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Instant Pot Orange Marmalade

Instant Pot Orange Marmalade

4.75 from 4 votes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
35 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings

Description

Homemade orange marmalade in about 40 minutes with just 3 ingredients — no pectin, no canning equipment, and tender peel every time thanks to the pressure cooker.

Ingredients 

  • 6 large oranges, about 3 lbs, washed well
  • 5 cups granulated sugar
  • cups water
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, optional but recommended

Instructions

  • Scrub the oranges under warm water and pat dry. The peel goes into the marmalade, so wash them thoroughly.
  • Cut each orange in half. Lay each half flat side down and slice as thinly as possible, about ⅛ inch. Quarter the slices if you prefer shorter shreds. Remove the seeds as you go.
  • Add the sliced oranges, sugar, water, and lemon juice to the inner pot. Stir well so the sugar is fully moistened and none is sitting dry on the bottom.
  • Lock the lid and set the valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 10 minutes.
  • When the cook time ends, allow a full natural pressure release, about 10–15 minutes. Do not quick release.
  • Remove the lid and select Sauté. Bring to a steady boil and cook, stirring often, until the mixture reaches 220°F to 222°F on a candy thermometer, about 15–20 minutes. Stir more frequently as it thickens to prevent scorching.
  • Test the set: drop a spoonful onto a plate from the freezer, chill 1 minute, then push it with a finger. If it wrinkles and holds a line, it's ready. If not, cook 5 more minutes and retest.
  • Press Cancel. Let the marmalade rest in the pot 10 minutes so the peel stays suspended, then ladle into clean jars.
  • Cool completely on the counter, about 1–2 hours, before capping and refrigerating. The marmalade will continue to thicken for up to 24 hours.

Equipment

  • Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker (6-quart),
  • Sharp Knife or Mandoline
  • Candy thermometer
  • 5 clean 8-ounce jars with lids

Notes

  • Orange choice matters. Seville oranges give the most traditional, bitter, firmly-set result. Navel oranges are sweeter with a softer set and are what this recipe is written for.
  • Altitude: The gel point drops about 1°F per 500 feet of elevation. At 5,000 feet, aim for roughly 210°F.
  • Extra pectin: Tie the removed seeds in cheesecloth and pressure cook them with the fruit, then discard the bundle before the sauté stage.
  • Avoiding a BURN notice: Stir thoroughly before sealing the lid so sugar doesn't settle dry on the bottom.
  • Foam: Skim it, or stir in ¼ teaspoon of butter to knock it down.
  • Storage: Refrigerate up to 3 months, or freeze up to 1 year. For shelf-stable jars, follow tested water bath canning guidelines from the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
  • Don't judge the set early. Hot marmalade always looks too thin. Wait 24 hours.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 547kcalCarbohydrates: 141gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.02gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.04gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.03gSodium: 4mgPotassium: 256mgFiber: 3gSugar: 138gVitamin A: 311IUVitamin C: 75mgCalcium: 58mgIron: 0.2mg