Content
Melon jam in a slow cooker is a variation of the famous melon jam recipe, which is prepared easier and faster using modern technologies. Preparing this natural and healthy delicacy does not take much time, but the finished product will leave a lot of pleasant impressions on the hostess, her family and guests at home.
Benefits of melon jam
Melon is not only tasty, but also a healthy product. It has a wide range of vitamins and microelements. Among them are minerals such as:
- potassium;
- magnesium;
- iron;
- sodium.
The vitamins contained in melon include:
- WITH;
- R;
- AT 9;
- A.
Fiber, which is found in large quantities in fruits, also plays an important role. With regular consumption of fresh melon, the following beneficial changes in the body are noted:
- the regenerative function of tissues improves;
- metabolism and metabolic processes in the body are normalized;
- the condition of nails, hair and skin improves;
- the functioning of the nervous system is optimized.
Due to the positive effect of vitamin B9 on the nervous system and the high sugar content, you can get rid of insomnia and stress. Fatigue goes away with just one cup of hot tea with a spoonful of jam.
However, during cooking, many useful substances and compounds are destroyed, so it is worth knowing how to prepare melon jam correctly. To do this, it is important to follow the recipe and cooking tips.
The nuances of making melon jam in a slow cooker
The melon for jam should be ripe and aromatic, but not overripe, otherwise the pieces will boil and lose their shape and appetizing appearance. To make the jam more original and beautiful, you can cut the fruits with a curly knife or even a stencil, obtaining intricate figures.
To preserve as many vitamins as possible, you can make the jam according to the following scheme: boil the syrup separately, then boil the melon for 5 minutes, pour the syrup over the fruit and let it brew for several hours. After this, the jam can be boiled for another 10 minutes. This way the fruit will retain its structure and nutritional properties.
The safety and benefits of the resulting jam are no less important than the taste, so you should carefully choose the utensils for cooking. Aluminum and copper pans cannot be used for preparing sweets, since copper destroys vitamins, and aluminum oxidizes under the influence of fruit acids and can end up in the finished product. It is best to use enamel cookware or stainless steel pans.
During the cooking process, you should give preference to wider rather than deeper pans.A wide bottom will help the jam cook faster and more evenly, so as not to lose the shape of the fruit and its beneficial properties.
Sugar should always be no less than 50% of the weight of the fruit or in a 1/1 ratio, otherwise the delicacy will not be stored for long and will quickly turn sour. However, there should always be more fruit than sugar, and not vice versa.
Ingredients
The classic recipe for melon jam in a slow cooker includes the following ingredients:
- melon – 1 kg;
- sugar – 700 g;
- lemon – 1 piece.
If desired, you can add more lemon or cinnamon; if lemon is not available, you can replace it with citric acid, then 2 teaspoons will be enough.
Step-by-step recipe for making jam
To prepare a treat in a slow cooker, you need to follow these steps:
- Grate the thoroughly washed lemon to obtain the zest, then squeeze out the juice. The pulp can also be used, then the taste and smell will be richer.
- The zest and juice must be mixed in a multicooker bowl with sugar and two glasses of water, stir until the sugar dissolves. The multicooker must be set to “Cooking” mode for 30 minutes and wait for the syrup to boil.
- The melon needs to be washed, peeled and cut into small cubes, poured into boiling syrup and left there until it boils again. After this, the multicooker can be switched to the “Stew” mode and cook the jam for another 30 minutes. After the end of the regime, the jam can be left to infuse for 3-4 hours, then rolled into sterile jars.
The jam can be prepared longer depending on the degree of ripeness of the melon, but it is worth remembering that the longer the heat treatment, the less benefit remains.
Recipe for melon jam with orange
Melon goes well with citrus fruits, namely orange.The taste of the jam becomes brighter and more varied. This recipe can also be made in a slow cooker.
For the recipe you will need:
- melon – 1 kg;
- orange - 2 pieces;
- sugar – 0.7 kg;
- vanillin – 5 g.
Cooking method:
- A thoroughly washed melon must be peeled and cut into small cubes.
- Peel the orange and cut into cubes the same size as the melon. The zest can also be used as a flavoring.
- All fruits need to be placed in a multicooker bowl, covered with sugar, and vanillin added. Set the multicooker to stewing mode and cook for 1 hour. Stir occasionally. In order not to destroy the structure of the fruit or mash it, you can stir it carefully with a wooden spatula and no more than once every 10 minutes.
- After finishing the regime, you need to let the jam cool, but not completely, in order to pour it warm into sterile jars.
In addition to vanillin, ground sesame seeds will complement the taste of melon well. They can be added 10 minutes before the end of cooking.
Melon jam with banana
Ingredients:
- melon – 1 kg;
- bananas – 2 pieces;
- sugar – 0.7 kg;
- lemon – 2 pieces.
Cooking method:
- The peeled melon needs to be cut into cubes, placed in a slow cooker and covered with sugar. At this time, you can cut the bananas into thin rings.
- Squeeze 1 lemon, remove the zest from it, add to the melon and cook in a slow cooker in the “Stew” mode for 1 hour.
- After half an hour, you can add a banana to the melon, cut the second lemon into thin half rings and also put it in the slow cooker. The mass must be stirred periodically until the end of the regime. The finished jam can be left to steep for another hour, then poured into sterilized jars.
The amount of fruit can be greater than indicated in the recipe, the main thing is that the mass of sugar is not less than half the mass of the fruit. Then the jam will last longer and will not spoil.
Terms and conditions of storage
When rolled up, the jam can be stored for up to a year; it should be kept in a cool, dark place. The period may be shortened depending on the amount of added sugar: the less sugar, the shorter the period. Citric acid can be added to the jam as an additional preservative.
Conclusion
Melon jam in a slow cooker can be prepared in several ways: it all depends on the skill and imagination of the housewife. The main thing is that melon goes well with almost any fruit or berry and fills cold winter days with its honey color.
