Directions:

• Place 6 clean 250 ml mason jars on a rack in a boiling water canner. Cover jars with water and heat to a simmer (180°F/82°C). Set screw bands aside. Keep jars hot until ready to use.
• Preheating Bernardin® lids is not advised. The sealing compound used for our home canning lids performs better at room temperature than it does pre-heated in simmering water (180°F). Simply wash lids in hot, soapy water, dry, and set aside until needed. Preheating can lead to less vacuum being achieved during water bath canning, and to buckle failures during pressure canning.
• Wash and coarsely chop oranges, lemon and grapefruit; remove and discard seeds. Place fruit in food processor; finely chop.
• Measure sugar; set aside.
• Combine prepared fruit, pineapple and sugar in a large stainless steel saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. If desired, add 1/2 tsp (2 ml) butter or margarineto reduce foaming. Stirring frequently to prevent scorching, boil gently, uncovered, 25 minutes or until marmalade reaches gel stage. (Gel Plate Test: remove mixture from heat; pour a spoonful of cooked recipe on a cold plate and place in freezer for a few minutes. A gel has been achieved when the product does not run together when separated with a spoon.) Stir in cherries during the last 5 minutes.
• Quickly ladle hot marmalade into a hot jar to within 1/4 inch (0.5 cm) of top of jar (headspace). Using nonmetallic utensil, remove air bubbles. Wipe jar rim removing any stickiness. Centre hot sealing disc lid on clean jar rim. Screw band down until resistance is met, then increase to fingertip tight. Return filled jar to rack in canner ensuring jars are covered by water. Repeat for remaining marmalade.
• When canner is filled, ensure that all jars are covered by at least one inch (2.5 cm) of water. Cover canner and bring water to full rolling boil before starting to count processing time. At altitudes up to 1000 ft (305 m), process –boil filled jars – 10 minutes.
• When processing time is complete, remove canner lid, wait 5 minutes, then remove jars without tilting and place them upright on a protected work surface. Cool upright, undisturbed 24 hours; DO NOT RETIGHTEN screw bands.
• After cooling check jar seals. Sealed discs curve downward and do not move when pressed. Remove screw bands; wipe and dry bands and jars. Store screw bands separately or replace loosely on jars, as desired. Label and store jars in a cool, dark place. For best quality, use home canned foods within one year.

Notes & Tips