Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam
Strawberry season is a magical time of the year. It often means jars and jars of sweet homemade strawberry jam. Pick some ripe, juicy berries at a local farm and turn them into something very special. This sweet Strawberry Freezer Jam is one of my son’s favorites. He eats it on toast, over ice cream and especially loves it with peanut butter on sandwiches. It is easy to make and always tastes sweet and delicious.
There is nothing sweeter in late spring and early summer than a quart or two of fresh-picked strawberries. It is a must to make Strawberry Shortcake, Strawberry Pretzel Dessert and Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam. Only 4 ingredients and 30 minutes will yield 5 half-pints of this thick, sweet treat.
How to make Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam?
It is really a quick and easy recipe. Place the berries in a bowl and mash them with a potato masher. Add the sugar and stir well. Heat the water and the fruit pectin in a small saucepan until dissolved and smooth. Pour the pection into the strawberries and stir thoroughly. Then fill your jars and cap them with a lid.
What type of jars should I use for preserving jam?
I use Ball canning jars for everything I preserve, whether it is jam, jelly, salsa, tomatoes, pickles, or pickled onions. Usually I put preserves in glass jars. For this jam recipe, I like to use their plastic jam jars with lids. They are great for use in the freezer.
When placing them in the freezer, I cover each plastic jar with a piece of plastic wrap, then seal with the lid. Then put empty jars and lids in the dishwasher for an easy clean-up. How do you know what jars are safe for freezing? Check out this step-by-step freezing guide at ballmasonjars.com
Be sure to always begin the process by finding the freshest strawberries possible. I am fortunate to have a local farmer’s market nearby, as well as a few farms where I can pick my own delicious strawberries. It doesn’t get any fresher than that. And your jam will be so flavorful.
Check out the recipe card below for the exact measurements and steps to making this delicious Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam. Your family is sure to love it!
Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam
Ingredients
- 2 cups crushed strawberries
- 4 cups sugar
- 6 tablespoons pectin, or 1.75 box pectin
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mash the strawberries with a potato masher until you reach a pureed consistency. Measure out 2 cups of crushed berries and place them in a large bowl.
- Add 4 cups of sugar, stirring after each cup. Set aside.
- Bring ½ cup water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add pectin and stir at a low boil for one minute. Remove pan from the heat.
- Add the hot pectin mixture to the mashed strawberries. Stir well to incorporate. Allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes.
- Fill plastic or glass jars to fill line; 1/2 inch from the top of the jar. Cover with a lid and allow to cool on the counter for 24 hours.
- Place jars in the refrigerator or freezer. Recipe makes 5 (half pint) jars of jam.
Desirée Schmidt
My jam separates about 2 hours into cooking. I this okay? Normal? Can I can this jam?
Raveaboutfood
Great question, Desiree! Yes, the fruit can settle during cooling time. To prevent this, I sometimes will turn my jars upside down after a few hours of cooling. This will help to redistribute the fruit in the jam. But no worries, after you remove it from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator for use, you can then stir the jam before each use. As for canning this jam, I would follow a recipe specifically written for canning jam, as the cooking times will be longer and the jarring process will require heating as well.