Before making jam, you need to macerate the fruit in sugar water for a few hours to soften it.

macerate 是动词，来自拉丁语 macerare（浸泡、软化），指"将固体物质浸泡在液体中使其软化或分解"的过程。在烹饪中特指"用糖水浸泡水果使其软化并释放汁液"的处理方法。