I love freezer jam! Especially strawberry freezer jam. A few years ago I discovered a much easier way to make freezer jam instead of using box pectin. It's these pectin packets from Ball...no cook freezer jam pectin. I can literally make freezer jam in 15 minutes. I also love using this method because it takes less sugar. It's only 1 1/2 cups of sugar per pectin packet.
First, crush your fruit. Don't puree it, however or your jam will be runny. I like mine slightly chunky. For one packet of the freezer jam pectin, you will need 4 cups of crushed fruit. Also, you will need 1 1/2 cups of sugar and jars or containers for your jam. Notice my jars...they are recycled jars I have used over and over again for my freezer jam. I think it's a waste of money to buy those pretty jam containers in the store (unless you are giving them as gifts) so I use any empty jar I can find at home, a dressing jar, pickle jar, you name it. It's one way to be more frugal.
Then you mix your sugar and pectin together. (all these are the directions on the back of the pectin package, by the way.)
Put with your crushed fruit and stir for 3 minutes.
After stirring it will look like this. A little more runny. That's why you don't want to completely puree your fruit to begin with. Now you are ready to put the jam into your jars or containers.
After putting into the jam into the jars, let stand until jelled, for about 30 minutes. DONE! Label and put into your freezer. Easy and so yummy!
Do you have a favorite way to make freezer jam?
18 comments:
Yum! I'll have to try it. I'm going to buy strawberries today on sale and was going to make jam. Thanks for the info!
I use the pectin but mix everything in my food processor (love that thing!!!) I use old sour cream and cool whip containers for our jam, but we go through jam so quickly that a larger container never goes bad in our house. So easy and sooooo cheap!!!
Sounds much easier than my recipe and a lot less sugar. I will be trying this one. :)
Yep, really easy! You guys will like it too, I'm sure.
Thanks for the tips, Kellie! Using empty sour cream containers is a great idea too.
How ironic! I honestly made 2 batches of freezer jam yesterday!! My Wal Mart had strawberries on sale for $1 so I took advantage of it and made a bunch. I put them in small plastic containers and then whenever I take a meal to a friend, I always include some freezer jam. It's always appreciated!
Awesome! That is totally something I could do! :D
Thanks for sharing.
But by the way, how do you clean your pickle jars thoroughly enough to eliminate the pickle smell? Pickle jars are the ones I can't keep because anything I put in them smells or tastes like pickles. lol.
I actually used this packet the last time I made strawberry freezer jam. It turned out well, but it is not as sweet as the pectin version (probably because it calls for less sugar!). I'm sure it's healthier, but I grew up on the pectin version so I'll probably return to that one.
Awesome! I was just telling my husband that I wish making jam wasn't such a daunting task cause I just got lots of strawberries at our farmer's market for 50 cents a lb! I'll have to try this method!
Shana, I Haven't used pickle jars in a few years, but when I did I didn't seem to have a problem with the smell. They were regular pickles, though, not spiced or anything. Maybe that is the difference.
Paula, yes, it is not as sweet this way. But I like it better personally. I hate putting so much sugar into the jam. You could still do this method just increase the sugar a little then it will still be quick and fast!
Where is the best buy for strawberries in Boise area? If anyone knows a better deal that $1.50 per pound let me know. Thanks, Tiffani
Sounds great! What's the cost difference between this and boxed pectin?
Off subject I saw something that totally made me think of your blog. (Maybe because of the free dvd you posted earlier this week) Anyway- Amazon has 150 kids songs for .99 download.
http://www.amazon.com/150-Fun-Songs-For-Kids/dp/B000VKE6WM?tag=
Thank Hilarie! If you want FREE kids music downloads though, check out this post I made last week:
http://wantitall4free.blogspot.com/2009/04/free-kids-music-dowloads.html
I tried that link and MegaBloks said the page is not found. Maybe it's expired?
another good idea for containers that I gound from my MIL is empty peanut butter jars! These work great for freezer jam! thanks for your blog! I found it and love it!
this is the one I use and I LOVE it!!
I did this last week and our jam is so yummy! I got my strawberries 3 lbs./$1 at my farmer's market!! Is the pectin an item that ever goes on sale? It is definitely the most expensive ingredient in this jam but it doesn't seem like an item that goes on sale (it was $2.99 at Fry's).
I usually get my pectin at Walmart, but it is also at Albertson's, Winco, really anywhere that sells pectin and jam stuff. I'm sure the price varies per region. At our Walmart it is around $1.50. Glad it turned out for you!
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