Strawberry Jam Without Pectin Food

STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• In a wide bowl, crush strawberries in batches until you have 4 cups of mashed berry. In a heavy bottomed saucepan, mix together the strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Stir over low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Increase heat to high, and bring the mixture to a full rolling boil. Boil, stirring often, until the mixture reaches 220 degrees F (105 degrees C). Transfer to hot sterile jars, leaving 1/4 to 1/2 inch headspace, and seal. Process in a water bath. If the jam is going to be eaten right away, don't bother with processing, and just refrigerate.

STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Prepare the strawberries by wiping them with a piece of damp kitchen paper. (Wiping the strawberries rather than washing them ensures the fruit doesn't absorb lots of water - too much water and the jam won't set easily.) To hull the fruit, use a knife to cut a cone shape into the strawberry and remove the stem. Cut any large berries in half.
• Put the strawberries in a bowl and gently toss through the sugar. Leave uncovered at room temperature for 12 hrs or overnight. This process helps the sugar to dissolve, ensures the fruit doesn't disintegrate too much and helps to keep its vibrant colour.
• Before starting the jam, put 2 saucers in the freezer. Tip the strawberry mixture into a preserving pan with the lemon juice. Set over a low heat and cook very gently. If any sugar remains on the sides of the pan, dip a pastry brush in hot water and brush the sugar away.
• When you can no longer feel any grains of sugar remaining, turn up the heat to start bubbling the jam and bringing it to the boil. (The sugar must be completely dissolved before increasing the heat, otherwise it will be difficult for the jam to set, and it may contain crystallised lumps of sugar.)
• Boil hard for 5-10 mins until the jam has reached 105C on a preserving or digital thermometer, then turn off the heat. If you don't have a thermometer, spoon a little jam onto one of the cold saucers. Leave for 30 secs, then push with your finger; if the jam wrinkles and doesn't flood to fill the gap, it is ready. If not, turn the heat back on and boil for 2 mins more, then turn off the heat and do the wrinkle test again. Repeat until ready.
• Use a spoon to skim any scum that has risen to the surface and discard this. Do this only once at the end, rather than constantly during the boiling stage, to reduce wastage.
• Add a knob of butter, if you like, to the finished jam, and stir in to melt. This will help to dissolve any remaining scum that you haven't managed to spoon off the top. Leave the jam to settle for 15 mins - this will ensure that the fruit stays suspended in the mixture and doesn't all float to the top of the jam jar. Meanwhile, sterilise your jars.
• Ladle into warm jars, filling to just below the rim. Place a wax disc on top of the jam (this prevents mildew forming), then cover with a lid or a cellophane circle and elastic band. Pop on a label (include the date), plus a pretty fabric top, if you like. The jam can be stored for up to 1 year in a cool, dry place. Refrigerate after opening.

STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Put a small plate in the freezer. Place berries in a nonreactive 10-quart stockpot set over medium-high heat. Using a wooden spoon, mix in 1/4 cup sugar with berries. Cook, stirring, until berries are juicy, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in a third of remaining sugar until dissolved. Repeat until all the sugar has been added and dissolved, about 7 minutes total.
• Bring mixture to a full boil; cook, stirring, 10 minutes. Continue boiling; use a stainless-steel spoon to remove foam from surface. Boil until most of the liquid is absorbed, mixture thickens, and temperature registers 220 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 30 minutes.
• Perform a gel test: Place a spoonful of jam on chilled plate, and return to freezer. Wait 1 to 2 minutes; remove plate from freezer, and gently press jam with fingertip; it should wrinkle slightly.
• After jam passes the gel test, remove from heat. Pour warm jam into jars; seal, label, and refrigerate up to 4 months.

PECTIN-FREE STRAWBERRY RHUBARB JAM

Steps:

• Mix rhubarb and sugar in a large heavy pot and let stand for 2 hours; stir in lemon juice and strawberries. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Set heat to medium-high and cook jam at a full rolling boil until thickened, stirring often to prevent scorching, 20 to 25 minutes. A candy thermometer inserted into the middle of the jam, not touching the pot, should read 220 degrees F (105 degrees C).
• Remove jam from heat and stir for 2 to 3 more minutes; skim off any foam.
• Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack the jam into the sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then carefully lower the jars into the pot using a holder. Leave a 2-inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary until the water level is at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a full boil, cover the pot, and process for 10 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Let jars stand on wire racks for 24 hours to cool and seal. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all).

STRAWBERRY JAM WITHOUT PECTIN

Steps:

• Wash strawberries under cold running water; drain. Remove stems and caps from strawberries. Crush strawberries one layer at a time using a potato masher. Measure 2 quarts crushed strawberries.
• Combine crushed strawberries and sugar in a large saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cook rapidly over medium-high heat to gelling point (220°F), stirring to prevent sticking. Remove from heat. Skim off foam if necessary.
• Ladle hot jam into a hot jar, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rim. Center lid on jar and adjust band to fingertip-tight. Place jar on the rack elevated over simmering water (180°F) in boiling-water canner. Repeat until all jars are filled.
• Lower the rack into simmer water. Water must cover jars by 1 inch. Adjust heat to medium-high, cover canner, and bring water to a rolling boil. Process half-pint or pint jars 15 minutes. Turn off heat and remove cover. Let jars cool 5 minutes. Remove jars from canner; do not retighten bands if loose. Cool 12 hours. Check seals. Label and store jars.

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB JAM RECIPE (NO PECTIN!)

Steps:

• Cut the rhubarb into small pieces. Trim the strawberries and cut them into halves.
• Set a large 7-8 quart saucepot over medium heat. Add the strawberries, rhubarb, sugar, lemon juice, and salt.
• Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a very low boil and cook for one hour. Make sure to stir the jam every 5 to 10 minutes so that it doesn't burn on the bottom.
• Once the jam has cooked for at least an hour, place a cooking thermometer in the pot. Wait for the jam to reach 203 to 205°F. The jam may need up to another 30 minutes to reach this temperature, or it may already be there!
• Turn off the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Use a ladle to carefully move the hot jam to four clean pint jars.
• If planning to freeze, make sure to leave 1 inch at the top of the jar unfilled, for expansion. If planning to can, follow proper canning protocol at this point.

STRAWBERRY JAM RECIPE WITHOUT PECTIN AND LOW SUGAR

Steps:

• Wash jars and bands in hot soapy water and keep warm. Fill water bath canner with water and put on medium heat.
• Mash berries with a potato masher, blender, or immersion blender to desired consistency. I prefer mine chunky, but my husband likes it more pureed. (Note, liquid or pureed berries take longer to reach the gelling point)
• Place berries, sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest (or grated apple if using in place of lemon) into large pot. Stir until well combined. Bring berries to a boil. Stir frequently to keep sugar from scorching.
• Simmer on a low boil for 20 minutes.You can test the set of the jam by the sheeting test. Place a metal spoon in the freezer when you begin making your jam.
• After the 20 minutes of boiling, use the chilled metal spoon to ladle out a spoonful of jam. Hold the spoon and watch the way the jam drips off of the spoon. If its little individual drops, jam is not set, if it's big goops, it's almost there. If it comes off the spoon in a sheet or doesn't really drop off at all, then jam is set, yank that baby off the heat.
• Place jars on a dish towel. Fill jars with a ¼ inch from the top with jam. A canning funnel will be your best friend during this part. With a clean damp towel, wipe down rim of jar. Place lids on, then bands, and screw down to finger tight.
• Immerse jars in water bath canner inside the canning rack, making sure water covers the tops of the jars by 1 to 2 inches. Once water is boiling, set timer for 10 minutes and allow jars to process.
• When time is up, turn off heat. Wait 5 minutes and then remove jars from canner. Place on a towel folded in thirds in a draft free area. Allow to cool and set overnight or for at least 12 hours.
• Check seals. If the center of the lid gives, then store in the fridge and eat soon.
• If jars are sealed, wipe down with a damp cloth and store in the pantry out of the light for up to a year

STRAWBERRY JAM (PECTIN ADDED)

Steps:

• Wash strawberries; drain.
• Remove Stems.
• Crush strawberries on layer at a time. (I use a potato masher for this.).
• Combine strawberries, powdered pectin, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a large saucepot.
• Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
• Add sugar, stirring until dissolved. Return to a rolling boil.
• Boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat, and skim foam if necessary.
• Ladle into hot, sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space.
• Adjust 2-piece caps. Process 10 minutes in a boiling water canner.

STRAWBERRY JAM RECIPE

Steps:

• Wash the jars, lids and rings with hot, soapy water, making sure to rinse well. To sterilize the jars and keep them hot, place them on a baking sheet in a preheated 175°F (79°C) oven OR in your water bath canner while cooking the jam. Place a small glass plate in the freezer.
• In a large bowl, crush the strawberries and stir in the sugar. Let sit for 1 hour to allow the berries to release their juices. (Or up to 24 hours in the fridge.)
• Add the lemon juice and grated apple. Transfer the mixture to a large stockpot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once it reaches a boil that can't be stirred down, set a timer for 20 minutes. Turn off heat.
• Test for doneness - Remove the glass plate from the freezer and drop a spoonful of the hot jam on the plate. Put the plate back into the freezer for 2 minutes. Remove the plate and run your finger through the jam. If the line stays separated, your jam is ready to be jarred. If the line closes, boil the jam for 5 more minutes and repeat the test.
• Ladle the hot strawberry jam into clean, sterilized jars, leaving a 1/4 inch headspace at the top. Remove air bubbles and wipe the rim of the jar to remove any residue. Center the canning lid on the jar and adjust the band to fingertip-tight.
• If not canning, let the jars cool completely, tighten bands and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.

FRESH STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Combine the sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes, until the sugar is dissolved. Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 20 minutes, until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly. Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate. (I keep one in the freezer.) Pour carefully into 2 pint canning jars and either seal or keep refrigerated. Use immediately, or follow proper canning guidelines below.
• Sterilizing Tips:
• Jars should be made from glass and free of any chips or cracks. Preserving or canning jars are topped with a glass, plastic, or metal lid, which has a rubber seal. Two piece lids are best for canning, as they vacuum seal when processed.
• To sterilize jars, before filling with jams, pickles, or preserves, wash jars and lids with hot, soapy water. Rinse well and arrange jars and lids open sides up, without touching, on a tray. Leave in a preheated 175 degree F oven for 25 minutes. Or, boil the jars and lids in a large saucepan, covered with water, for 15 minutes.
• Use tongs when handling the hot sterilized jars, to move them from either boiling water or the oven. Be sure the tongs are sterilized too, by dipping the ends in boiling water for a few minutes.
• As a rule, hot preserves go into hot jars and cold preserves go into cold jars. All items used in the process of making jams, jellies, and preserves must be clean. This includes any towels used, and especially your hands.
• After the jars are sterilized, you can preserve the food. It is important to follow any canning and processing instructions included in the recipe and refer to USDA guidelines about the sterilization of canned products.