins odd. Could this work or do I just accept the marmalade for what is and try and keep it from falling off my toast?

[Thelma Sanders]

Tip it out and boil it till it sets when tested on a saucer. When you have the pennies invest in a jam thermometer, it's foolproof them

I don't add lemon with the sugar, so that's not a problem in my opinion and you really shouldn't need to add apple to citrus fruits to get a set.

[bearded bloke]

SWMBO (particularly when I'm jam making) reminds me several times (each session) I need to maintain a "rolling boil" or it will not reduce properly & also to have two saucers in the fridge to use alternately to test for setting after it has reduced sufficiently.

[binley100]

In my experience jam thermometers are not always foolproof just an indication of whether the jam is near setting. Still best to do the wrinkle and/or flake test.

[Albanach]

What does SWMBO??

[Alison]

She who must be obeyed but I don't think he does

[bearded bloke]

She Who Must Be Obeyed was how the minions referred to their ruler in the film She

[bearded bloke]

She who must be obeyed but I don't think he does

Oh yes I do Alison,all things "requested" always gets done,just in a different timescale

[bearded bloke]

Ere yer go ........... She (1965) - IMDb .. compulsory viewing at the time for blokes as Ursula Undress was SWMBO

*note to Admin .... we need a drool smiley

[Albanach]

Out of interest when performing the saucer test do you remove marmalade from heat? If it doesn't form a skin how long before checking again...10mins?

[roitelet]

Put the saucer in the freezer so it is really cold and then put just a tiny blob of the concotion on it so it cools quickly. I use two saucers so I always have a really cold one. When cold push it from the side with your finger and if it wrinkles it is set. Turn off the heat while you are doing this. If it hasn't set turn on the heat and bring it to a full rolling boil (that is a boil that cannot be stirred out) for another couple of minutes and try again,

Best of luck

[bearded bloke]

That's the way herself showed me & explains the reason for 2 saucers well

a full rolling boil (that is a boil that cannot be stirred out)

That is a brilliant description of the term roitelet

[Albanach]

Cheers for the help one last urstion, should I leave out the additional lemon jive and grated apple when reheating it?

[rustylady]

You don't need to add lemon juice or apple.

[Albanach]

Sound

HWMBO has just told SWMBO to pick up a jam thermometer in town so that HWMBO can salvage the marmalade. I'll be going for the belt and braces approach and use the thermometer and saucer method.