Spoon test and Temperature test for Jelly

Have you ever made Jelly and it didn't set up? There are two easy ways to test your jelly before you pour it into your Jars. One way is called the spoon test and one is called the temperature test. Read below to find out more.

Homemade Strawberry Jelly

Spoon test and Temperature test for Jelly

Spoon Test

After your mixture has been boiling for a while and you think it is getting thick enough to pour in the jars. Here is how you do the "Spoon Test"

Step one:

Spoon test and Temperature test for Jelly

Dip a cool spoon into the jelly. Get it about 12 inches above the pot ( out of the heat) and turn it sideways. If the jelly is done it will drip off in little drips

Here the Jelly is thickened as you can see from the spoon and the drips

If the jelly is not ready it will be more liquidfied and runny. If this happens you need to continue boiling down your Jelly.

Here the Jelly still needs to boil down more, the jelly is thinner as you can see from the spoon and running off the spoon.

Temperature test

Spoon test and Temperature test for Jelly 

The temperature test may be easier for you if you aren't sure out the spoon test.

Step one:

Stick a high temperature thermomter into the jelly after it has boiled down. See the chart below for the temp it needs to be for your elevation to let you know it is ready.

sea level	1,000 ft	2,000 ft	3,000 ft	4,000 ft	5,000 ft	6,000ft	7,000ft	8,000ft
220*	218*	216*	214*	212*	211*	209*	207*	205*

It's as simple as that!

This is a quick and easy way to make sure your jelly is thick enough to be canned and you don't end up processing a runny mess.

Here is my favorite thermometer to use in the kitchen

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Thermometer https://amzn.to/3NoaFn9

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