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glut of plums

• Message 1. 

  Posted by meekylinda (U14928957) on Saturday, 6th August 2011

  Does anybody know how to make prunes?? can I use my superabundant dark blue plums? I have already lost one tree which snapped completely in half with the weight of fruit and think this may be a solution
  any other suggestions welcome
  thank you
  Linda

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Saturday, 6th August 2011

  Try this - my favourite chutney recipe:
  
  

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by punpun (U14553477) on Saturday, 6th August 2011

  Hi Linda,
  As we speak ive just filled 24 large demi jars with victoria plums and these will be put into a pan and boiled to enable the plums to be eaten anytime in the future,
  
  Its simple to do
  Just fill the jars full of washed & de-storked plums (no need to de-stone) and then put 2xtable spoons of white sugar in the jars,
  Next fill one third of the jar with cold clean water and then seal the jar,
  
  Now put the jars into a pan of cold water (enough water to cover the complete jar)
  and slowly bring to the boil,
  
  Boil for 20 minutes and then remove from heat and let the jars cool off;
  
  when cool enough to handle label the jars with date/& contents.& reminder that they are stoned.(dont want any broken teeth)
  
  All thats left to do is store and use when reqiured?
  SMASHING WITH ICE CREAM.
  
  Plums freeze well and the plums can be boiled and then "when cold" frozen for later use as crumble filling or tart pie making,
  
  To answer your questions
  (1) prunes are dried plums and as far as i know . Ive never made these.
  (2) the dark blue plum is better for cooking as it has a slight bitter/dry taste and hence with added sugar makes great jam.
  
  Well Linda hope this little lot helps you use all those plums up.
  
  If your around W.H.SMITH book shop, they have the W.I. Jam and chutney books, very cheap to buy and excellent value for money when it comes to learning the secretes of using your fruits for cooking.
  Regards Punpun

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• Message 4

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  Posted by Toadspawn (U2334298) on Saturday, 6th August 2011

  They will freeze very easily, whole. Just put them in a freezer bag, seal and put in the freezer. Or, you could remove the stone if you wish and they will take up less space but this takes a lot more time.
  

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• Message 5

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  Posted by BaraGwenith (U14257539) on Saturday, 6th August 2011

  Lakeland sell a dehydrator. I don't know if that would be suitable. I don't know how they produce prunes commercially. I'm sure they aren't all dried out in the sun nowadays.
  
  The best book for preserving by many different methods is Home preservation of Fruit and Vegetables. Available on Amazon and cheap. It has been in print since the war and updated and reprinted many, many times. It is invaluable.
  
  It will give a full description of bottling if you want to go down that route. Plums are excellent for bottling.

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• Message 6

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  Posted by figrat (U3054696) on Sunday, 7th August 2011

  I did a search and came up with this.... There are more sites if you search for 'how to make prunes from plums'.
  It does seem to be an American obsession, the site above recommends drying them in the sun for 3-4 weeks, but others give instructions for oven drying.
  Good luck!

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• Message 7

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  Posted by Barney_pl (U13897738) on Sunday, 7th August 2011

  These might help. Together, they give you enough information, I think. I think I like the sound of the honey pre-treatment in the first to the sodium Sodium Metabisulfite.
  
  
  
  
  
  Good luck!
  
  

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by Barney_pl (U13897738) on Sunday, 7th August 2011

  Sorry, figrat - I missed seing your message somehow. Maybe the three links together will present a clear idea, anyway.

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• Message 9

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  Posted by honeysuckle (U8412568) on Sunday, 7th August 2011

  I googled "drying plums" and got loads of detailed info. The Americans are heavily into drying. No reason why you can't use your blue plums. It's worth reading the info on several of the listed websites to get a comprehensive knowledge. I bought a dehydrator last year mainly for my apples but would certainly try prunes if my new dwarf tree production (40 plums) could ever make it to the kitchen. I envy your volume of plums.
  
  You do not need a dehydrator however, you cn use an ordinary oven, or hot sun if you have it. Good luck! Please ket us know how you get on.

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• Message 10

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  Posted by JADEVINE (U14671401) on Friday, 12th August 2011

  Yes I agree with Trillium - this is the best chutney recipe I have tried!

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