With the onset of the canning season, every housewife has a question: what to cook jam in? Of course, it is better to do this in a large copper basin, so that at one time you can cook a lot of jam for the whole winter. But about why a copper basin is suitable for this purpose, about the advantages and disadvantages of such dishes and about effective ways to clean them, we will tell in our article.
What dishes to choose for cooking jam?
Today, manufacturers offer a wide variety of dishes that can be used in the process of making jam. It is clear that it is most convenient to cook it in a basin, not too deep and with a wide, even bottom. It remains only to find out what material it should be made of.
- Aluminum basin. Such dishes are not suitable for cooking jam from sour fruits and berries. Experts explain this by the fact that the acid contained in them, when heated, destroys the oxide film on the surface of aluminum and thus the metal enters directly into the dish. If another basin for cookingthere is no jam in the house, then you should at least wash it more carefully after cooking, do not use metal sponges, spoons and forks so as not to damage the protective aluminum layer on the surface of the dishes.
- Enamelled basin. Such dishes for cooking jam are almost perfect, but you can use it only until the enamel is damaged and chips are formed, otherwise it can also become hazardous to he alth.
- Stainless steel basin. Durable and reliable stainless steel utensils are also suitable for making jam. Stainless steel does not react with acid, it is a strong and durable metal. The only drawback is that the jam in such a dish often burns.
- Copper basin for jam. It was in such dishes that our grandmothers cooked a sweet delicacy from fruits and berries. Why? The answer to this question is in this article.
Why is jam cooked in a copper basin?
Copper utensils in Russia have been used for centuries. A samovar, a copper basin for cooking jam, pots, bowls - all these kitchen utensils were available in every family. Such dishes were valued no less than wooden ones, and it was customary to cook jam only in a copper basin. The explanation is very simple.
Copper is one of the best conductors of heat. In the process of making jam, the contents of the basin warm up evenly, do not stick or burn, and it does not even need to be stirred. However, to avoid ingestion of copper, it is important to ensure that during cookingjams do not scratch (do not damage) the bottom and walls of the dishes. Therefore, if it becomes necessary to mix it, it is recommended to use only a wooden spatula, not a metal one.
Benefits of copper cookware
It should be noted the main advantages of a copper basin for making jam over dishes made of other metals:
- high thermal conductivity of copper ensures uniform heating;
- jam very rarely sticks to the bottom and walls of the pelvis and does not burn;
- fruits and berries may not be stirred during cooking;
- attractive appearance of dishes;
- strength and durability (with proper care);
- copper utensils have bactericidal properties, deactivating Staphylococcus aureus viruses;
- relative safety of copper for humans. Even when ingested, copper does not accumulate, but is gradually eliminated from the body.
Copper bowl for jam is an excellent utensil for making sweet treats from berries and fruits. But there are, however, some contraindications to its use.
Copper basin for jam: harm to the body
However, despite all the advantages of copper utensils, there is information that it can be very dangerous for humans. Harm to the body is as follows:
- copper ions, which are released during the preparation of jam, destroy the ascorbic acid contained in the berries, as well as most other vitamins;
- when cookingjams from sour berries, the acid contained in them reacts with copper. As a result, the metal is oxidized, and harmful oxides enter the product;
- Irreparable damage copper can cause people with liver disease. This is due to the fact that this organ is responsible for filtering the blood and removing harmful substances from the body, including metals. If the functioning of the liver is impaired, then copper will accumulate in the body, which over time will lead to serious poisoning.
Now the question arises: is it possible to cook jam in a copper basin? It is possible and necessary, but there are several nuances. To avoid the harmful effects of copper oxides on the body is possible only through high-quality cleaning of dishes immediately after use. A darkened copper basin for jam is no longer suitable. It needs to be properly washed and polished to a shine. Leaving ready-made jam in such a dish is also not recommended. It should be immediately laid out in banks.
How to cook jam in a copper basin
Regardless of what fruit or berries the jam is made from, the process of its preparation is carried out in the following sequence:
- Prepared berries, clean and with pits removed, are put in a copper bowl for jam and poured with cooled syrup made from 1 kg of sugar and 1 glass of water (based on 1 kg of berries).
- Leave the berries soaked in syrup in the basin for 3-4 hours. This will allow them not to deform during the cooking process.
- Cook jam inprescription. Its readiness is determined by several criteria. First, the foam is concentrated in the center of the jam, not around the edges. Secondly, the syrup itself becomes viscous, even thick, and almost transparent.
- After that, the jam can be laid out in jars using a wooden spatula.
After cooking, the used dishes should be immediately filled with water for a few minutes, washed and dried.
Recipe for cooking in a copper basin
You can make delicious blackcurrant jam in a copper basin. To do this, you need 5.5 cups of washed berries, 6 cups of sugar and 1.5 cups of water. First, sugar syrup must be boiled from water and sugar. Then pour the berries poured into a copper basin with prepared and slightly cooled syrup. After that, the jam should be boiled for 15 minutes over low heat and rolled into sterile jars.
How to clean a copper basin from burnt jam?
The situation when jam burns to the bottom of a copper basin is extremely rare. If this suddenly happened, then first of all you should try to fill the basin with water and s alt and leave it in this form for several hours. After that, it will be possible to clean the copper basin from jam using an ordinary soft sponge. All soot should lag behind the bottom of the dish.
In general, it is recommended to wash any copper utensils by hand, in the most difficult cases using a mixture of s alt, soda and flour for this.
Cleaning the copper basin from oxide
The jam remaining on the bottom and walls of the copper basin does not have to be cleaned so often, since it rarely sticks to its surface. A more common problem is cloudy, greenish spots, that is, traces of an oxidative reaction.
How to clean a copper basin for jam from oxide stains that have appeared on the surface of the dishes? Here the most famous improvised means are used:
- Get rid of mild green spots with hot water. Simply wash the basin well with soap or a mild detergent and wipe dry.
- If oxide stains appeared on the surface of the copper basin, they can be easily removed with lemon and s alt. To do this, apply a little s alt to the cut half of the lemon and rub the stain with it. Then the basin should be washed in hot water and dried with a cotton towel.
- Tomato paste or ketchup helps to get rid of traces of oxidation. Any of the products should be applied to the surface of the pelvis, rubbed a little with a soft sponge, and then rinsed with warm water.
- Won't harm copper surfaces and ammonia. It is enough to moisten a cotton swab with this solution and wipe the stain remaining after oxidation.
It should be remembered that even a clean copper basin for jam often loses its luster after being crushed, becomes cloudy. To avoid this, the dishes should not be left wet after washing, but should be wiped dry immediately.
How much does a copper basin cost
The copper basin today is practically a rarity. Even forcooking jam modern housewives prefer to buy stainless steel dishes. But you can still buy a copper basin in Russia. Manufacturers offer such dishes at prices ranging from 6 to 18 thousand rubles. The cost of a copper basin varies depending on its volume. So, for example, a basin with a volume of 4.5-5 liters will cost about 6 thousand, and with a capacity of 18 liters - already 18 thousand rubles.
