• About Me
  • Disclosure
  • Shop

Making Cents Matter

  • Home
  • Resource Library
  • Budget
    • Budgeting Tips
    • Our Monthly Budget
    • Meal Planning
    • Free Printables
  • Debt Free
    • Debt Free Tips
    • Our Debt Free Journey
    • Free Printables
  • Saving
    • Ways We Save
    • DIY
    • Free Printables
  • Recipes
    • Recipes
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch
      • Dinners
      • Instant Pot
      • Slow Cooker
      • Soups
    • Meal Planning
    • Preserving Food
  • Garden
    • Gardening Tips
    • Preserving Food
  • Shop

April 28, 2020 · Leave a Comment

How to Make Strawberry Jam

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience.
Click here to read my disclosure policy.

DIY· Frugal Living· Garden· Preserving· Ways We Save

76shares
  • 76

There are few things that taste as good to me as homemade jams.  It’s as close as I can get to keeping fresh fruit in my pantry until their next season. I’m not picky about what kind of jam either… strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, triple berry {a combination of the previous three}, peach-raspberry, apple… the list can go on and on! While strawberry season isn’t here yet in my nook of Pennsylvania, today I’m going to show you how to make strawberry jam. It’s a really simple process from start to finish.

How To Make Strawberry Jam - with Canning Tutorial

Since 2010, I’ve been making homemade jam at a fraction of the cost of store-bought jams, and I know exactly what went into it.  {Umm… hello High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Locust Bean Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Calcium Chloride and Red #40, I’m talking to you!}  Aside from the occasional jar of grape jelly, I haven’t bought any jam because we make plenty to get us through the rest of the year!

LOOKING FOR OTHER HOME PRESERVATION TUTORIALS? CHECK THESE OUT:

  • Apple Peel Jelly
  • Jalapeno Jelly
  • How To Can Applesauce
  • How To Can Fresh Peaches
  • How To Freeze Corn
  • How To Can Diced Tomatoes

For as long as I can remember, A’s favorite sandwich has been a PB&J.  To the point that we would go through so much jelly in such a short period of time, and that can really add up in costs! At that time, we also had a small strawberry patch that was quite abundant. So I started making freezer jam on the slight chance that it would help use up the strawberries and save us money.

It was intimidating at first.  But after a few trials, and some errors, realization kicked in that it was very easy to do.  From there, with our freezer space limited, we branched out into making bigger batches and switched to making canned jam rather than frozen. Want to know how to make strawberry jam?  Let’s get started.

What You’ll Need to make strawberry jam:

  • Strawberries
  • Strawberry Huller*
  • Waterbath Canner – I’ve had this canning kit* since 2010. It’s been through hell and back, and it’s still kicking! The canner itself holds up to 7 quarts, or 9 pints, and is a breeze to use. Plus, it comes with other items you’ll need, like the headspace tool, jar lifter and funnel, without having to purchase them separately.
  • Canning Jars with Lids & Rings* – I prefer to use the 8oz ones for jams. You can also use 4oz and 12oz jars, but don’t go larger than the 16oz (pint-sized) jars.
  • Damp cloth for wiping the jar rim
  • 6-Quart Non-Reactive Stock Pot*
  • Ladle
  • Towels
  • Pectin* – I personally like to use the flex batch rather than boxed pectin because I can modify the quantity based on how much fruit I have.
  • Sugar
**NOTE**
This recipe below makes 8 (8oz) jars of strawberry jam using a reduced sugar variation with Ball RealFruit Classic Pectin*.
I recommend that you do not convert this into a double batch. You can cut this to a half batch, but do not increase the batch size since the pectin may not set properly.

How To Make Strawberry Jam:

GATHER YOUR BERRIES

How To Make Strawberry Jam with Canning Tutorial

We love to go to a local you-pick farm for them. While we do have some strawberry plants in our garden, it is not nearly enough to make a batch of jam. Plus, this gets everyone out of the house for the day!

Whether you pick them yourself, buy them at a farmers market, or at the store, you’ll want roughly 2 pounds strawberries for each batch of jam.

PREP CANNER

Fill your water bath canner 2/3 full with water, and bring to a boil.  This step takes the longest compared to cooking the actual jam, which can cook really fast depending on how large your batch is, so I’m suggesting you do it now.

You’ll also want to wash and sterilize the jars, lids, and rings that you intend to use. You can either run them through the dishwasher, or you can hand wash them and leave in basins filled with nearly boiling water. I’ve successfully used both methods.

PREP THE STRAWBERRIES

Whether you pick them or buy them, you’ll need to wash them! I like to use a clean wash basin filled a third of the way full with warm water, and add in a splash of vinegar. Let the strawberries soak, occasionally moving them gently around. And don’t worry, they won’t taste like vinegar when they come out, but you will definitely be amazed at how much sand and silt are resting on them!

How To Make Strawberry Jam with Canning Tutorial

After the berries have been washed, you’ll want to hull them it take off the leaves and the inner portion. I like to use this huller* to make exceptionally fast work of a tedious task. Then I cut the berries in half or quarters depending on the size.

How To Make Strawberry Jam with Canning Tutorial

I personally like the jam to have chunks of fruit, and no one has complained otherwise just yet, so I tend to leave them cut into larger chunks. If you would rather have smaller chunks, you can pulse the berries in your food processor to make them smaller.

COOK THE BERRIES

In a non-reactive pot*, combine 5 1/3 cup crushed strawberries, 6 Tablespoons pectin, and 1/2 teaspoon butter.  Cook on medium-high heat until the berries are at a full, rolling boil – that means a boil that you cannot stir down.

Since we like our jam chunky, we just use a potato masher to smoosh them further from the halves I had in the previous step. This is totally unnecessary if you used the food processor to make your berries smaller.

How To Make Strawberry Jam - with Canning Tutorial

While you can make jam without the use of pectin, it certainly does help the jam set quicker, which is a big perk with little ones around.  I prefer Ball Pectin Flex Batch to the Sure-Jell boxes because I can make smaller batches if needed to use up leftover fruit.  The finished product is also a much brighter color and has a taste that’s preferred by everyone in this clan.

Once the jam comes to a full rolling boil, add in 4 cups sugar, stirring constantly until dissolved.  Continue stirring until the mixture returns to a full rolling boil.

Continue to boil the jam for exactly one minute, while stirring constantly.

CAN YOUR JAM

In this step, you have to move pretty fast because your jam will start to set. So be prepared to see images of applesauce while you learn about how to make strawberry jam!

Remove the jam from heat. Working one jar at a time, use your funnel and ladle to slowly pour the jam into hot jars, leaving 1/4″ headspace. {Headspace is the space between the top of what you’re canning and the top of the jar. 1/4″ headspace is usually to the start of the screw lid.} Run the headspace tool along the edge of the jar to coax out any bubbles that may have snuck in.

Wipe down the rim with a damp cloth. This helps to ensure there is no stray jam in the way causing the lid to not seal.

Use the magnetic lid lifter to place lids on the jars. Screw rings on the jars until it’s fingertip tight.  {Fingertip tight is when the lid is just starting to catch. Too loose and it won’t seal, too tight and your jar will break under the pressure.}

Homemade Applesauce with Canning Tutorial

Add the jar to the canner, and repeat until there is no remaining jam, or you run out of canner space. If you have any leftover jam, you can store it in a jar in your fridge to use in the next two weeks.

Lower the rack into the canner, and replace the lid. Allow the water to come to a full rolling boil, then process for 10 minutes. {I got 9 jars out of this recipe.  I’m not going to complain!!}

If you are above 1,000 feet in elevation, be sure to adjust your processing time for your altitude. To adjust your processing time, you increase the time by 5 minutes if you are between 1,000 & 3,000 feet, by 10 minutes if you’re between 3,000 & 6,000 feet, and by 15 minutes if you live above 6,000 feet. This helps to compensate for the difference in boiling temperatures and air pressures at higher elevations than compared to sea level. So for example, our elevation is 1,350 feet, so I process my strawberry jam for 15 minutes.

When your processing time is done, turn off the heat and remove the lid from your canner.  Allow the jars to sit in the canner for 5 minutes before removing them from the canner.  Then let them sit undisturbed on some towels for 12 hours before checking the seal.

To check the seal, push down in the center of the lid. Most of the time, jam seals while they’re still sitting in the canner. If the lid is sealed, it won’t give, or “pop”. Remove the rings and store your jars in a cool place until you are ready to use them.

If your lid did give a “pop” as you checked the seal, you can either reprocess your jar with a new lid right away or store it in the fridge and eat it within the next week. I personally put them in the fridge since the strawberry jam won’t last a week.

That’s how to make strawberry jam from start to finish! Now go make your own!

How To Make Strawberry Jam - with Canning Tutorial

Related Posts

  • Homemade GranolaHomemade Granola
  • June 2017 Debt UpdateJune 2017 Debt Update
  • How To Can Spiced PeachesHow To Can Spiced Peaches
  • October 2017 Meal PlanOctober 2017 Meal Plan
  • March 2019 Meal PlanMarch 2019 Meal Plan
  • What To Buy At Aldi, And What To Pass OnWhat To Buy At Aldi, And What To Pass On
76shares
  • 76
Previous Post: « Your Complete Guide To Using Cash Envelopes
Next Post: How To Complete A Budget Review »

Reader Interactions

Want access to our resource library? Sign up for our free email list!

* indicates required

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Post Categories





makingcentsmatter

makingcentsmatter
Only you can determine what your financial goals a Only you can determine what your financial goals are. If that means you're adding money to your savings account, or contributing to your retirement, while you are paying off debt, then so be it!⁠
.⁠
Do what looks right for you and your personal finances.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#budget #budgeting #savingmoney #savings #cashbudget #cash #cashisking #frugalblogger #frugalmom #frugalliving #financialgoals #personalfinancetips #personalfinance #debtfreejourney #debtfreecommunity #debtfreeprogress #makingcentsmatter #financialfreedom #debtfree
The trick to meal planning is to make it predictab The trick to meal planning is to make it predictable. But predictable doesn't mean the same thing week to week. You could have a chicken meal, a soup meal, a pasta meal, a leftovers meal, a family favorite meal, and so on.⁠
.⁠
We always try to go with themed days, but some weeks are so hectic the theme is literally "fast". Thankfully that hasn't been the case lately.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#mealplanning #mealplan #budget #budgeting #monthlyincome #savingmoney #savings #cashbudget #cash #cashisking #frugalblogger #frugalmom #frugalliving #financialgoals #personalfinancetips #personalfinance #debtfreejourney #debtfreecommunity #debtfreeprogress #makingcentsmatter #financialfreedom #debtfree
I can only hear about my extended warranty I never I can only hear about my extended warranty I never purchased so many times. 😣⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#makingcentsmatter #budgets #monthlyincome #debtfreecommunity #realbudget #savingmoney #payingoffdebt #savings #frugalliving #frugalblogging #budgeting #monthlyincome #zerobasedbudget #financialgoals #personalfinance #personalfinancetips #financialfreedom
March Debt Paid numbers are in!⁠ .⁠ House: $51 March Debt Paid numbers are in!⁠
.⁠
House: $511.13⁠
Citi: $0 – this has a residual $3 in interest charges since payoff, due in April⁠
D NelNet: $100⁠
K NelNet: $100⁠
K Chase: $600⁠
Explorer: $336.27⁠
.⁠
Total Paid in 2021: $8,258.84⁠
.⁠
Extra Payment: There isn’t one this month since we were $25 away from zeroing out the budget for our February 15th monthly paycheck. That $25, and monies left from our January 15th paycheck, covered our OOP costs for Hubs’ filling. We also have some savings goals coming up that need to be met, making our debt payments a little lower for the time begin.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#makingcentsmatter #debt #debtfreejourney #debtfreeprogress #debtfreecommunity #realbudget #savingmoney #payingoffdebt #savings #frugalliving #frugalblogging #budgeting #monthlyincome #zerobasedbudget #financialgoals #personalfinance #personalfinancetips #financialfreedom⁠
The battle for who can charge what tonight is abou The battle for who can charge what tonight is about to begin. 😬⁠
.⁠
My kids run off with my charger, plug it into one outlet 5 feet from where they found it like that particular outlet is the only one in this house, and then proceed to fight over who can charge their device first at night.⁠
.⁠
Then they get grumpy when it's their turn and it's not the proper input cable. #itwasmychargerfirst #dontlikeitgofindyourown⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#parentingteens #parentingtweens #momlife #realife #budget #budgeting #savingmoney #cash #frugalblogger #frugalmom #financialgoals #personalfinancetips #personalfinance #debtfreejourney #debtfreecommunity #debtfreeprogress #makingcentsmatter
A needs his wisdom teeth taken out. I've talked a A needs his wisdom teeth taken out. I've talked a bit in our February Budget Check-In about how much of this I think we'll owe, and you can check that out on my YouTube channel if you're interested, but I wanted to say here...⁠
.⁠
To the mother with little kids struggling to get your finances in order, it will get better. I wish I could have heard those words years ago.⁠
.⁠
Nearly 10 years ago we were facing a $1,400 out-of-pocket portion for A's Phase 1 orthodontic work (I looked it up after I uploaded the video... we had a $1,400 portion).⁠
.⁠
It was a lot of money for us at the time. Our kids were 6, 2, and 3 months old. I don't think we even had $500 in savings, and I just left a part-time teaching job because it wasn't paying the part-time daycare bill, so paying our portion in full was just a dream I didn't think was achievable.⁠
.⁠
I was even stressing about the monthly $100 payments. We were so strapped. It was our breaking moment to start cutting costs and budgeting more effectively. We've learned a lot in that time period.⁠
.⁠
What we've learned is that it does no good to stress about it all the time. Life happens. All you can do is try to plan ahead, and if it's something that's unplanned, readjust. It won't always be easy, especially at first, but it will be worth it.⁠
.⁠
Nearly 10 years later, we are still paying off our debts. Student loans suck. But I see this bill as a reminder of how far we have come. Seeing a bill like this doesn't stress me out like it used to, and I know we can easily create a plan that can get it done and out of the way.⁠
.⁠
Will it delay our debt-free date more? Yes. But it's not worth stressing over. Life happens, readjust, and continue on down the path. It's called a journey for a reason.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#wisdomteeth #personalfiannce #personalfinancetips #financialgoals #budgeting #budgets #savingsgoals #savings #cashbudget #zerobasedbudget #debtfreejourney #debtfreeprogress #adulting #lifehappens #realife #realbudget #makingcentsmatter
It's almost payday! Here's how our variable budget It's almost payday! Here's how our variable budgeting categories are working out for the pay month.⁠
.⁠
Food is looking good this far into our paycheck, probably because miscellaneous - which includes eating out - took a hit with unexpected purchases. Pet is low for this time of the month, and Household is spot on.⁠
.⁠
Fuel looks like it'll be lower than last month (yay for weeks of snow days & delayed school starts), and Therapy had one more appointment than initially planned.⁠
.⁠
Garden, Dental, Medical & Propane are not included in these estimates so far because those expenses are coming from sinking funds. Once we're done with the month and review the budget, I'll move over the total amount spent from those sinking funds.⁠
.⁠
How's your paycheck budget coming along?⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#realbudget #monthlyincome #monthlybudget #budget #budgetupdate #budgeting #savingmoney #variablecategories #savingmoney #savings #debtfreecommunity #debtfreejourney #cash #financialgoals #personalfinancetips #personalfinance #frugalliving #frugalblogger #budgetblogger #makingcentsmatter
Automating your finances makes saving money and bu Automating your finances makes saving money and budgeting more convenient, and therefore easier on you. Out of sight, out of mind, right?⁠
.⁠
What's one thing you can automate this week to make your finances easier?⁠
.⁠
Me? I'm going to set up our sinking fund transfers to automate every payday (the 15th of every month). Our bank set up a feature on their app where we can schedule savings transfers now, and I'm going to take advantage of it!⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#personalfinance #personalfinancetips #budgeting #budgettips #personalfinancemadeeasy #savingmoney #savings #sinkingfunds #cash #frugalblogger #frugalmom #frugalliving #debtfreejourney #debtfreecommunity #debtfreeprogess #financialfreedom #makingcentsmatter
Oh my word... our miscellaneous category has gone Oh my word... our miscellaneous category has gone a smidgen overboard this month!⁠
.⁠
I foresee a goal for March's paycheck to at out less than twice. That's where this category went awry. $99.16 of it went to eating out. 😑 Some of it was avoidable, but not all of it. Having to drive to multiple appointments in one day during snow squalls and rearranging our whole day was one of those unavoidable instances.⁠
.⁠
Tracking our expenses - much like a budget review - is vital to sticking to your budget!⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#makingcentsmatter #debt #debtfreejourney #debtfreeprogress #debtfreecommunity #realbudget #budgetcategories #monthlyincome #savingmoney #savings #frugalliving #frugalblogging #budgeting #zerobasedbudget #financialgoals #personalfinance #personalfinancetips #financialfreedom #expensetracking #budgetfail
Load More... Follow on Instagram


Copyright

I love it when you share our content! Please keep in mind that all content, images and text on this site are property of Making Cents Matter. Feel free to use no more than two photos on your own site, provided that a link back to my original post is included. Do not crop, edit, or remove any watermarks from any of my images without obtaining written permission from me first. Thank you!

Privacy Policy & Disclosures

MakingCentsMatter is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and other affiliated sites.

You can read more about our privacy policy and disclosures here.

Copyright © 2023 · Captivating Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in