Small Batch Refrigerator Jam Food

SMALL BATCH STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Add the strawberries to a pot (I used a 4 quart saucepan) and mash. You could use a potato masher, pastry cutter, or fork-- anything to mash up the fruit and release the juices. Pour the lemon juice into a sandwich-size ziptop bag and add the cornstarch. Seal and shake the bag until the cornstarch has dissolved. Pour the mixture into the pot with the strawberries. Add the sugar and stir all ingredients together. Turn the stove top to medium-high and bring mixture to a ROLLING boil (as in, the bubbles don't stop when you stir them). Allow the jam to boil for 20-25 minutes, stirring often. Mixture should thickly coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and allow to cool before dividing the jam into jars. Store in the refrigerator.

SMALL BATCH BLACKBERRY JAM

Steps:

• In a non-reactive pan, mash the blackberries with a potato masher. Add the sugar and heat the contents over medium heat, stirring gently, until the sugar is dissolved. Raise the heat to medium-high and boil the mixture until a drop mounds in a chilled dish (this took around 10 minutes for me).
• Pour the jam into a jar and cap the jar tightly. Store in refrigerator. This jam should keep for several weeks.

LOQUAT JAM

Steps:

• Prepare loquat fruit for cooking: Rinse the fruits. Cut off the top and bottom. Half each fruit, remove the stones and the thick skin that covered the stones (see photos if not sure). Cut each half again. Place them in a pot. Add sugar and lemon juice and stir. Set aside.
• Prepare jars for canning: Sterilize any jars and lids you are going to use (always sterilize more than you think you will need - just in case). Insert them in a large pot of boiling water and boil for 10 minutes. Place them onto a clean kitchen towel to dry or keep them warm in the oven if this is done too early.
• Cooking jam: Cook on medium-high until the fruits soften, about 15 minutes. Puree and cook until the consistency of jam is to your liking (about 5-10 minutes more, see note), stirring regularly.
• Ladle hot jam in warm glass jars, leaving at least ½-inch (1.5-centimeter) headspace. Seal with lids and let them cool down completely before transferring to the fridge.

STRAWBERRY REFRIGERATOR JAM

Steps:

• Combine the strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan (I use a 3-quart saucepan). Mash the strawberries a little (I use a potato masher to do this).
• Bring to a boil, stirring frequently and occasionally mashing the strawberries.
• Reduce the heat and simmer until thickened, stirring occasionally, about 10 to 15 minutes. Keep an eye on the heat to make sure the jam doesn't bubble over or start to burn on the bottom of the pan. Keep in mind that the jam will thicken a little more once cooled, so it is ready when it's almost as thick as you would want the finished product to be.
• Remove the pan from the heat and skim the foam off the top. This will help keep your jam clear rather than cloudy or streaky. Take off as much as you can without removing too much of the jam.
• Cool slightly and pour into jars. If you plan to freeze the jam, make sure to leave a little space at the top of the jar to allow for expansion. Allow the jam to cool at room temperature.
• Once cooled, refrigerate the jam for 24 hours. The jam will thicken a little more during this time. If you are freezing the jam, put it in the freezer after it has been in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

SMALL-BATCH RASPBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Place a few small plates in the freezer. Stir berries, sugar, lemon juice, salt, and half the orange zest in a large, heavy pot. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar and mashing lightly with a potato masher. Skim foam from surface. Cook, stirring more frequently as jam thickens, until it has the consistency of very loose jelly, 8 to 9 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Remove a plate from freezer; drop a spoonful of jam on it. Return to freezer for 1 to 2 minutes; nudge edge of jam with a finger. It should hold its shape. If jam is too thin and spreads, return it to a boil, testing every minute, until jam holds its shape on plate.
• Strain about half the jam through a fine sieve into a bowl; discard seeds. Return strained jam to pot; stir in remaining zest. Return to a boil, then remove from heat. Let cool before using or storing.

SMALL BATCH REFRIGERATOR JAM

Steps:

• Prep the fruit by washing it and removing any stems or peels if applicable. Roughly chop the fruit up into large chunks. Raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries can all remain whole.
• In a saucepan (at least 2 quarts in size) combine all of the ingredients and heat over medium heat. Mash the fruit and sugar with a potato masher or a fork. It does not need to be completely mashed, depending on how chunky you like your jam.
• Bring the mixture to a boil and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes, or until the juices thicken. It will become much more thick as the jam cools. If this is your first time making this and you are a little unsure if your jam is cooked enough to set, spoon a little bit of jam onto a saucer and place it in the freezer for about 2 minutes, or until it is cold. Touch the jam and if it has a gelatinous jammy consistency it is ready. If not, continue cooking.
• Cool completely then store in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks or in the freezer for up to 4 months. When freezing, be sure to leave enough room at the top of the container to allow the jam to expand when frozen.

SMALL BATCH FRESH STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• In a 10 or 12 inch wide skillet bring fruit, sugar and lemon juice to boil over medium high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly and skimming foam as necessary. Cook about 8 to 10 minutes, until mixture begin to look syrupy and thicken slightly.
• Cool jam to room temperature before serving. Refrigerate.