Less Sugar Canned Strawberry Jam Recipes

STRAWBERRY JAM (BALL / BERNARDIN)

Steps:

• If using fresh strawberries, wash them, and hull them.
• Mash the strawberries a layer at a time in something like a pie plate using something like a potato masher.
• You should end up with around 1 litre (4 cups / 32 oz) of mashed strawberries. A tidge under or over is fine.
• Put in a large stainless steel pot.
• Add the water.
• Add the pectin and stir till the pectin is dissolved.
• Put on a burner.
• If using SUGAR or SPLENDA: Bring to a full rolling boil over the heat and when it reaches that point, start timing 1 minute. Add in sugar or Splenda, bring back to a boil that you can't stir down, and boil for 1 minute after that point. Remove from heat.
• If using STEVIA: Bring to a full rolling boil over the heat and when it reaches that point, start timing 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add stevia to taste.
• Should it start to gel before this time is up, remove from heat, you're done.
• Remove from heat.
• Skim off any foam, if there is any.
• Ladle into 125 ml (4 oz) or quarter-litre (1/2 US pint / 8 oz) jars.
• Leave 1 cm (1/4 inch) headspace.
• Debubble, adjust headspace.
• Wipe jar rims.
• Put lids on.
• Process in a water bath or steam canner.
• Process either size jars for 10 minutes; increase time as needed for your altitude.

LOW SUGAR STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Prepare water bath canner by filling it with water, and setting it on the stove. Turn the burner to high. Once it reaches a boil, reduce it to simmer. You want to keep the water hot so that everything is ready when the jam is.
• Wash and sanitize your jars. You can fill them with hot water, or place them on a tray in the oven at 200 degrees F.
• Wash your lids and set aside in clean place.
• Rinse the strawberries. Remove the tops and cut in halves or quarters (8 cups total). Place in a heavy-bottomed saucepan.
• Heat the fruit over medium heat until the juices start to bubble. At this point, you can mash the fruit with a potato masher, or use an immersion blender (only blend 30% of berries).
• In a small bowl, combine 1/2 tsp calcium powder with 1/2 cup cool water.
• In a separate bowl, combine sugar (1.5 cups) and pectin (2.5 tsp). Set aside. To prevent clumping in the fruit, Pomona's must be mixed with your sweetener before being added to the fruit.
• Add the lemon juice (1/4 cup) and calcium water (2.5 tsp) to the pot with the strawberries, stir.
• Add the sugar/pectin mixture, and bring to a rolling boil. Stir constantly for 3 minutes, turning down the burner to medium if the jam starts popping.
• At this point, turn the burner under the canner back up to high and get that water boiling again.
• Remove the jam pot from heat, and stir gently for 5 more minutes. At the end of the 5 minutes, remove any foam that remains.
• Using the funnel and a ladle, add the jam to your prepared jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace at the top. Headspace is the amount of room between the top of the food, and the rim of the jar.
• Using a wet clean rag, wipe the rim to make sure there isn't any sticky jam on there.
• Place a clean lid on the jar and then a ring. Tighten the ring to fingertip tight.
• Using canning tongs, add jars to the boiling water, and put the canner lid on. Pro tip: you must have at least 1 inch of water over the tops of the jars for safe canning.
• Process (boil) for 10 minutes.
• Remove the canner from heat, and let sit for 5 minutes.
• Remove the jars and place them on towels on the counter undisturbed for 12-24 hours.
• After everything has cooled, check the seal by pushing down on the middle of the lid. If it doesn't give way, it's sealed. If the lid bows a little bit, put that in the fridge and use it within 3 weeks.
• Label the sealed jars, and store in a cool dark place for up to a year.

LOW SUGAR / NO SUGAR STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Prepare waterbath canner, jars and lids according to manufacturers instructions, if preserving. Prepare and measure ingredients for recipe.
• Combine prepared fruit with fruit juice in a large saucepan. Gradually stir in Ball® RealFruit™ Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin
• Add sugar, sugar substitute or honey, if using. Return mixture to a full rolling boil. Boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary.
• Ladle hot jam into hot jars, one at a time, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars. Apply bands and adjust to fingertip tight.
• Place filled jars in canner ensuring jars are covered by 1 to 2 inches of water. Place lid on canner. Bring water to gentle, steady boil.
• Process jars for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude*. Turn off heat, remove lid and let jars stand for 5 minutes.
• Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed. Clean and store according to manufacturers instructions.

SURE.JELL® FOR LESS OR NO SUGAR NEEDED RECIPES - STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Bring boiling-water canner, half full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling.
• Stem and crush strawberries thoroughly, one layer at a time. Measure exactly 6 cups prepared fruit into 6- or 8-quart saucepot.
• Mix 1/4 cup of the sugar (from the measured amount in bowl) and pectin in small bowl. Add to fruit in saucepot; mix well. Add butter to reduce foaming. Bring mixture to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in remaining 3-3/4 cups sugar. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.
• Ladle immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with 2-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.) Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 10 minutes. Remove jars and place upright on towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middle of lid with finger. (If lid springs back, lid is not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)