Knowledgebase
marmalade recipe #924217
Asked February 04, 2026, 12:54 AM EST
Benton County Oregon
Expert Response
Hello Margaret,
Without knowing the source of your recipe, I can only provide you with guidance from our publications.
Regarding substitution of different varieties of citrus, here is an approved tested recipe from the National Center of Home Food Preservation that uses grapefruit, lemon, and orange: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/make-jam-jelly/marmalades/citrus-marmalade/.
When considering sugar in a fruit preserve, sugar does matter. As stated in our publication, https://extension.oregonstate.edu/food/preservation/making-jams-jellies-fruit-spreads-sp-50-764, sugar must be present in the right proportion with acid and pectin in order to form the gel. It is the preservative for the product, thereby preventing the growth of microorganisms.