Clear Jel

Clear Jel..... try it you'll like it!

I've always canned my apple pie and other pie fillings with flour or cornstarch as a thickener.... I'd heard of Clear Jel but I had not tried it. It has been on my list of things to do.

Well I've gone and done it. And I am sold. Clear Jel it is from now on.

If you'll look at these pictures you'll see why. These are both apple pie fillings that I've canned. I'll bet you can tell which one has clear jel as a thickener. Yes the one on the right! Much nicer!!

Amazon has Clear Jel from Barry Farm.

Use it just like you would flour. The difference is it stirs in much easier and no clumping.

Be sure you purchase the non-instant or regular type. The regular clear jel is made to withstand the high temperatures of canning.

Instant will not hold up. It is good for using in gravies and other non-canning thickening.

Read Mitchells e-mail below to learn more. She is the person who introduced me to clear jel.

Sharon,

I just read the question on pie fillings, you did not know what special pie thickener that the person was talking about.

It is called Clear Jel, you would buy the "Cook Type" it is a specially modified cornstarch that does not break down like reg. cornstarch or get watery.

As for buying it you can find it the cheapest if you live in an area that had Mennonite or Amish Bulk Foods, there it runs about 2.00 per lb. on line you can find it but they rob you at 6.00 per lb.

Believe me once you get to using it, you will never go back to reg. cornstarch again. I mean for reg. cooking, homemade custards etc.

I wanted to tell you also, that the one nice point on the "Cook Type" (there is an instant type) you don't want that, you want the "Cook Type"

Is that when you use this, when you thicken your pie fillings custards etc. It gets as thick as it is going to get when it is hot in the pan, so what you see is what you get, so you know that your pie fillings in the jars is going to be as thick when you open and dump them out as they when they went into the jars.

You know when you make Cornstarch Custard at home for dinner, and you use corn starch how when it went into the bowl looking nice, then when it got cold and you could cut it like jello (what a disappointment) Well Clear Jel, takes care of that, the way it was in the pan is the way it will be in the bowl out of the fridge.

You will love it, mix it up as your thickening just like using reg. cornstarch.

Mitchell