straining raspberry seeds

I tried saving time today and instead of mashing my red raspberries as I normally do with a potato masher to make jam I put them in the blender on liquefy. After doing this my usual way of straining out the seeds with a sieve just wouldn't work nor did 3 layers of cheesecloth. I don't know why but it didn't. I checked this site for other ideas but don't own a food mill. What I ended up doing is using replacement window screening, not the metal but the other kind that's kinda like plastic. It worked like a charm in getting the seeds out. I simply cut a piece large enough to fit over the bowl and I held it in place with a large heavy duty rubber band. I worked a couple of cups at a time with a spoon. When I finished I had a few seeds that came through but very, very few.

I use a juicer that I picked up at a second hand store for about 12 bucks. works great. I cook the berries first and then run them thru twice. I might have to add a little water to thin the pulp but it does a good job. Think its a juice man juicer. It takes the seeds out whole, not much waste at all.

HI..I'm wondering if using the blender to mash the seeds makes the jam taste different?

I just used my Kitchenaid with the screen I normally use to process tomatoes. Worked like a DREAM.

I too have tried all the answers provided and a thought just occurred to me. ! Would a vitamix blender work? It blends everything so smooth it just might be the answer .

Hilarybee -- I take your point. However, the seeds are a problem for my husband, which is why deseeding is so important to me. Thanks again for your help.

Chris -- the "they're all messy and waste some fruit" thing is what I was hoping there was some method/equipment would help me avoid. I'll try to keep in mind what you said -- though I'm not sure my husband would be happy for me to give the jam away to friends, no matter how appreciative (though he will share with our daughter). In the event that I have a breakthrough -- unlikely as that may be, alas -- I will let you know. Thanks!

Chris, I usually don't do too much deseeding, either. Usually with raspberry and blackberry, I'll partially deseed the batch to prevent the jam from being all seeds, no flavor. Usually, I just use a sieve. I've had a few batches were I wanted a clearer product for gifts- more for look than taste.

I've used all those methods--both round and conical sieves, the cheesecloth, a couple of food mills. I think they're all messy and waste some fruit. I just remind myself to treat that seedless raspberry jam like the treasure it is and only give any away to the most appreciative friends. Good luck, and let us know if you have a breakthrough.

ATL -- sorry, again, for my lack of clarity. I didn't mean to give offense. Should I ask a question on the hot line again, I will be more careful to be more thorough. These are not methods I've discarded -- I just didn't know if there were methods I didn't know about -- or equipment. I don't have a food mill, and don't know much about them. I appreciate your advice, and your good wishes. Thanks again.

I hope you take this comment in the constructive way intended. It would have been helpful if you had listed everything you had already tried--not just one method--so that we didn't offer methods you have already tried and discarded. I do hope you find a method that does work for you. I've tried all of the suggestions and they have all been effective. Good luck!

I'm sorry if I wasn't clear -- I've tried all the suggestions thus far except for a food mill -- and am hoping for a food mill recommendation -- or a recommendation for some other equipment/method -- myself. Thanks again.

Since you have already tried all of the suggestions offered, how about letting us know if you've already tried a food mill and what you thought of the one you've tried (if you have).

Thank you all for your advice. I've tried all of the above (food processor and straining, with cheesecloth lining strainer, after fruit has been heated) -- except for a food mill. It can be a laborious process using a strainer, especially given the amount of fruit involved -- and not as effective as I'd like (it's not just seeds left in jam, but some loss of pulp and fruit that I'd like to minimize). I think I may look into a food mill -- especially if I can find one with a fine screen. Any recommendations? Thanks again.

Something that's been successful for me, in addition to those two methods, is to buzz the raspberries in the food processor and then put them through a fine sieve. Easier to push the more liquid raspberries through the sieve.

If I want a really seedless jam, I use a food mill with a hand crank.

You can use a cheesecloth inside the strainer for a purer outcome