How to Substitute Powdered Pectin for Liquid Pectin

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Liquid and powdered pectins can not be simply switched out in a recipe. However, if you know the right way to do it, it is possible to successfully make the substitution in your preserving.

Liquid and powdered pectins can not be simply switched out in a recipe. However, if you know the right way to do it, it is possible to successfully make the substitution in your preserving.

It is always best to follow a preserves recipe the way it is written. But if you find yourself in a pinch, this is how you would go about changing the pectin for a recipe.

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What Pectin Can You Substitute?

When substituting powdered pectin for liquid, you will use regular or original powdered pectin, not the low/no sugar version.

When to Add the Pectin

First, when you put the pectin in depends upon what kind of pectin you are using.

Liquid pectin is added to a recipe at the end after your fruit, sugar, and other ingredients have cooked.

Powdered pectin is combined with the fruit/juice at the beginning of the recipe. The sugar is not added yet. You will bring the powdered pectin and fruit mixture to a full boil and boil for 1 minute. Then, add the sugar and cook & stir until it is all dissolved, before continuing with the recipe.

jelly cooking in stock pot

Pectin Quantity

A pouch of liquid pectin and a pouch of powdered pectin can not be substituted 1-for-1.

1 pouch liquid = 2 Tb powdered

2 pouches liquid = 4 Tb or 1 pouch (1.75 oz) powdered pectin

A typical pouch of powdered pectin (1.75 oz.) contains 4 tablespoons of powdered pectin. That is why you will often see the liquid come in 2 pouches and powdered pectin comes with 1 pouch. You’ll need much less of the powdered pectin when switching them out.

Understanding these rules will also allow you to use liquid pectin in a recipe that calls for powdered.

The Exception

Sometimes a recipe will specify to not change the pectin. In that situation, it is best to use the type of pectin that the recipe calls for.

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Liquid and powdered pectins can not be simply switched out in a recipe. However, if you know the right way to do it, it is possible to successfully make the substitution in your preserving.

13 thoughts on “How to Substitute Powdered Pectin for Liquid Pectin”

  1. This site is exactly what I needed. I have the crystals but no liquid pouch and I want to make a little peach jam. I hope I am right in assuming that since the pouches have some liquid the jam with crystals will not take as long to cook. I doubt there will be an answer in time as I purchased the peaches today [August 23 2023] but I will check before I begin just in case.

    Reply
  2. I have a recipe that call a for 2 boxes of powdered sure jell. I only have liquid certo. How many pouches do I use. I’m making jam

    Reply
    • 2 pouches liquid = 4 Tb or 1 pouch (1.75 oz) powdered pectin, so working in reverse: 2 boxes of powdered = 4 boxes of liquid. But remember liquid & powdered are used at different times.

      Reply
  3. Wish I saw this first. Recipe called for 1 pouch liquid pectin. I only had powdered, so I just substituted it 1:1. Can I just make another batch of the jelly and add to this one?

    Reply
  4. Thanks for the information. I have lots of liquid pectin but no powdered. My recipe calls for powdered. I will try using the 2 pouches of liquid instead.

    Reply
  5. Hi! I wish I would have read this article before I stayed up until 2am last night making jelly with the wrong pectin. 😞 Is it possible to rectify the situation by putting the jelly back a pan bringing to a boil and then adding the liquid pectin?

    Reply

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