straining raspberry seeds
i love to make raspberry jam and blackberry jam, and prefer (at least relatively) seedless jam. i use a fine-meshed strainer to eliminate seeds. does anyone know of a better method? i've read that the kitchen aid strainer attachment doesn't work for raspberry or blackberry jam. does anyone have any experience with that attachment? thanks.
23 Comments
Joanne K.July 21, 2020
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.
KuppsOctober 24, 2020
Great tip! I have found that a trip to an aquarium store can help in creating the best seedless purée. Buy a 225 micron thin mesh filter bag. It is way cheaper than going to a kitchen supply store and is exactly the same product. Good luck!
Karl P.August 8, 2015
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.
Melissa D.June 24, 2015
I just used my Kitchenaid with the screen I normally use to process tomatoes. Worked like a DREAM.
Cathy S.June 30, 2015
not an answer, tho, Melissa...does the mixer break the seeds down? and if so, does it change the taste of the Jam at all?
rt21May 21, 2013
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 .
louisezMay 21, 2013
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.
louisezMay 21, 2013
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!
HilarybeeMay 21, 2013
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.
GreenstuffMay 21, 2013
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.
louisezMay 21, 2013
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.
ATLMay 21, 2013
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!
louisezMay 21, 2013
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.
NancyJune 25, 2015
when I worked in a pastry kitchen, we used a chinois to make raspberry coulis & got relatively easy, consistent. if you have enough use for it, consider a home version.
https://en.wikipedia.org...
http://www.creativecookware.com/Chinois-Strainers-C153.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org...
http://www.creativecookware.com/Chinois-Strainers-C153.aspx
ATLMay 21, 2013
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).
louisezMay 21, 2013
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.
SmaugAugust 8, 2015
Food mill is definitely the tool for the job- I'm not too up to date, but it used to be Foley all the way. The one I inherited from my mother has three screens, and is miles better than a couple of expensive models I bought. I hope Foley is still making it- the world needs more good food mills
ATLMay 21, 2013
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.
HilarybeeMay 20, 2013
If I want a really seedless jam, I use a food mill with a hand crank.
MonitaMay 20, 2013
You can use a cheesecloth inside the strainer for a purer outcome
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