Less Sugar Canned Strawberry Jam Recipes

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 STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Sterilize the jars by washing in the dishwasher on the sterilize cycle or immersing in boiling water for 10 minutes. Place clean jars on a clean towel. Put 2 small ceramic plates in the refrigerator, because you will need them later to test the thickness of the jam.
• Wash and hull the strawberries. Mash them with a potato masher. You can decide how fine or how chunky you want them. Measure the sugar, and reserve ¼ cup to mix with the pectin.
• Mix the pectin, lemon juice, and ¼ cup sugar in a small bowl or measuring cup.
• Place the strawberries in a large cooking pot, and add the pectin mixture. Over medium high heat, bring everything to a full boil that does not go down when stirred. Stir the entire time so the jam does not burn. At this point, add the rest of the sugar, stir well, and bring the jam back to a full boil for one minute. Turn off the heat and test the thickness of the jam by putting a small spoonful on a cold ceramic plate. If it's thick enough, it's done. If it's too runny, add ¼ package more pectin, bring to a hard boil again for 1 minute, and test again with the second cold plate.
• Let the jam cool for 10 minutes, then stir to distribute the fruit. If the jam is too hot when you put it in the jars, the fruit chunks will float to the top. Meanwhile, place the Mason jar flat lids (not the rings) in very hot (not boiling) water to get them ready.
• Fill your jars, using the ladle and funnel, leaving 1/4 inch of clearance space at the top of the jar.
• Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean, damp towel. Place the lids on the jars and secure with rings. Do not screw the rings on too tight.
• Process the jars, following the instructions for your water bath canner. This jam requires 5 minutes processing at sea level, 10 minutes above 1000 feet altitude and 15 minutes above 6000 feet altitude.
• Remove the jars carefully with the jar lifting tongs, and set them on a clean towel. Leave them undisturbed for several hours or overnight to let them seal. You can tell they are sealed if the center of the lid is depressed slightly and does not move when pressed with your finger. Remove the rings so they don't rust due to trapped moisture, or if you want to leave them on, at least remove them temporarily to make sure they are dry underneath. The jam lasts about a year in the pantry.

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.

LESS SUGAR CANNED STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Wash jars & screw bands in hot soapy water. Rinse well in warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in a pan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before using.
• Fill canner half full of water and bring to a simmer.
• Prepare berries by crushing 1 cup at a time using a potato masher.
• Measure exact amount of fruit into an 8qt. saucepan.
• Measure the exact amount of sugar into a separate bowl. (Do not reduce sugar or use sugar substitute. Look up no-sugar-needed recipes for those amounts.).
• Mix 1/4 cup of sugar from measured amount with Sure-Jell. (Make sure to use the pink box of less or no sugar needed pectin!).
• Stir sugar & pectin mixture into berries. Add 1/2 teaspoons butter to reduce foaming, if desired.
• Bring to a full rolling boil (a boil that does not stop bubbling when stirred) stirring constantly.
• Stir in sugar, quickly. Return mixture to a full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat. Skim foam from top with metal spoon.
• Ladle quickly into jars to within 1/8 inch of top.
• Wipe jars' rims and threads and top with two-piece lids.
• Place jars in water bath canner for 10 minutes, then remove from canner. Let cool completely before storing. Press on middle of the lid to make sure lids have sealed. If not, store in refrigerator.

SUGAR-FREE STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring soda to a boil. Remove from the heat; stir in gelatin until dissolved. Stir in strawberries and lemon juice. Pour into jars or plastic containers; cover and refrigerate up to 3 weeks. Do not freeze.

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.

NO-SUGAR-NEEDED 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 jars well before filling.
• Stem and crush strawberries thoroughly, one layer at a time. Measure exactly 3 cups prepared fruit into 6- or 8-quart saucepot. Stir in water. Gradually add pectin, stirring until well blended.
• Bring mixture to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly. Boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in granulated sweetener or no-calorie sweetener packets. 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.)

EASY LOW SUGAR NO PECTIN STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Cut the stem off the fresh fruit, being careful not to include any green bits along with the berries.
• Rinse the fruit very thoroughly. This will remove any bits of stem, and remove some of the small hair and fibers on the outside of the fruit.
• As you prepare the fruit, it's okay to use very ripe berries.
• They will taste better and make a better jam. In fact, it's better to have nearly over ripe fruit than just barely ripe.
• The berries are softer, sweeter, and have more natural sugars.
• Add the berries and mash them in batches.
• I usually mash two or three cups at a time, just to make sure I don't miss a berry and end up with an outsized chunk at the end.
• Put the fresh berries in a large, tall cooking pot and add the sugar, lemon juice, and water.
• Bring the mix to a roaring boil on high heat, stirring regularly.
• The boil needs to be strong, one that does not diminish when you stir.
• Maintain this level of boil for at least 20 minutes.
• Stir regularly and watch the heat, turning it down to medium-high heat as the jam thickens to avoid burning.
• When your jam begins to thicken and has reduced by nearly half, you can check to see if it's done.
• Total cooking time is over 30 minutes.
• When you're sure it's set, pour it into sterilized jars, or clean plastic storage containers, and let it cool on the counter.
• Be careful not to spill, as it is very hot and will give you a nasty burn.
• The hot water from the pot should be handled carefully as well.

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.)