Berry Best Freezer Jam Recipes

BLUEBERRY FREEZER JAM

Steps:

• Stir sugar and blueberries together in a bowl; let stand for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir lemon juice and pectin together in a separate small bowl; add to blueberry mixture. Stir constantly until sugar is completely dissolved and no longer grainy, about 3 minutes.
• Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack the blueberry into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/2 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids, and screw on rings. Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours until set.
• Refrigerate for up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 1 year. Thaw in refrigerator.

FREEZER BERRY JAM

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mash the blueberries. Add raspberries and mash. Stir in sugar and lemon juice. Let stand for 10 minutes. In a small saucepan, bring water and pectin to a boil. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add to fruit mixture; stir for 3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. , Pour into jars or freezer containers; cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Cover and let stand overnight or until set, but not longer than 24 hours. Refrigerate for up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 1 year.

MIXED BERRY FREEZER JAM

Steps:

• Stir together the sugar, pectin and salt in a small bowl until combined. Mash the berries in a separate large bowl with a fork or potato masher until evenly and finely crushed; stir in the lemon juice.
• Add the sugar mixture to the berry mixture and stir until well combined and the sugar has fully dissolved, about 2 minutes (this will also help the pectin bloom). Ladle into a glass mason jar or other freezer-safe container and set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes to set. Cover and store in the freezer for up to 1 year.

BERRY BEST FREEZER JAM

Steps:

• Combine blueberries and raspberries in a large bowl.
• Stir in sugar and lemon juice.
• Let stand for 10 minutes.
• In a small saucepan, bring water and pectin to a boil.
• Boil for one minute, stirring constantly.
• Add to fruit mixture; stir for 3 minutes.
• Ladle into freezer containers; cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Cover and let stand overnight at room temperature before freezing.
• May be frozen up to one year.
• Store in refrigerator up to 3 weeks after opening.

BERRY JAM

Steps:

• Toss berries and sugar together in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Let sit for at least 15 minutes and up to overnight, periodically tossing to coat and to dissolve the sugar. (This will help coax the juices out of the fruit.)
• Place a small plate in the refrigerator to chill. (You'll use this later.)
• Bring the fruit to a strong simmer over medium heat until the berries burst and the juices start to boil, about 15 minutes. If using a vanilla bean as an add-in, put it in the pot at this point.
• Increase the heat to medium-high. Cook the jam, at first stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon or spatula, then more frequently as the juices thicken. Cook until most of the liquid has evaporated and the fruit has begun to break down, 40 to 50 minutes. How much it breaks down will depend on its type and ripeness: For example, strawberries are likely to retain more of their shape, while raspberries will break down almost entirely.
• As the jam cooks, the liquid will reduce, the sugars thicken and the natural pectins activate. You'll notice the liquid go from a rapid, rolling boil with smaller bubbles to a slow, thick, tarlike boil with larger bubbles: This is the stage at which it's most important to stir constantly along the bottom of the pot to prevent scorching and sticking. (Sugar is heavier than water and will concentrate there, increasing the chance that the fruit will burn.) It's also the stage at which splattering may occur, so take care in stirring.
• Once the jam reaches a slow, thick boil, add lemon juice and continue to cook, stirring constantly until the jam returns to its earlier consistency, about another 5 minutes. To test the consistency, spoon a bit of jam onto the chilled plate, return it to the refrigerator and chill for 2 minutes. Drag your finger through it: It should hold its shape on either side without appearing watery or runny. If it's not there yet, cook a few minutes more. (Note: Some fruit, like strawberries, contain more water and less natural pectin than say, a raspberry. This means the jam will never be quite as thick or gelled, but it will still be delicious).
• Remove from heat, and incorporate any of the add-ins listed (see notes). Pick out vanilla bean if you added it earlier. Divide jam between several 8-ounce canning jars, leaving 1/4-inch head space, and seal immediately. Can the jams (see our How to Make Jam guide for more instruction), or store in the refrigerator, using them within a couple of weeks.

THREE-BERRY FREEZER JAM

Steps:

• In a food processor, process the berries in batches until finely chopped. Transfer to a large bowl. Stir in sugar and lemon juice. Let stand for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally., In a small saucepan, combine fruit pectin and water. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute. Add to fruit mixture; stir constantly until sugar is dissolved, 4-5 minutes., Pour into jars or freezer containers, leaving 1/2-in. headspace. Cover and let stand overnight or until set, but not longer than 24 hours. Refrigerate for up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 12 months.

FROZEN-BERRY JAM

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine raspberries, sugar, lemon juice, and salt and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
• Cook, stirring often and mashing berries with the back of a spoon, until mixture thickens to a jam-like consistency, 6 to 8 minutes. Strain through a sieve, if desired, then transfer to a heatproof jar and let cool completely. Refrigerate up to 1 week or freeze up to 3 months.

TRIPLE BERRY FREEZER JAM

Steps:

• Combine crushed strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and sugar in a medium bowl. (I use a potato masher to crush the berries, you can leave some whole).
• Let stand 15 minutes.
• Gradually stir freezer jam pectin into fruit mixture.
• Stir 3 minutes; let stand 5 minutes.
• Ladle jam into can-or-freeze jars, leaving 1/2-inch headspace.
• Adjust two-piece caps, label and freeze.
• Tip: Will keep for several weeks in the fridge, or up to one year in the freezer.

MIXED BERRY FREEZER JAM

Steps:

• Measure 2 cups mashed strawberries and 1 cup each mashed raspberries and blueberries into large bowl; mix well.
• Bring sugar, pectin and water to a boil in large saucepan, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat.
• Add fruit mixture; stir 1 minute or until thoroughly mixed.
• Fill clean plastic containers immediately to within 1/2 inch of tops; cover with lids. Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours until set. Store in refrigerator up to 3 weeks or freeze extra containers up to 1 year. Thaw in refrigerator before using.