Knowledgebase

marmalade recipe #924217

Asked February 04, 2026, 12:54 AM EST

Hello. I have a marmalade recipe that I like that calls for 2 lbs Seville oranges and 2 large lemons. The fruit are simmered whole in water until soft, then sliced and boiled with sugar. I would like to use this same process but different citrus fruits, like meyer lemons or grapefruits, instead of Seville oranges. Would the marmalade still be safe to process in a boiling water bath (5 min in sterilized jars)? It seems like it should still be acidic enough, but I can't find any information about the acidity of different kinds of whole citrus fruits. I also reduced the sugar in the recipe to taste, but from what I've read the amount of sugar does not affect the canning safety, and the marmalade gelled just fine when I made a small trial batch. I've found other recipes online, but they don't use the whole fruit, which I prefer. Thank you.

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. 

Kind Regards, Replied February 06, 2026, 5:55 PM EST

Loading ...