What Jelly and Jam Strainers are Best?
If you want to make jellies or strain other things like cordials etc then you will need some sort of strainer and ideally a support.
Jam straining kits are an easy way to do this. You just pop the stand and the bag over a bowl and fill with fruit. The fruit juice strains through the bag.
Photo by Sarah R
Doing this gets rid of all the pulp and pips and leaves you with a clear liquid ready to set.
Ideally you need to to this overnight or as long as possible, as if you allow it to drip slowly the liquid is clear. If however, you are like me when I made my cordials and impatient and squish it through then it will be cloudy!
If you are making jellies to high standards or entering in the local shows or competitions then your jelly will be judged on how clear it is.
Space Saving Straining Kits that Fold Flat
You can make a bag yourself, however ready made ones with stands fit much better.
My sister has one of these with the red legs. They are sturdier than they look and can take quite a heavy amount of fruit.
The idea is you just clip them onto the bowl and leave them. they fit well and stop flies being an issue.
The reason my sister bought this one is because she always thinks things through and wanted something that will fold up and store easily. She looks for designs and equipment that saves on space.
Value Kits for Small Amounts
If you don’t want to run to the cost of the red legged kits then these 
jam and jelly strainers are great at about half the price.
They are a simple design that holds the fruit and that is all you really need.
The legs are not as sturdy as the other one. And they are limited on flexibility of their spread.
Tala Jam & Jelly Straining Set
Also, they do not fold down so if space is an issue you may want to consider something that does. With these you will have the legs sticking out in your cupboard. If you are short on space like my sister and I that will be a real pain.
These are perfect for small amounts of jelly making. Perfect for people like me who only do a bit at a time. Any amount of fruit over about 2 lb to 4 lbs and you are stuffed. However, if you are used to large amounts they might not be suitable as they are quite small.
If you are not too worried about clear jelly then this one is fine, but with a larger mesh, the final product isn’t as clear as it could be.
Getting Out the Big Guns!
If you want to do a lot of jellies or drinks then this stand will make more sense.
The bag is a whopping 17 and 1/4 inches (44cm) high. That is almost double the size of the red legged stand.
Lakeland Jam & Jelly Muslin Bag and Strainer
It is very sturdy and you can dismantle it so it stores flat and easily in your cupboards. It is also easy to clean. And there are also replacement bags.
A much larger straining bag makes things much easier as you don’t have to top up your fruit.
Why Not Make Your Own?
You can also make your own makeshift strainers by rigging up some muslin over a bowl. Or making a bag of your own.
You can get a square for about £2.50 on Amazon or you can use other materials like a cotton bag or cloths as long as they are unused and clean.
All you need is a hook to hold the bag up to strain.
Things to Consider Before Deciding
It is worth running through this check-list to make sure you are happy with the type of straining solution you have open to you.
- How sturdy is the stand?
- Is it big enough for my needs?
- Will it sore easily in my cupboards?
- Is the mesh of the bag fine enough?
- Is the bag/cloth easy to clean and wash?
- Will it stop flies?
- What material is the bag?
- How well does it strain?
- Will it fit my bowls? (If it clips)
- Will my bowls fit under it? (If it stands on the table)
- Are there replacement bags if needed?
- Is this method hygienic?