Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (2024)

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Last week, I found strawberries for $3.88 for a 2 lb clam shell. So, I picked up two packages and planned on making strawberry freezer jam. My Mom made some from strawberries from our garden this summer, but my family had used up all we had, and I missed the sweet and fresh jam.

Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (1)

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As it ended up, my Mom and I worked together to make several batches with the 4 lbs of strawberries. (I think it was just about three batches.) She worked on one batch and I worked on the second batch.

It was super easy to make, and you don’t even have to learn how to can to make this jam! You just pop it into many small containers that can be frozen, and throw them in the freezer! (Of course, you’ll need to leave one in the refrigerator instead, so you can enjoy it right away!)

You can also use this recipe to make wonderful homemade jam to give as Christmas gifts!

(I have some important notes below this recipe for some alternate options for preparing.)

Related Reading: Fresh and Easy Homemade Whipped Strawberry Butter Recipe

Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe

Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (3)

Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe

Angie Kauffman

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Canning and Preserving

Cuisine American

Servings 4 8 oz containers

Ingredients

  • 2 cups mashed strawberries about 1 quart of whole strawberries
  • 4 cups sugar
  • 1 box powdered fruit pectin
  • 3/4 cup water

Instructions

Notes

Measure sugar exactly and do not reduce amount or jam will not set properly.

I have included an alternate method that doesn't involve any cooking/boiling below.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

While my original recipe above calls for powdered fruit pectin, in recent years, I have been using Sure-Jell Certo Liquid Fruit Pectin. You will need lemon juice, but it comes together faster and doesn’t require boiling.

If the amount of sugar in this recipe leaves you a little freaked out, there is also a no or less sugar recipe included with a No Sugar Fruit Pectin package.

Other RecipesYou’ll Enjoy:

Easy Homemade Blackberry Jam

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

Roasted Pear Rice Pudding

Coconut Milk Hot Fudge Sauce

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links. Using them doesn’t change the price you pay, but we may receive a small compensation for you purchasing through them. Thanks!

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Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (8)

About Angie Kauffman

Angie, mom to three very fun kids, is the founder of Real Life at Home. With degrees in elementary education (B.A.) and special education (M.S.Ed.), as well as being a former homeschooler, she is passionate about supporting both parents and teachers by providing printables, crafts, and activities to help children learn and grow.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (9)Rebecca says

    I’m sooo going to try this!! Perfect b/c strawberries are coming back in season again!
    .-= Rebecca´s last blog ..Maybe not just for today =-.

    Reply

  2. Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (10)Lana says

    I think I can do this! Yaa!

    Reply

  3. Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (11)Suzy says

    I just took some out of freezer to try. Do you recommend thaw in fridge or on counter. Also, I think mine would have worked better if the strawberries would have been rrom temp. I had mine in fridge. The sugar probably would have dissolved faster. Can’t wait to try it though

    Reply

    • Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (12)Angie Kauffman says

      When we run out in the refrigerator, I just grab one out of the freezer and put it in the refrigerator. While I suppose that you could leave it sitting out for a little while, I wouldn’t take the time to thaw it like that unless you needed to use it sooner. Otherwise, just leaving it in the refrigerator until you need it next should be sufficient.

      I usually use my strawberries from the refrigerator before I make it. The sugar does take some work to get dissolved. I usually make my family help with stirring so that I don’t have to stir forever, since I usually make multiple batches at once. It’s definitely an arm work out!

      Reply

      • Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (13)Suzy says

        Mine turned out alittle to runny to put on toast. any suggestions for next time. I cooked the pectin long enough. Maybe I should have drained the strawberries after they were mashed, just to runny, very good, but turrned more into a ice cream topping

        Reply

        • Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (14)Angie Kauffman says

          Without having been there when you made it, it’s hard for me to guess exactly what might have happened. I definitely have some times when it sets better than others, and I have yet to figure out exactly why that is. I have always been able to spread it with a knife onto toast though.

          However, if you were looking for something thick and more like a jelly, then even when this sets very well, it still isn’t like that.

          Did you dry off your strawberries well after washing them before starting? Maybe you had extra water in it?

          I would also recommend next time maybe trying the Certo Liquid Fruit Pectin, as I have been doing that the last few times I’ve made jam, and I find that easier to work with.

          Reply

  4. Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (15)Ricky Shoemake says

    When using the Liquid Pectin, how does one go about it? I have some and would love to know..I saw you said to use Lemon Juice and one would not have to boil it but how much lemon juice to use? To a whole packet of the liquid pectin? Are the measurements the same for the berries and sugar?

    Reply

    • Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (16)Angie Kauffman says

      Hi Ricky –

      I don’t know the directions off the top of my head, but the Liquid Pectin (I’ve always used Certo) comes with directions and ratios inside the box. 🙂

      Reply

  5. Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (17)Ricky Shoemake says

    Thanks Angie..I bought some more and saw the instructions on the pamphlet inside…

    Reply

  6. Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (18)Elizabeth says

    If you do the liquid pectin and lemon juice. Do u still use water?

    Reply

    • Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (19)Angie Kauffman says

      I don’t remember off the top of my head, but I think the liquid pectin still has water in it. You’ll want to use the recipe in the liquid pectin box. (That’s what I used when I started using liquid pectin.)

      Reply

  7. Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (20)Kellie says

    Hello, i have a question. You say 2 cups of mashed strawberries (about one quart) I doesn’t understand this. There are 4 cups in a quart. Could you please tell me if you use 1 quart of mashed or only 2 cups mashed. Thank you! 🙂

    Reply

  8. Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (21)Kellie says

    Nevermind I figured it out. I was just confused for a min. Lol!!

    Reply

  9. Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (22)Connie says

    The recipe says 2 cups strawberries then in parentheses, about 1 quart. Well, 1 quart is 4 cups, not 2. So I am confused.

    Reply

    • Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (23)Angie Kauffman says

      1 quart of purchased whole strawberries will get you close to two cups of mashed strawberries.

      Reply

  10. Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (24)Leighann Hunt says

    Can you substitute any berry for the strawberries without damaging the results of the recipe?

    Reply

    • Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (25)Angie Kauffman says

      I would recommend buying a package of Pectin or Certo. Inside the box, they have different ratios of fruit to sugar to water, etc. It varies by the fruit.

      Reply

  11. Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (26)Corinne Wylie says

    This was the easiest and best freezer jam I have ever made!!! I will use this recipe from now on. Two flats made 20 pints with some left over for strawberry/spinach salad and strawberry shortcake!!

    Reply

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Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you thicken strawberry freezer jam? ›

5 Ways to Thicken Homemade Jam
  1. Just wait. You've followed the recipe and even tested the jam for thickness by smearing a bit of the cooked jam on a cold spoon straight from the freezer, but it still looks runny in the canning jars after processing. ...
  2. Add chia seeds. ...
  3. Cook it again. ...
  4. Add pectin. ...
  5. Cook it in a low oven.
Sep 5, 2023

Why didn't my freezer jam get thick? ›

Freezer jam is supposed to have a thick, pudding-like consistency but if it doesn't set it will be runny and much thinner. If your jam doesn't properly set, it's usually because the ratio of fruit to sugar was off, your pectin was old, or because your sugar didn't fully dissolve.

How do you keep freezer jam from being grainy? ›

The fix is to add enough more mashed fruit or unsweetened juice to bring the sugar or honey level down to within the original recipe's sweetener range. This allows the grainy pectin to dissolve and do its job of jelling the original amount of mashed fruit or juice.

Can you freeze jam in Ziploc bags? ›

Plastic storage containers also work well. Small ½ cup or 1 cup size containers with tight-fitting lids are perfect. Don't have a lot of room in your freezer? Store in quart-size zippered bags.

What is the best thickener for freezer jam? ›

Pectin. Most recipes call for additional pectin to thicken the jam, giving it that familiar jammy consistency. Commercially produced pectin is derived from fruit; usually apples or citrus. Store-bought pectin comes in two forms: powder and liquid.

Can you fix freezer jam that didn't set? ›

Fixing runny jelly is easy to do. If your jam is too runny, you can reprocess it to fix runny jam. Learn how to fix runny jam without pectin or by recooking it with pectin and lemon juice.

How do you thicken freezer jam without pectin? ›

If you aren't using pectin as a thickener, the sugar as well as the cornstarch slurry will work to thicken quite well. Feel free to add more for an even thicker jam.

How do you fix runny strawberry jam? ›

Whether you want to ensure a thick jam from the beginning or fix a runny jam, these techniques can help:
  1. Add chia seeds to the recipe. Chia seed jam is a method of making jam that requires no cooking. ...
  2. Use cornstarch. ...
  3. Try commercial pectin. ...
  4. Use gelatin sheets or powder. ...
  5. Reduce it on the stovetop.
Jun 13, 2022

Does lemon juice thicken jam? ›

With a simple lemon juice trick, your homemade jam will achieve your desired thick texture. Preparing jam is about capturing the sweet essence of the fruit while simultaneously cooking it down to the perfect syrupy consistency.

Why do you add lemon juice to freezer jam? ›

The lemon juice lowers the pH of the jam mixture, which also neutralizes those negative charges on the strands of pectin, so they can now assemble into a network that will “set” your jam.

What can I use instead of pectin in freezer jam? ›

We are relying in part on the natural pectin in the fruit to set the jam, but we will benefit from a little pectin boost. Although we are not adding powdered pectin, we will add citric acid or lemon juice to the jam. This gives an additional pop of pectin but also some acidity that balances the sweetness of the jam.

How do I know if my freezer jam is set? ›

Spoon a little of the hot conserve onto the cold saucer. Return to the freezer for 2 minutes or until chilled. Touch the conserve. If it wrinkles and feels gel-like, it's ready to bottle.

Can you use mason jars for freezer jam? ›

While you can purchase special plastic containers made for storing jam in the freezer, it's not necessary. You can use whatever sealable plastic containers you have hiding in your cupboards, or you can use good, old-fashioned Mason jars.

Can you use regular jars for freezer jam? ›

Yes! I love to use glass mason jars for freezer jam! You can also use just about any container that is freezer friendly.

Why can't you fill freezer jam jars right to the top? ›

Always leave a little headroom so that the food can expand up without cracking the jar. A good general rule is to fill jars up to the rim (before the screw lines). If the food is really liquidy, then opt to leave more room. More liquid means more expansion and trust us, you are better SAFE than sorry!

What to do if freezer jam is runny? ›

First, you wait. Give the jam 24-48 hours to set up (because truly, sometimes it can take that long for pectin to reach the finished set). If it still hasn't set, it's time to determine how much jam needs to be recooked. You don't want to remake more than 8 cups (4 pints) at a time.

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