u/Cypripedium_acaule

I’ve been working on some of my jam and jelly recipes and I wanted to check the sugar content of various fruits in order to most accurately calculate how much sugar should be added.

I got an optical brix refractometer from Amazon. I have calibrated it like the manual said. It's supposed to auto adjust for temperature. It reads correctly for distilled water, but when I put my jelly samples on it the color is all washed out pink. I've tested other things and it seems to be reading far too high.

I returned one thinking it was defective, but the next one is acting the same way. What I am doing wrong? Should I try spending more and getting a digital one?

While I was researching and troubleshooting, I saw that some people were using a brix refractometer to see when the jelly is at the right point to set. Is this something that works reliably if you have a proven recipe?

I am working on some of my jelly and jam recipes. I want to be able to be more precise so I got a pH meter and an optical brix refractometer that reads 0-95 The pH meter works well but the brix meter is a problem.

I have calibrated it like the manual said. It’s supposed to auto adjust for temperature. It reads correctly for distilled water, but when I put my jelly samples on it the color is all washed out pink. I’ve tested other things and it seems to be reading far too high.

I returned one thinking it was defective, but the next one is acting the same way. What I am doing wrong? Should I try spending more and getting a digital one?