Recipe for Strawberry Jam

Simple recipe for strawberry jam without the use of packaged pectin.

This is a very simple jam recipe. Strawberries and sugar.... that is it.

Combine this jam with other fruit jams for gourmet gift baskets.

This recipe makes 5 - 1/2 pints.

It is VERY tempting to double this recipe for strawberry jam and make more.

cooking strawberry jam However it is difficult to make double batches of jam. If you want to make more at a time (I don't blame you) simply have two batches going at the same time in different pots.

This is what I always do. I just can't see running a canner for five - half pints.

Find more strawberry jam recipes here

Strawberry Jam can be processed safely in a Water Bath Canner.

Prepare

Gather your canning supplies

water bath canner
pint canning jars
canning lids - both seals and rings
jar lifter
canning funnel
bowls
large pot
large spoons
towels and dish cloths
sharp knife
strawberry corer
potato masher

Ingredients

2 quarts crushed strawberries
6 cups sugar

Start by preparing jars,and get water in your canner heating.
(see Water Bath Canning for full directions)

Procedure

Place a spoon in the freezer, you'll use this later.

Wash and core strawberries and remove any bruised portions. I use a strawberry corer

(actually it is technically a tomato corer but it works perfectly for strawberries)

Place strawberries in a large pot. Crush with a potato masher to get the juices flowing.

strawberry jam

Add sugar and heat while stirring
constantly.

When sugar is dissolved bring to a boil. Boil rapidly until it thickens.

This may take 35-40 minutes. Stir frequently! Once it has started to thicken you will need to just stand there and continue stirring.

Take your cold spoon and scoop up a bit of jam. The jam will cool quickly and you can tilt the spoon to see if it has thickened or jelled. If it is runny simply cook a bit longer.

strawberry jam

Not hard but it takes patience.

When jam has thickened skim off any foam with a large spoon. (this picture is actually cherry jam but the step is the same)

Let your kids dip bread or crackers in the foam.... yum a great snack and treat if they have been helping you.

Fill hot jars with hot jam leaving 1/4 inch head space. strawberry jam