Getting Jam to Set
For jams to thicken and set, they need a substance known as pectin. Some fruits naturally contain more pectin than others. When making jams and jellies with low-pectin fruits, often lemon juice is added.
High-pectin Fruits
- Apples
- Blackcurrants
- Redcurrants
- Gooseberries
- Raspberries
- Plums
- Cranberries
- Oranges
- Lemons
- Apricots
Low-pectin fruits
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Rhubarb
- Peaches
- Cherries
If you are using low-pectin fruits in your jam, you should also add some lemon juice or perhaps mix in some high-pectin fruit to help your jam to set. Alternatively, using jam sugar with low-pectin fruit works well.
To make jam, you need to soften the fruit first. We like our strawberry jam relatively smooth, so while softening the fruit, I used a masher to mash it to a smooth puree, though this is just our personal taste.
The mixture will then need to boil and thicken and you will need to stir it frequently so that it doesn’t burn or stick to the bottom of the pot. If you have a candy thermometer, it needs to read 105°C (220°F), though you will need to keep a close eye on the mixture when it starts getting around this temperature.
If you don’t have a thermometer, you can use the jam / cold plate test. Before starting your jam, simply place 3 or 4 small plates in the freezer. When you think the jam may be ready, place a small teaspoon amount of jam onto one of the cold plates from the freezer and let it sit for about 30 seconds. Then run your finger through the middle of the blob of jam. If the line starts to fill back over, it means the jam is too runny and is not ready yet, so keep cooking and repeat again in about five minutes. If the line remains, then the jam has reached setting point and is ready.
This jam needs to be placed into sterilised jars. This recipe makes about 3-4 cups of strawberry jam, so you won’t need too many jars. It will need to be stored in the fridge and should last about 1-3 months this way. Though, if you follow the correct instructions for canning (the hot water bath method), you will be able to store it in the pantry for up to two years.
Can I Freeze Strawberry Jam?
Yes! You can freeze it right in the jar. Just make certain that you have preserved it properly and definitely leave some space at the top as it will expand a tiny bit when freezing.
Why Didn’t my Strawberry Jam Set?
There are many reasons as to why your jam didn’t set. It may have needed to be cooked longer or sometimes, the fruit you used didn’t have enough natural sugar and needed a little more pectin added.
If you followed these instructions and your jam didn’t set properly, place your jam in the fridge overnight. If it isn’t set in the morning, you could try re-cooking it a bit longer and may be adding a bit of pectin or some more sugar and lemon, though have a taste test you don’t want to add too much that it may affect the flavour.
Sterilisation
There are a few ways to sterilise your jars, this is the one I use.
Wash the jars and lids in hot, soapy water. Rinse the jars in hot water and place upside down on racks in an oven heated to 120˚c. You can line the racks with baking paper first if you want. Heat the jars for 20 minutes. Do not place cold jam into hot jars or they may crack and break.
More Strawberry Recipes
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Strawberry and White Chocolate Cupcakes
- Strawberry Coconut Slice
- Baked Chocolate & Strawberry Cheesecake
- Strawberry Syrup
Strawberry Jam
Ingredients
- 1 kg ripe strawberries
- 1 kg white sugar
- juice of two lemons
Instructions
- Sterilise the jars and keep them warm.
- Place the lemon juice and strawberries into a large pot and heat on medium heat.
- As the strawberries start to soften, use a potato masher to mash the strawberries to your desired consistency.
- Add in the sugar and mix thoroughly until the sugar has dissolved.
- Bring to the boil, stirring frequently so the mixture doesn't burn or stick to the bottom of the pot.
- If you have any froth appear on the top of the mixture, scoop off with a spoon.
- If you have a candy thermometer, it needs to read 105°C (220°F), though you will need to keep a close eye on the mixture when it starts getting around this temperature.
- If you don’t have a thermometer, you can use the jam / cold plate test. Before starting your jam, simply place 3 or 4 small plates in the freezer. When you think the jam may be ready, place a small teaspoon amount of jam onto one of the cold plates from the freezer and let it sit for about 30 seconds. Then run your finger through the middle of the blob of jam. If the line starts to fill back over, it means the jam is too runny and is not ready yet, so keep cooking and repeat again in about five minutes. If the line remains, then the jam has reached setting point and is ready.
- Fill your sterilised jars with the jam and seal them while they are still warm.
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