Description
Homemade strawberry jam brings sweet memories of summer’s bounty, offering a delightful spread that captures fresh fruit’s essence. Crafted with ripe strawberries and simple ingredients, this classic preserve invites you to savor pure, natural sweetness in every spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) fresh strawberries, hulled
Sweeteners:
- 4 cups (800 grams) white sugar
Acidic Ingredient:
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) lemon juice
Instructions
- Thoroughly mash fresh strawberries to create a vibrant, chunky pulp, ensuring a robust texture for the jam.
- Transfer the strawberry pulp into a robust, heavy-bottomed cooking vessel, blending with granulated sugar and a splash of bright lemon juice.
- Gently warm the mixture over low heat, allowing the sugar to dissolve completely and create a smooth, glossy foundation.
- Gradually elevate the temperature, stirring consistently to prevent scorching and promote even heat distribution.
- Continue cooking until the mixture reaches a vigorous, rolling boil, watching for dynamic bubbling across the entire surface.
- Maintain a consistent boil, carefully monitoring the temperature until it precisely hits 105°C (220°F), which indicates optimal jam consistency.
- Perform a quick gel test by dropping a small amount onto a chilled plate; if the jam wrinkles when pushed, it has reached the perfect setting point.
- Carefully ladle the molten jam into thoroughly sanitized glass jars, leaving a modest 1/4 inch of headspace to allow for potential expansion.
- Securely fasten the sterilized lids, ensuring a tight seal that will preserve the jam’s freshness.
- Submerge the sealed jars in a rolling boiling water bath, processing for exactly 10 minutes to create a vacuum seal.
- Remove jars and allow them to rest undisturbed in a stable environment for 12-24 hours, enabling proper cooling and seal formation.
- Store the completed jam in a cool, dark pantry, where it can be preserved for several months.
Notes
- Choose ripe, fragrant strawberries at peak season for the most intense flavor and natural sweetness.
- Use a potato masher or immersion blender to crush strawberries for a consistent texture that balances chunky fruit pieces and smooth jam.
- Opt for low-sugar pectin or reduce sugar content to create a less sweet, more fruit-forward preserve for health-conscious individuals.
- Sterilize jars thoroughly by boiling them for 10 minutes to prevent bacterial growth and ensure long-term preservation of your homemade jam.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 434
- Sugar: 109 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 109 g
- Fiber: 1.7 g
- Protein: 1.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg