Just like a certain duffel coat wearing bear from Peru, I just love marmalade. Lime is my most favourite of the bought preserves (I love Rose’s lime marmalade) but at this otherwise bleak and grey period of the year, greengrocer shelves are ablaze with golden glory from all manner of seasonal citrus fruits.
Usually, Seville oranges are the chosen variety for marmalade making but I must say, I far prefer my Instant Pot Blood Orange Marmalade.
Blood oranges are just a little bit special, for both their unique claret red blushed skin and flesh, and also for their perfume and flavour. Whilst certainly within the orange family, their is something about their fragrance and taste which is not-quite-orange.
The specific variety governs how tart they are but the ones Aldi are stocking at the moment in the UK are sweet and simply gorgeous.
There’s a definite raspberry note to their flavour, even if the ones I bought (in a form of blood orange Russian roulette) I bought were more streaked with red than some that are a deep, rich maroon red inside.
I would taste the fruit in the raw before deciding how much sugar you want to include in your marmalade.
If you were using traditional Seville oranges, which are so tart they make my teeth itch, you would double the weight of the fruit and add that amount of sugar to a batch.
With the sweet varieties of blood oranges, you can be confident at reducing the ratio to 1:1.5 or even, for those who must relish bitterness in their orange preserves, take it down to 1:1.2. I simply add the juice of a lemon, which brings a little extra pectin to help with the set and sourness to the party.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Make use of beautiful seasonal blood oranges and make this easy peasy Instant Pot Marmalade!” quote=”Make use of beautiful seasonal blood oranges and make this easy peasy Instant Pot Marmalade!”]
Using the Instant Pot shaves off masses of time and cooks the fruit to pulpy perfection. I did a lot of research in creating this marmalade and I liked this source the best, although I think the fruit is better for cooking a little longer to soften the shreds in the finished preserve to a more palatable texture.
Although the IP is a modern creation, traditionalists need not fear as lots of old English cooks wrote recipes which made use of a stove top pressure cooker to start their marmalade off with.
Once the fruit is cooked, you simply add the sugar and bring to the magic temperature for marmalade – 104.5ËšC. Any more than that and you will have road tar (been there, done that, thrown quite a few lethal weapon-esque jars in the bin!). Any less and it won’t set.
As always, I am a huge advocate of Thermapens; they are just so rapid and accurate, it was the best 30-ish quid I’ve spent in the kitchen.
One final point – Hungry Hubby really hates shreds in marmalade. Like, he won’t even look at a jar of the stuff, let alone anoint his morning toast with the stuff! The great news is whether you are a Shred Head or a Shredless Wonder (anyone else made in the ’80s who remembers that Robertson’s Jam ad campaign?), you can easily adapt this glorious preserve to suit your preferences.
All you do is pass the finished preserve through a fine-meshed sieve. It does mean you get about half the amount that you would if you left the peel in but look at how beautiful the shredless version is – luminescent blushing apricot in colour. Plus it sets to a soft wibbly wobbly jelly-like set, with or without the peel left in. Thanks to my foodie friend Camilla for pointing out how easy it is to make shredless marmalade!
A softly set fragrant marmalade made with the best of the season's citrus fruit. Sift out the peel when you're done if you prefer it shredless. With the peel, yield 1.5litres, without about 750ml.
- 4 whole blood oranges
- 1 lemon, juice of
- 1.5 x weight of fruit in caster sugar
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Start by weighing the blood oranges and note down the weight (about 600-650g usually). Wash them under hot wash well, scrubbing to get any wax coating off. Also, sterilise your jars (see notes).
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Cut the blood oranges in quarters and slice them as thinly as you can possibly manage - use a mandolin if you are careful (and brave enough!) or the sharpest knife you have. Discard pips.
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Scoop the sliced fruit into the Inner Pot with all their juice plus that of the lemon. Add 250ml water and close the lid, setting to 12 minutes Manual (High). Allow a NPR. Cancel the Keep Warm function
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Weigh out 1.5 x the weight of the oranges in caster sugar (you can go as low as 1.2 if you prefer it less sweet) and add to the cooked fruit, stirring to help it dissolve.
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Press Sauté and stirring constantly to avoid catching and burning on the bottom of the pot, heat until an instant read thermometer shows 104.5˚C. Take off the heat and allow to cool briefly whilst you retrieve your sterile jars from the oven/dishwasher (see notes).
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If wishing to make shredless marmalade, simply pass it through a fine meshed sieve, pressing firmly to ensure as much pulp goes through just leaving the peel behind. Scrape the jelly off the underside of the sieve. Ladle into the hot sterile jars, sealing the lids immediately. If leaving the peel in, then simply ladle into jars, trying to distribute the peel evenly between them.
To sterilise the glass jars, either wash in hot soapy water then place in the oven on low (about 100-120ËšC) until dry, which may be 20-30 minutes. OR put through the hottest cycle on the dishwasher.
Whichever method you use, do not touch the insides of the jars with your fingers to prevent contamination and make sure you use the jars whilst still warm. Which means you'll probably need to start sterilising them an hour before you start making the marmalade as it is so fast in the Instant Pot!Â
Once open, store in the fridge. Unopened jars will keep for many months in a cool dark cupboard.Â
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Remember to check out my What You Need To Know About The Instant Pot post for loads more helpful info on how to get the best from your new toy!
Great tutorial advice on ratios of sugar to fruit. I like marmalade but tend really dislike the bitter variety. Now I know how to avoid that taste! Thanks.
Yeah, I don’t love the super bitter ones (but weirdly, I do love the sour lime ones – go figure that one out!). The secret is definitely to taste your fruit before cooking it to get an indication of how much sugar you want to add 😀
A really detailed post. Great advice on the exact temperature to cook marmalade as well.
I aim to please! And to be helpful – hope this post was that Bintu 😀
Wouldn’t have considered using blood oranges for marmalade, as it is always sevelle that is associated. So it is nice to see an alternative that looks a fab colour, and sounds delicious.
Thank you Helen. I see it as a chance to make use of another short season treat, by using blood oranges, The colour is wonderful – it goes ruby red if you can get really deeply coloured fruits to start with.
My goodness this looks amazing! I wish we had blood oranges for sale where I live. I’d so be all over this recipe!
Aw you do live very far north Elizabeth, I can see why it would be tricky to get blood oranges up there. It would work with other citrus fruits though – just be mindful to tweak the sugar for more or less sweet varieties of fruit.
I just love seeing all of your Instant Pot recipes! This one is no exception…although it now suddenly makes me extremely excited to try making some marmalades in it! This lil kitchen device keeps getting better and better! Thanks for sharing!
Aw thank you Sarah, your comments are always so sweet and kind. I’m planning on carrying on experimenting to discover the full scope of what the IP can achieve!
This is awesome, I make bucket loads of preserves and jams and have never got round to making marmalade and we love the stuff. Blood oranges now on the shopping list for next week 😀
Ace! You have to give your jams a go in you own IP Bri, it works so well!
😀
This sounds amazingly delicious. I’d love to make jars of these, host a brunch party, and give these out as favors!
That would be so lovely Tina – please invite me to said brunch lol 😀
This looks amazing, my husband would love this. And I do have a lot of oranges.
Then get marmalading lol! It’s so easy and so reliable it would be a shame not to 😀
We love the instant pot and its versatility never ceases to amaze us! I’ve never made a marmalade, jam, or jelly and your recipe here looks to e the perfect place to start! Thanks so much for sharing this beautiful post.
You’re very welcome Dan – thanks for your kindness. This is definitely to place to start with homemade preserves, it’s so easy!
I have never tried making Marmalade in a pressure cooker. This is such a great idea Jodie! Our markets are plush with oranges too and I can’t wait to try this out.
It’s so easy Richa and actually probably more traditional as pressure cookers have been around so long really! Hope you get to try it 😀
This recipe sounds delicious and easy. Can’t wait to try it. QUESTION : Can this recipe be converted for limes and other citrus? When you mentioned the limes, that was suddenly all I wanted!
Hi, Lori – there’s no reason why not but you may want to add a little more sugar as lemons and limes are so much sourer than even blood oranges x
When finishes can I place the jars in a water bath canner and process for 10 minutes to make the jams last longer?
Hi Heide – canning is not used in the UK so I can’t give you specific information. But, what I can say is be sure to use canning jars and follow the guidance of your own food department/government agency on the safe preservation of jams etc. You should get 6 months shelf life on this marmalade easily if the jars are stored unopened, in a cool dark place. I hope that helps x
This sounds great! You list 8 calories per serving. How much is a serving?
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So excited to try this! Thank you! Do you think it would work if you subbed half of the sugar with xylitol?
I just discovered your post (and I see there are others to read later) about the blood orange marmalade made in the Instant Pot. I’m so excited!! I’ve achieved a little notoriety among friends and family for my marmalades. It started with an Australian recipe for grapefruit marmalade, moved to orange, Cara Cara & blood orange and morphed to a lemon/lime/orange (and sometimes mandarin too) versions. With my new 8 quart Instant Pot I hadn’t dreamed of using it for jams and marmalades. You’ve given me hope and practical solutions! Can’t wait for citrus season to really show itself at the grocery store! Thank you!