Marmalade is similar to jam or jelly but is typically made with a type of citrus. It usually includes fruit peel, which gives the condiment an aromatic bitterness. The most popular versions are made with fruits like orange, kumquat, and grapefruit.
To Zest or Not to Zest?
Many traditional marmalade recipes call for removing all the peel, boiling it once or twice, and then separating the zest from the pith. That method can be messier, more complicated, and less flavorful than simply carefully zesting the fruit, removing the pith, and then cutting out sections of oranges. This recipe takes a little time, but it's relatively foolproof and will yield delicious results.
Is Marmalade Healthier Than Jam?
There is not a huge difference between marmalade and jam health-wise. While "jam" can be used to refer to all fruit jams, marmalade refers specifically to citrus fruits jams so they do tend to contain a greater amount of sugar. If you are watching your sugar intake, you may want to stick with low-sugar jams and jellies.
This homemade orange marmalade is a wonderful combination of sweet and bitter, and fills your kitchen with a vibrant aroma, leaving you with jars full of orange deliciousness that will keep for weeks. Slather it on warm French toast, scone or use it to fill layers of a cake or thumbprint cookies.
The Best Oranges for Marmalade
The best oranges to use for making marmalade always comes down to your preferences. Some characteristics to think about are if you prefer a thick or thin skinned orange and if you lean towards a sweeter or bitter profile. Seville oranges are sour and are a nice contrast to the amount of sugar that tends to go into making marmalade and Valencia oranges have thin skins if you prefer less texture.
"This marmalade is sweet, not bitter, and full of texture with the peels and orange sections. It is made without the bitter pith. There is a bit of hands-on work involved with peeling and sectioning the oranges, but it isn't difficult, and the results are well worth it." —Diana Rattray
Ingredients
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5 pounds ripe oranges
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4 cups water
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6 cups sugar
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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Wash and dry 5 pounds of ripe oranges. Using a sharp vegetable peeler or paring knife, remove the brightly colored zest—and only the brightly colored zest—from the oranges. Be sure to leave behind any and all of the white pith directly underneath as it is very bitter.
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Chop the zest. Keep bigger pieces for a chunkier marmalade, and ribbon-like strips for a more spreadable result. Set the zest aside.
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Cut the ends off the zested oranges and then, working with one orange at a time, cut off the thick white pith from around each orange. Discard the ends and white pith.
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Working over a bowl to catch the juices, hold a fully peeled orange and use a sharp knife to cut out each segment between the membranes that hold the sections together.
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Once you've cut out all the fruit, squeeze any juice out of the membranes into the bowl of segmented fruit. Set the membrane aside, along with any seeds (the pectin in these will help "set" the marmalade later).
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Combine the zest, fruit, juice, 4 cups of water, and 6 cups of sugar in a large, heavy pot and bring to a boil. Stir just until the sugar dissolves, then stop stirring.
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Meanwhile, lay a double layer of cheesecloth in a medium bowl and put the membranes and seeds on top. Lift up the corners and tie the cheesecloth into a bag to hold the membranes and seeds.
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Add this "pectin bag" to the pot and bring the mixture to a boil. Place a couple of small plates in the freezer to chill.
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Meanwhile, bring the marmalade to 220 F and hold it there for 5 minutes. Be patient, this can take quite a while. Do not stir.
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Put a dollop of the mixture on a chilled plate. Swirl the plate to spread the mixture a bit and drag a spoon through the mixture. If the marmalade is set, the spoon will leave a trail, and you'll still be able to see the plate where you dragged the spoon.
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Remove the pectin bag, squeezing any marmalade out and back into the pot, and discard the bag. Take the marmalade off the heat and let it sit for 5 minutes. Set up 3 clean pint jars with sealable lids (if canning, they should be hot and sterilized) next to the pot.
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Stir the marmalade to distribute the zest evenly in the mixture. Use a ladle to transfer the marmalade into the jars, leaving 1/2 inch of headspace at the top of each jar. Put the lids on the jars and refrigerate, or you can proceed with canning.
How to Store
- If you did not sterilize and process the jars in a canner, the marmalade will keep in the refrigerator for four weeks.
- If the jars are processed in a water bath canner, they will be shelf-stable and will keep for up to a year, unopened.
- If you are canning the marmalade, you can place a canning kettle full of water on to boil at the same time as you wait for the marmalade to reach a boil. When the canning kettle water reaches a simmer, sterilize the jars and lids for 5 minutes. Turn it up to a boil and follow the sterilization process. Then fill the jars with the marmalade and place the lids on the jars. Use a jar rack, if you have one, to lower the filled jars into the boiling water in the canning kettle. Make sure there is at least an inch of water over the jars. Boil for 10 minutes, lift the jars out of the water, and let cool.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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60 | Calories |
0g | Fat |
15g | Carbs |
0g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 96 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 60 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 0g | 0% |
Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
Sodium 1mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrate 15g | 6% |
Dietary Fiber 1g | 2% |
Total Sugars 14g | |
Protein 0g | |
Vitamin C 14mg | 70% |
Calcium 11mg | 1% |
Iron 0mg | 0% |
Potassium 39mg | 1% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
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