Prepare your canning equipment, the goal is to have your canner and jars hot when the strawberry lemonade concentrate is ready to go in the jars.
Preparing Strawberry Lemonade Concentrate
Choose ripe strawberries. Wash and hull your strawberries. Remove any damaged or green portions.
Cut large strawberries in half or quarters, small berries may be left whole.
Using a blender in batches, or a stick blender, puree your strawberries until smooth. You want to end up with 6 cups cleaned pureed strawberries.
In a large stockpot, combine the strawberries, lemon juice, and sugar. Stir well to dissolve the sugar.
Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and bring it to 190 degrees. This is lower than boiling. Concentrate should not boil.
Remove from heat.
Skim off any foam that forms on the surface.
Packing the Jars
Add lemonade concentrate to the jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
Remove air bubbles with a bubble tool.
Check headspace again and adjust if needed.
Wipe rims of jar clean with damp towel or paper towel.
Add your canning lids and rings, finger tight.
Place jar in the canner. When all jars are filled, process according to the instructions below
Processing with Water Bath Canner
After all jars are in the canner, lower rack into the water. Bring to a boil.
When the water comes to a rolling boil, start your processing time.
Processing Time
For altitudes up to 1,000 feet, Pints are processed for 15 minutes
Be sure and adjust your time for altitude. Altitude adjustments can be found in the notes area below.
Process for the full time indicated, adjusting the heat as needed to maintain a boil for the entire processing time.
Cool Down Time
When processing time is completed turn off the heat.
Remove the canner lid and wait 5 minutes.
Remove your jars. (optionally you can wait another 5 minutes if the contents appear to be bubbling so hard it is coming out of the jars)
Put the jars a few inches apart on a thick towel and allow them to cool to room temperature undisturbed. 12 hours is suggested.
When the jars are cooled, remove the metal bands, check the seals, wash jars, dry completely.
Label with contents and date, and store in a cool dark place.
Notes
NOTES:Optional -You can make your strawberry lemonade to taste.Suggested is 1 jar concentrate to 3 jars water.But this can be adjusted either more or less as you desire. Optional - you can filter through a cheesecloth before canning if you like a smoother drink.We like the pulp and the seeds in the drink. Substitutions
Mix with seltzer water, or a lemon lime soda for a bubbly drink.
Any high acid berry can be substituted.Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries.