Marmalade in the microwave

Marmalade takes a long time to cook in the conventional way on the stove top.  In the microwave oven it is much quicker.  This recipe has a carrot as well as citrus fruit that makes a less acid product.

Ingredients

1 medium carrot
1 orange
2 lemons
3 ½ cups sugar
1 ¾ cups water

Method

1. Wash carrot and fruit and chop roughly
2. Put half into the blender with ½ cup water and blend till the carrot is in pieces about ½ -1 cm
3. Put the chopped up mixture into a large mixing bowl or casserole dish
4. Add sugar and remaining ¾ cup water
5. Note that the bowl should be less than half full because the mixture will bubble up a lot when cooking
6. Put the bowl into the microwave oven on high for 10 minutes
7. Remove and stir well until the sugar has completely dissolved
8. Cook for a further 20 minutes on medium/high
9. Prepare jars for storing the marmalade so they are clean and hot when the marmalade is ready. Wash, rinse and dry the jars thoroughly.
10. To test if the marmalade is cooked, remove the bowl and take a teaspoonful on to a saucer.  Leave in a cool place until cold. Run your finger over the test spoonful.  If it is runny return to microwave for 3 minutes on high
11. Repeat Step 9 until the test spoonful show the marmalade is thickening.
12. Pour into clean hot jars and seal with a metal lid or aluminium foil or greaseproof paper held in place with a rubber band.

 Notes

1. These instructions are for a 1000w microwave. 
2. You may need to adjust the timing in your microwave oven. As different microwave ovens work differently (even with the same watts)
3. You may have to test this recipe in your microwave oven and adjust the times accordingly. 
4. It is best to use less time at first even though it will take a bit longer. 
5. You may need to retest for setting 4-5 times until you find what works in your microwave oven.

Makes 3 x 300gm jars