​Stock up now for marmalade season!

At Wares of Knutsford, we know our customers love jams and preserve-making, so we're really excited to welcome marmalade season, and those wonderfully fragrant and flavoursome Seville oranges, back into our kitchens again!

Is it any wonder that marmalade is one of the most iconic British toast toppers? With its sweet, tangy and incredibly uplifting flavour, marmalade can be used to upgrade teacakes, toast and crumpets, make warming steamed puddings or cakes, or even to add a twist to pancakes or ice cream. Ever tried marmalade with blue cheese and prosciutto ham on a toasted flatbread? Or combined with soy to make a sauce for salmon? You're in for a treat!

It's also very easy to make if you invest in your own marmalade jars and we have a wonderful glass jar range to suit this exact need. You'll find our marmalade jar range covers all sizes with a range of lids and plenty of pretty accessories too, just in case you wish to gift your finished creations.

Why is marmalade so popular at this time of year?

The main reason that marmalade making is so popular at this time of year is that classic Seville oranges come into season between December and February and are widely available in the shops. These are the perfect oranges for marmalade-making and the flavour is incredible! Here's a recipe to try if you're new to the art of marmalade making. Just remember to have your glass jars ready!

A simple marmalade recipe

1kg of Seville (or other) oranges

2 litres of water

750g each of caster sugar and soft brown sugar

Halve the oranges and then juice them, pulling away the pulp, pith and pips as you do and reserving it (these all contain the pectin, which sets the marmalade). Slice the skins and place them into a pan with the orange juice. Put the pith, pulp and pips into a muslin cloth and tie it up so that the contents are safely stored inside. Put the muslin bag into the saucepan and bring the juice to a simmer before cooking it gently for an hour. Stir in the combined sugar and simmer until it dissolves. Keep stirring during this stage as it's easy to let the marmalade stick to the bottom of the pan and burn. Turn the heat off, cover the pan and let it sit overnight to set. Then spoon your delicious marmalade into your sterilised glass jars and seal them. You can have fun labelling and topping. A small glass jar of marmalade makes a lovely little spontaneous gift for a friend or neighbour, especially with a handwritten label and a fabric topper.

The best marmalade glass jars at Wares of Knutsford

You'll discover a wide range of marmalade glass jars at Wares of Knutsford, from small glass jars for gifting minis to larger sizes for batch preserve making or marmalade-loving families! We've got jam jars of all sizes, with bulk orders and pallets available for small businesses, and a variety of preserve-making labels and accessories. See the latest range here:

https://www.waresofknutsford.co.uk/jars/jam-jars/popular-jam-jars/

https://www.waresofknutsford.co.uk/jars/

Top tips for getting the best possible marmalade

1. Only make marmalade when you're in the mood for doing so. Part of the fun lies in the ritual and the relaxed pace of the process.

2. Don't be tempted to add exotic additions such as cardamon or chilli unless you're experienced or prepared to ruin a batch! Seville oranges already have a wonderful flavour that needs very little augmenting.

3. Don't dice your peel as it can create a cloudy marmalade. Instead, shred the peel and keep it chunky for a beautiful finish and plenty of texture. Use a sharp knife to make the peel-slicing job easier and quicker.

4. Remember to check that your peel is soft before you add the sugar. This takes around two hours. If you add the sugar, the peel-softening process will stop. You can also simmer the juice and skins on day one and then add the sugar on the following day to finish the marmalade.

5. Don't overcook the marmalade and take it off the boil to test it.

Check out the Dalemain marmalade competition

Every year, Dalemain hosts an international marmalade-making festival, with the winners crowned at the Dalemain Marmalade Festival in the summer. This year, there are more categories to choose from than ever, including the Children's Marmalade category, Merry marmalade entries (for those made with alcohol), Any Citrus marmalade and many more. Different fruits and recipes are welcomed, but they must be predominantly made with citrus. This is a fun and inclusive competition with years of goodwill and fun behind it. Selected winners of the artisan categories even have the chance to stock their products in Fortnum & Mason! Find out more about this year's competition here: https://www.dalemain.com/marmalade-awards/

Any queries? Please contact the Wares of Knutsford customer services team for friendly assistance. We look forward to welcoming you to Wares, the home of the finest kitchen equipment, glassware, homewares and more.