Best Strawberry Jam Using No Name Pectin Recipes

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 JAM (USING NO-NAME PECTIN)

Steps:

• Put waterbath canner on, and bring to a boil. Wash, rinse and sterilize 8 jars, lids and rings. (I put my jars and rings in a 225 F oven and the lids in a small pot of water)
• Crush berries, one layer at a time. I did this in a 2 c measure using a potato masher and add it to a 4 c measure a bit at a time.
• Add fruit to large pot with lemon juice pectin and margarine. Stir well and place over high heat, bring to hard boil.
• Add sugar all at once and bring to hard boil, one that can't be stirred down. Boil hard 1 minute. Remove from heat, stirring for 5 minutes to prevent floating fruit. Quickly ladle into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Put into canner, bring to boil and process 5 minutes.
• Notes: The pectin didn't have anything about processing but I do it now because one year I lost most of my cherry jam because the seals broke.
• The original recipe didn't have the margarine but I added it because it helps reduce foaming. I stole the idea from Certo.
• The recipe says it makes 7 cups but I usually do up one extra jar just in case. But this time it only made 6 and a little.
• If you don't want to process I see no reason why you can't just put in jars or containers and freeze.

OLD-FASHIONED STRAWBERRY JAM (WITHOUT PECTIN)

Steps:

• Wash and hull strawberries to remove tops.
• Mash strawberries and measure the fruit. You should have about 8 cups.
• Add strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice to a deep, heavy-bottomed dutch oven or jam pot.
• Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat on the stove, stirring frequently to prevent scorching or overflows.
• Boil gently over medium heat for about 45 minutes to an hour, until the jam reaches its set point. The time will vary based on the water content of your strawberries and the exact heat from your stove.
• Test for set using a plate that's been chilled in the freezer, or using an instant-read thermometer. The set point of strawberry jam is 220 F at sea level, and drops by 1 degree for every 500 feet above sea level. For example, at 1,000 feet in elevation the jam will set at 218 F.
• When set, ladle into prepared jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Seal with 2 part lids to finger tight.
• If canning, process jars in a water bath canner for 10 minutes (or 15 minutes above 6,000 feet in elevation). Turn off the heat and allow the jars to sit for an additional 5 minutes before removing them with a jar lifter to cool on a towel on the counter.
• Check seals after 12-24 hours and store any unsealed jars in the refrigerator for immediate use.