Several weeks ago, I got up early on Saturday morning, collected my friend Shay(she’s my regular fruit-picking buddy) and drove half an hour out into the New Jersey countryside. We spent the rest of the morning in the field of Gaventa’s strawberry farm, crouching over the rows of plants, plucking handfuls of berries into our containers. I stopped picked only when the back of my neck had turned a bright pink (I somehow only got sunscreen on my front, it made for an entertaining burn) and the knees of my jeans were stained red from kneeling on errant berries between the rows.
I brought home nearly 15 pounds of hard-earned berries (they were $1.35 a pound, I love how inexpensive things can be when you just invest a bit of your own labor). I washed and chopped nearly all of them (I kept about two quarts unchopped for plain old eating) within a couple of hours of getting them home. I tossed approximately 10 overflowing cups of the processed berries with two cups of sugar and a broken-up vanilla bean and then tucked them into the fridge for a rest, so that they could get nice and vanilla-y. The rest I frozen in quart-sized yogurt containers, using the sugar syrup method recommended by Doris and Jilly (if you haven’t checked out their site yet, do it. There’s lots of good preserving info there).
I actually left the strawberries in the fridge for nearly two days (and they were just fine) before I got around to making jam. When it came time to cook the berries down, I fished the vanilla pieces out (squeezing out the vanilla seeds so that the jam was beautifully flecked) and then poured the berries and all the juice they had produced into my 10 quart stainless steel pot (this stuff foams, so give yourself plenty of room). I added the rest of the sugar (five cups) and then proceeded to cook the crap out of those berries (that’s the official term) in order to assure a good, jammy set.
Of all the jams I’ve made so far this year, this one is my very favorite. There’s something special about strawberry jam and when it’s scented with vanilla and so rich in color, it’s just that much more amazing. Get yourself some strawberries and make this jam. Or, if you don’t feel like making your own batch, I do have one half pint jar to give away. Leave a comment by Friday afternoon for a chance to win.
Strawberry Jam Recipe
10-11 cups of chopped strawberries (preferably macerated with a split vanilla bean and two cups of sugar over night)
5 cups of sugar (this makes 7 cups total)
2 lemons, zested and juiced
2 packets of liquid pectin (that’s one box total)
Fill your canning pot 2/3 with water and put on the stove to bring to a boil (I used a large stock pot for this much jam).
Put berries, sugar and lemon zest/juice in a large pot and cook over medium high heat for about fifteen minutes. You want to really boil the fruit down so that they begin to look syrup-y. If you have an immersion blender, use it at this point to puree some of the fruit. If you don’t, use a blender to puree about half the jam (working in batches, you don’t want hot jam to splash you). Add the blended jam back to the whole fruit jam. Bring to a boil and squeeze in the pectin. At this point, there will be a bunch of foam on top of the jam. Skim the foam with a large spoon. Let boil for approximately ten minutes more, until the jam looks very syrup-y (when boiling, it should resemble boiling candy).
Lay out your clean jars, you’ll need approximately seven pints or 14 half pint jars. Put your lids in a saucepan of hot water in order to soften the sealing compound. Bring a kettle to a boil now as well, in case you need a bit more boiling water for your canning pot.
Fill the jars. Wipe the rims with the edge of a towel dipped in boiling water. Top with lids and screw on rings. Put a rack or folded towel into the bottom of your canning pot (you don’t want the jars to be in direct contact with the bottom of your pot). Carefully lower the jars into the boiling water. You can stack them one on top of the other if need be.
Process for ten minutes in the boiling water. When time is up, remove the jars from the water and put them on a towel on the counter. They should begin to ping fairly quickly, indicated that they’re sealed. If any of your jars don’t seal, make sure to refrigerate them.
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Comments ( 82 )
[...] One great way to use fresh strawberries is to make jam. Make this recipe and your peanut butter, yogurt, oatmeal, and toast will thank you. Want more jamtastic ideas? Check out Food in Jars. [...]
Berry Good « Exit 51 – Washington Boulevard added these pithy words on Jun 19 09 at 10:16 am[...] And today I made strawberry vanilla jam: [...]
:the wynk: » Blog Archive » I’ve been busy. added these pithy words on Jun 21 09 at 10:04 pm[...] I turned to Marisa McClellan’s post on Strawberry-Vanilla jam. I’d had a song in my head ever since reading what she wrote about her day of berry-jamming, [...]
If You Want The Best Jam… « Cans Across America added these pithy words on Jul 22 09 at 3:57 pm[...] I turned to Marisa McClellan’s post on Strawberry-Vanilla jam. I’d had a song in my head ever since reading what she wrote about her day of berry-jamming, [...]
If You Want The Best Jam… – Canning Across America added these pithy words on Sep 14 09 at 11:43 pm[...] * verbatim from Food in Jars * [...]
One berry, two berry, pick me a… « Northside Kitchen's Blog added these pithy words on Feb 23 10 at 9:21 pm[...] * verbatim from Food in Jars * [...]
One berry, two berry, pick me a… « Northside Kitchen's Blog added these pithy words on Feb 23 10 at 9:21 pm[...] did a mixture of this recipe and this recipe. I loved the vanilla bean idea in the first recipe and really loved that I [...]
Strawberry Jammy Jam « From Alaska to Australia added these pithy words on Mar 29 10 at 10:29 am[...] used the recipe for Strawberry Jam by Food In Jars to process my strawberries. I loved the idea of using vanilla beans and lemon [...]
Strawberry Preserves « Curiositys added these pithy words on Apr 12 10 at 12:01 pm[...] Jam and lots of it.This year I tried Marisa’s {from Food in Jars} Strawberry Jam recipe and it is wonderful in so many ways, especially spread on a piece of butter coated, Honey Oatmeal [...]
Strawberries - Fly Through Our Window added these pithy words on Apr 13 10 at 12:13 am[...] to that quick acquisition of fruit, I’ve now made a batch of that wonderful strawberry vanilla jam I first produced last year, as well as this lovely, sticky, spreadable strawberry rhubarb butter (I [...]
Strawberry Rhubarb Butter Recipe | Food in Jars added these pithy words on Jun 11 10 at 10:45 pm[...] that seem to have sealed well, so they should be good to eat for about a year! I used a recipe for Strawberry Jam with Vanilla (and lemon!). Next time I make it, I think I might only use the zest of one lemon, and I would up the vanilla [...]
New Adventures with Mason Jars « Thursday Born added these pithy words on Jun 20 10 at 5:35 pm[...] had picked so many berries that we had enough for two batches of Strawberry Vanilla Jam (on the right) and one batch of Strawberry Rhubarb Butter (on the left) from Food In Jars (my fav [...]
Strawberry Jam | thought & found added these pithy words on Jul 04 10 at 8:49 pm[...] used the last bit on my toast this morning. Good thing I have many more jars, because I love this [...]
Empty | thought & found added these pithy words on Jul 16 10 at 10:23 amThat is gorgeous stuff. Makes my mouth water.
Maggie, that’s my plan! -Marisa
1. maggie (p&c) added these pithy words on
Jun 16 09 at
11:46 pm
I don’t want to alarm you, but I think I’m officially giddy. Do you need a full-time assistant? And can I get paid in jam?
Michelle, you’ll work for jam, huh?
-Marisa
2. Michelle Solomon added these pithy words on
Jun 16 09 at
11:58 pm
I keep debating whether or not to immediately open up and enjoy the jam we made in your class, or wait until the dead of Winter when it will taste especially sweet.
Winning this jar would make my decision a little bit easier.
Mary, don’t delay the gratification, open the jam! The whole point is to give you a little taste in order to encourage you to make your own! -Marisa
3. Mary Recker Setzer added these pithy words on
Jun 16 09 at
11:58 pm
YUM! This looks delicious, and I’m defffffinitely going to try it as my first jam. Even if I win the little jar.
Wendy, please report back and let me know how it turns out! -Marisa
4. Wendy added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
12:47 am
Strawberry jam was the first one my mom and grandmother showed me out to make. I still do any chance I can when it is strawberry season here (just ended) but did not get the chance to get around to making a full batch. There is something so intoxicating about that aroma. Gorgeous!
Tartelette, thank you! You’ve got one of the most beautiful blogs around, so that means a lot! -Marisa
5. Tartelette added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
1:09 am
Mmmm. Strawberry jam sounds lovely. All I have left is cases and cases of marmalade, which is, I suppose, what you get when you rent a place with multiple orange trees.
It sounds like you need to find someone with some strawberry jam and trade them for some of your marmalade. -Marisa
6. TeacherA added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
1:43 am
I am really inspired by your site. I hope to take up canning very soon.
Douglas, I’m happy to have inspired you! Don’t be scared, just dive on in to canning! -Marisa
7. Douglas Keeble added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
1:47 am
I have not made Jam in years. But when I did, Strawberry was my Son’s fav….I love it too!
Pat, it sounds like it’s time for you to start making jam again! -Marisa
8. Pat added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
6:25 am
Strawberry jam is my favorite! I like to make the freezer jam, just because it is so dang easy.
Pam, freezer jam is quite lovely for its ease. It also has a fresher taste than the cooked stuff. -Marisa
9. pam added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
6:50 am
Orange marmalade, and apricot or cherry preserves are also good in cranberry sauce.
Joelle, that’s a terrific idea! -Marisa
10. Joelle added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
7:07 am
I found you through Pithy and Cleaver. This jam looks so delicious I had to leave a commment. Yummy!
Stephanie, welcome! Isn’t Pithy and Cleaver a delight! -Marisa
11. stephanie Zell added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
7:52 am
This classic jam is also my favorite.
e, it’s just wonderful! -Marisa
12. e added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
7:55 am
Thank you again for helping me the other night! I failed at my jam experiment but I’m determined to try it again. I think I needed to cook mine more. In the meantime I have lots of tasty strawberry sauce for ice cream
Erin, I’m so sorry to hear your jam didn’t set! However, there’s nothing wrong with syrup-y jam. It’s wonderful in yogurt! -Marisa
13. Erin added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
8:07 am
I’ve always wanted to make my own jam… strawberry is by far my favorite… maybe I’ll start with this
Beth, making jam isn’t hard. Give it a shot! -Marisa
14. Beth added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
8:12 am
I found your blog about a week ago and have since decided that my life will simply not be complete until I can make delicious treats like these. You are fantastic. Thanks for sharing!
Aww, thanks Michelle! -Marisa
15. Michelle added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
8:46 am
Those tiny jars are the cutest and the vanilla idea intrigues me!
Thanks Rose! -Marisa
16. Rose added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
8:55 am
17. Ooooh, this sounds great. The vanilla must take away just a bit of that candy-sweetness that you usually find in jam. Mmmm. I will definitely try this.
Kate, the vanilla does cut the sweetness and also gives it is a sophisticated scent. -Marisa
18. Kate added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
9:26 am
swoon. my jam loving heart is jumping for joy at the sight of this strawberry/vanilla beauty!
thanks for the Goventa recommendation. I truly enjoyed my first strawberry picking experience, although I ended up making an (average) strawberry pie and noshing on the rest. so, no jam…how sad.
Alexis, no matter what you did with your berries, I’m glad you got out there and picked! -Marisa
19. alexis added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
9:28 am
I love strawberry jam. Last year I made several jams: apricot, blackberry, green gage plum and vanilla, jalapeno jelly, etc, but I never used any pectin. For the jalapeno jelly I used whole apples for pectin. Is the store bought pectin absolutely necessary, or not? Whaddaya think?
(For reference I started with Molly Wizenberg’s jam recipe in Bon Appetit. You can find it here: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Mixed-Berry-Jam-242544).
Sarah, very soon, I’m planning on weighing in on the pectin debate. Short answer is that if you use a good pectin, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. I like knowing that I’m going to get a consistent product and using pectin gives me that. I also don’t want to spend hours and hours on my jams, and when you don’t use pectin, your cooking time gets significantly longer. But, I applaud those who make successful jam without pectin (I might also envy them just a bit). -Marisa
20. Sarah added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
9:30 am
I never thought to add vanilla to strawberry jam but I think it is a fabulous idea!
Angie, it’s really amazing. -Marisa
21. Angie R added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
9:46 am
mmmmmm….this looks yummy. My boys still peek whenever I look at this site so they can plan what they want to cook/eat!!!! You are wonderful!
Aww, thanks Michelle. I’m blushing! -Marisa
22. michelle added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
9:48 am
Lovely jam! I would love some.
I really want to start canning but I am a little intimidated to start. Thanks for your resource!
Whitney, if you’re nervous about canning, I recommend starting with pickles. They are so easy to make and will help build your confidence. -Marisa
23. Whitney added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
9:49 am
Yummy! Strawberries are my favorite. I also just moved, and I brought no jam. And there’s no jam in the fridge, either! I need some.
Robin, we need to get some jam in your fridge! -Marisa
24. Robin added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
9:51 am
marisa, your jams keep getting better and better! wish i was closer to philly so i could take your classes and eat it all up!
Lauren, where are you? Could you make a Philly weekend out of a class sometime? -Marisa
25. lauren added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
10:29 am
Gosh darn it Marisa, now all I can think about is strawberry jam… nothing… else… at… all…
Serena, that’s my evil plan. I want everyone to be thinking about jam, all the time! -Marisa
26. Serena added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
10:49 am
That jam is beautiful!! But I wondered … would you share your recipe for strawberry-rhubar jam?
Jenn, I just posted it! -Marisa
27. Jenn FL added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
11:05 am
I made strawberry jam yesterday, but did it without the pectin. I followed a Nigella Lawson recipe and used some white balsamic. I think that I would enjoy the flavor so much more if the jam wasn’t so sweet! It’s seriously toothache-inducing.
On the bright side, I’m going to my husband’s family reunion next week in Georgia. He insists that their Southern sweet tooths will LOVE it!
Meghan, I’m sorry to hear that your jam was too sweet. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that your in-laws like it! -Marisa
28. Meghan added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
11:12 am
I have so many memories of strawberry picking with my mom and my siste. My mom had my sis and I wear straw hats with big brims, and she had decorated them with ribbons decorated with strawberries.
We have a small strawberry plant, but with a harvest of one or two berries at a time, I’ll have to buy some berries to make jam!
Samantha, what a lovely memory! -Marisa
29. Samantha added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
11:27 am
i am so going to try adding vanilla to my jam this time! cant wait!
Ann, I can’t wait to hear how it turns out! -Marisa
30. Ann P. added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
11:31 am
This post inspires me to want to try jam, which I’m a little bit afraid of since an ill-fated gooseberry incident. I’d love to win a jar of yours to have something to aspire to!
Amber, don’t let one bad experience sour you to jam! Try again! -Marisa
31. Amber added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
11:33 am
I actually made strawberry rhubarb jam just last night! My canning book has a recipe for strawberry vanilla, but i was a bit suspicious of how I’d like those flavors together… i’d sure like to try yours!
Shannon, I know it sounds a little strange, but trust me. Strawberry and vanilla play really nicely together. -Marisa
32. Shannon added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
11:38 am
Oh, man…a little of this on top of some greek yogurt and almonds? Yes please.
Jessie, that’s one of my favorite ways to use jam. So good! -Marisa
33. Jessie added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
11:55 am
strawberry vanilla? I hadn’t thought of that but it sounds amazing. I should do that while strawberries are still really cheap and in season.
Melissa, exactly! -Marisa
34. melissa added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
12:05 pm
Oh, dear – I already made my strawberry jam, but now I want to make another batch with vanilla beans! Yum!
Jacquelyn, oh yay! -Marisa
35. Jacquelyn added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
1:11 pm
I can’t wait until my next trip out to pick my own. Thanks for the encouragement.
Livia, oh hurray! -Marisa
36. Livia added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
1:34 pm
The main reason I need to win is because my jam ended up dull.
I think the vanilla bean idea is brilliant, but Husband says not another flat this year. He thinks 21 jars is enough. Do you?
Oh no! I’m so sorry that your jam is dull. If you’re really unhappy with it, you could uncan it all, heat it all back up, add something to punch up the flavor and recan. It’s a lot of work, but if you aren’t going to want to eat it throughout the year, the energy investment might be worth it. -Marisa
37. meadowlark added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
1:49 pm
I found your website because I will be canning for the first time this year and have been scouring the internet for easy yet interesting canning recipes. The strawberry/vanilla combination sounds great. I too would love to get a 1/2 pint jar of yours as a measure of what the jam is supposed to taste like.
We have huge blackberry bushes (though I think they could legally be called trees now) growing in our back yard that are just becoming ripe this week. I would love any creative jam recipes you have.
It’s going to be a little while until the blackberries are ripe here, but I will have at least one recipe up a bit later in the summer. My trick with blackberry jam is to work it through a strainer prior to canning, to deseed it. It makes for amazingly wonderful, smooth jam. -Marisa
38. swandiver added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
3:07 pm
I picked up jars on my lunch break because of this post. Seriously. Besides the vanilla-y smell, did you get much flavor infused from the bean?
Holly, I did get good vanilla flavor, but I let it soak in for a full 48 hours. My mom did for just a day and ended up adding about a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the jam, because she didn’t feel like she got the flavor level she wanted from the day with a vanilla bean. -Marisa
39. Holly added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
3:12 pm
I stumbled on this post and it made me remember the strawberry jam my great grandmother used to make. She made the best, and it wasn’t until just before her death that we found out she added a little vanilla to her jam too, a trick that my grandmother adopts from time to time in her honor. There’s just something about that little extra note that makes the whole batch bloom
I’m happy to have helped remind you! -Marisa
40. latiaran added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
3:50 pm
So beautiful. I do intend to make my own, but to be honest, I also want yours. Gluttony in jars!
Carolyn, I’m so glad you’ll be making a batch of your own! -Marisa
41. Carolyn added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
4:15 pm
ever heard Michelle Shocked’s song Strawberry Jam? If not, you absolutely must. I’d send it to you if I was tech savvy enough.
You’re not the first person to say I should check out that song. I don’t know it, but am heading to iTunes now. -Marisa
42. blackeyedpig added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
7:01 pm
43. hmmm, I don’t recall my mom ever adding vanilla to strawberry jam. Well, she’s been reading your blog, so maybe she will try it this year?
Fran, I hope she does!
44. Fran added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
7:57 pm
How could I say no to strawberry jam? and with vanilla, no less! Sounds like a heavenly combination.
Yoko, it’s so yummy!
45. yoko added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
8:54 pm
Oh, vanilla beans in strawberry jam. How divine. I haven’t made strawberry jam in years. As soon as the fresh strawberries are ready to pick here in northern MN, I will be out gathering and will come home to make this beautiful jam. Thank you for sharing.
My pleasure!
46. All About Food added these pithy words on
Jun 17 09 at
11:13 pm
47. Of all the jams you’ve listed on here, this one sounds the most amazing! I’d love to get my hands on a jar!
Thanks Tim!
48. Tim M added these pithy words on
Jun 18 09 at
8:09 am
This made me ask my mom for all her old canning jars, but sadly he gave them away last year! I am so sad! It looks so yummy I need to try some! I’m sad I can’t make your next jam class, might you be offering private lessons?
Oh, what a bummer, Wendy! I am actually thinking about having a jam party at my place. I’ll let you know!
49. Wendy added these pithy words on
Jun 18 09 at
1:16 pm
I can’t get the sound out of my head now of Michelle Shocked singing “we were making jam….Strawberry jam! Well, if you want the best jam, you’ve got to make your own.” I’m going to try going picking this weekend.
Yay for strawberry picking!
50. Rebekah Denn added these pithy words on
Jun 18 09 at
1:47 pm
I am pretty sure I’m not going to get to making my own jam before the end of strawberry season, but it looks terrific and I’d love to win a jar!
Karen, get yourself out to pick up some strawberries and just make a small batch!
51. Karen added these pithy words on
Jun 18 09 at
2:31 pm
So beautiful! I have actually taken your idea and have been eating some strawberry rhubarb jam from last year in plain yogurt. Very tasty. And great idea about letting the berries macerate with the vanilla bean.
Tara, I’m so glad to hear you’ve been enjoying jam in yogurt. It’s one of my favorite things!
52. Tara added these pithy words on
Jun 18 09 at
6:12 pm
Mmmm, those jars look beautiful. I love berry picking – must make it a point to do that this summer.
Tina, we’re coming to the end of strawberry season, but there are still blueberries and blackberries to be had!
54. Tina added these pithy words on
Jun 19 09 at
10:46 am
Ooh, I would love to taste that jam. I made apple butter last year, my first adventure in canning, and I’m determined to make berry jams this year. The vanilla bean and strawberry combo sounds fantastic.
Carly, isn’t apple butter wonderful! I make a couple of batches each fall.
55. Carly added these pithy words on
Jun 19 09 at
6:18 pm
56. I made it! I couldn’t find a pick your own, but I found an Amish produce stand that had home grown berries. They were amazing and in no way compare to the store bought berries. I halved the recipe and used a lime instead of a lemon. The lime did change the taste but not drastically or in a bad way.
58. Tara added these pithy words on
Jun 25 09 at
1:57 pm
you mention 2 packets of liquid pectin…is that the 170 ml package??
59. Nicki added these pithy words on
Jun 29 09 at
6:11 pm
Nicki, I don’t have a box of pectin in front of me, so I’m not sure. It is the contents of one box of liquid pectin, each box contains two packets of pectin.
60. Marisa added these pithy words on
Jun 30 09 at
5:03 pm
Thank you for a fantastic recipe! This was my first time making strawberry jam and it has turned great. I’m so glad I didn’t use the box recipe. Your recipe is definitely going to be one of our standards. I did add a half teaspoon of butter which significantly reduced the foaming. I was a little uncertain about adding two packets of pectin, but it my jam set was perfect (I used Certo brand). The only thing was that my yield was lower-9 and 1/2 jars (8oz.) per batch instead of 14 jars. Tomorrow morning we are making our third and last batch of the season! My husband and I are now planning for more canning sessions – apricot, peaches, maybe nectarines, and pickles (sweet and dill), and whatever else inspires us. I’m glad I found your site!
61. Elaine added these pithy words on
Jul 05 09 at
1:43 am
can i use lemon juice instead of lemons and if so how much juice do i use?
62. lorrie sark added these pithy words on
Jul 05 09 at
8:52 pm
YUMMY! I just got a canning pot for my birthday, and I am going to try this out!
63. Heather added these pithy words on
Jul 18 09 at
4:27 pm
I made this jam this weekend..turned out good but found the lemon killed the flavors…
64. foodie2 added these pithy words on
Jul 21 09 at
12:07 am
Wow, I’m sorry to hear that you felt that the lemon killed the flavor. The thing I find with jam making is that every batch is a little bit different, so even with the best recipe (and I’m not saying that mine is the best), there’s always a little flavor variation. The strawberries I used in my jam were really, really flavorful and sweet, so the lemon worked nicely to tame the sweetness without dampening the natural flavor. However, the mileage does vary, which you’ve discovered.
65. Marisa added these pithy words on
Jul 21 09 at
12:12 am
Hi. I am new to making jam and made my first batch following this recipe today! I am worried I did something wrong though. The cans pinged, but it still looks a little runny in the jars. Does that mean it didn’t “set”? Also, the strawberries seem to be migrating to the top and leaving more liquid at the bottom. Any thoughts on what I may have done wrong? I am going to try again.
73. Jana added these pithy words on
Apr 22 10 at
7:24 pm
help!! i made this yesterday (my first time to make jam). i thought i did everything right, but it’s been almost 24 hrs and the jam isn’t set! what did i do wrong??? thanks for your help!!
74. summer added these pithy words on
Apr 23 10 at
4:51 pm
Just wanted to say thank you for the recipe.. We made the jam this morning. We did not wait very long to taste it, didn’t have to it set right away and lids popped in seconds. The Strawberry vanilla smell in my house is to die for.. I like that it used half the sugar that the commercial pectin recipes were calling for. I cannot imagine any more sugar. Thanks again. I will be passing this recipe around a lot and credit will be all yours! Have you ever made jam with honey? We are beekeepers and like to use honey when we can. I would love your input. Thanks in advance.
75. Jill T. added these pithy words on
May 26 10 at
5:03 pm
Just made this jam this afternoon and it was my first time canning. Your recipe did a great job of taking the intimidation out of the canning process. I did struggle with the jam’s consistency and don’t have the nerve to see if I have jam or strawberry sauce in my jars. What is more important – staying true to the recipe or boiling the sauce until it is the right consistency? I ended up boiling for about 20 minutes and then stopped, as I was worried that I was negating all that the pectin was put in there to do. I only ended up with 9 jars but it could be because of my longer boiling. They did not ping right away but I think that all of them did eventually. Thanks for helping me get up the nerve to try this recipe!
76. Susan added these pithy words on
May 29 10 at
7:43 pm
Hi Marisa, I found your canning blog several days ago and I’ve been making my way through all your entries and bookmarking several recipes to try out! I actually just got a water bath canning pot yesterday and made my first batch of strawberry jam this afternoon. It turned out really delicious, but when I processed the jars in the water bath, all the berries rose to the top of the jam. I seem to recall reading the reason for that somewhere on this blog, but of course I went searching and couldn’t find it! Could you tell me what causes this? It seems to have set just fine, it isn’t runny or syrupy, but it would be more aesthetically pleasing if the berries were evenly dispersed throughout
78. Erin added these pithy words on
Jun 12 10 at
9:15 pm
Hello! I have never followed a blog in my life ~ I fell in love with yours instantly. I intend to begin canning again after parting from it for nearly 15 years. The strawberry jam is beautiful! Best regards, Kimberly
82. Kimberly Carani-Hand added these pithy words on
Jul 25 10 at
4:41 pm
