Jelly & Jam from Wild Plums

Wanting to make plum jam and / or jelly next week after I harvest the plums.

Do I HAVE to cut the pit out of the plums before cooking them? They are such small plums & the pits are a pain to get out.

I was hoping that I could just cook them until squishy enough for me to use my hands to squish the pulp out, then discard the pits, cook again & return to the jam / jelly making process.

Thanks!

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I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. - Thomas Jefferson

I cook the whole plums, and after they come to a simmer, I use a potato masher to break the skins and loosen the pulp from the pits.

Then dump the cooked plums into a collander with fairly large holes and use a pastry spatula to work the pulp through the collander.

Do you make jelly or jam from them? Or both?

Thanks for the reply!

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I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. - Thomas Jefferson

Jelly.

they make the best jelly, ever. I simmer the whole fruit till they are tender, then smash them with the potato smasher. I put a piece of muslin over a big pot and pour the plums in and let it strain. The juice make a beautifull clear jelly.
P.J.

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