What does "no/low-sugar pectin" mean? (See recipe at the link) and ...

Regular pectin needs regular sugar to activate the gelling process. Low/No Sugar is a different

product which allows the gelling to occur with "no" (meaning artificial sweeteners like Splenda) or "low" which means "less" sugar than the regular. Most liquid or powdered pectins have you use equal parts sugar to fruit to insure a good gel set.

If you're at all inclined to get more experimental, there's a product called Pomona's Universal Pectin that requires NO sugar (unless you want some) one way or the other, it's its own gelling agent. Some of the canning companies (Ball, Kerr, etc.) are now coming out with different "measure as you go" gelling agents as well.

It depends on the kind of fruit you use, how you want to cook it (You don't have to cook fruit nearly as long to achieve thickness if you're using packaged pectin) and how much sugar you are willing to use for taste, dietary or other considerations.

I actually don't like the "low-sugar" options because the finished product looks "dull" as opposed to gel-like. The flavor, however can be superior because if the fruit is good, it is less masked by the sugar. Decisions, decisions. Let me know if I can help otherwise.

 
I don't get the low-sugar thing anyway. You have to eat a lot of jam to run up very many

calories at 50 calories a tbsp for sugar.

 
Maria, I often use the pink box of sure jell, the no-low sugar one. I find the standard

pectin uses so much sugar it hurts my teeth so I like the one that uses a bit less. And, like Steve says, the flavor of the fruit shines thru much better. I am not experienced enough to speak to the difference in the physical appearance. I do keep trying to not use any additional pectin at all and I come up with very mixed results.

I have a recipe that tells you how to make your own pectin from early green apples, can it, and then use it instead of the commerical stuff. One day when I retire (HA!) and have lots of time I want to try that.

 
I just made the CI blueberry pie that uses half the amount of thickener and relies on green apple

To do some of the thickening. It is shredded into the filling and you don't even know its there - quite effective and DEE-licious smileys/smile.gif

 
Good luck making most jellies without pectin however. If you want a clear gel, you almost always

need a pectin product. That said, I've made both green and regular apple jelly which DOES work as a thickener but adds a definite "appley" flavor to the proceedings which isn't always desirable.

 
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