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Preserving & Canning Calculators

Calculators for jam, chutney, pickles, and preserving jar quantities.

10 free calculators in Preserving & Canning

Precise Calculations for Perfect Preserves

Preserving is one area of cooking where precision truly matters. Getting the sugar-to-fruit ratio wrong can mean jam that will not set, or one that crystallises in the jar. Too little salt in a fermentation brine risks spoilage, while too much inhibits the beneficial bacteria. Our preserving calculators take the guesswork out of these critical ratios so you can make jams, chutneys, pickles, and curds with confidence.

Each calculator is based on well-established preserving science. The jam sugar ratio calculator accounts for the pectin level of different fruits — high-pectin fruits like cooking apples and Seville oranges need a different sugar ratio to low-pectin fruits like strawberries and cherries. The jar quantity calculator factors in the water evaporation that occurs during the boiling process, giving you an accurate estimate of how many jars your batch will fill.

For fermentation, our brine calculators use the standard 2–3% salt concentration recommended for vegetable ferments like sauerkraut and kimchi. The pickling brine calculator provides vinegar, water, sugar, and salt ratios for traditional British pickles. Whether you are a seasoned preserver or making your first batch of strawberry jam, these tools ensure your ratios are spot on every time.