Easy Homemade Strawberry Jam

This easy, homemade strawberry jam will quickly become your go-to. Made with only 3 ingredients and no pectin, this jam is better than any shop-bought version. Perfect to use in bakes, on toast or crumpets, or eaten straight out of the jar!

This post is a part of paid collaboration with Tate & Lyle Sugar. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

With strawberry season in a full swing, I have another exciting and delicious recipe for you friends! Easy, homemade strawberry jam to enjoy all year round!

Why to make your own jam?

Firstly, because it is super easy. Making your own jam is very simple and really satisfying. Secondly, it tastes much better than any shop-bought jam, IMO. Plus, it is a great way of using and preserving all the beautiful, sweet and juicy seasonal strawberries. Even if the fruit is starting to look a bit tired and pass it's glory days, jam is a great way of avoiding food waste and putting all these berries into a great use.

What do I need to make homemade jam?

The ingredient 'list' consist of 3 things: strawberries, sugar and lemon juice. Before you decide to make your own, it is worth to check and make sure you have all the necessary equipment. Don't worry, it's not a long or complicated list, and there are high chances that you have most of it in your kitchen already!

• preserving jars- you can re-use any old jars you have at home, or buy some new ones. I love using Ball Mason Jars. They have wax disks and screw-on lids, which I find to be the easiest to use. Jars will have to be sterilised before you use them, see below for more info.
• heavy bottom saucepan- they are thicker at the base, meaning they tend to absorb and distribute heat from a stovetop burner more evenly than a thin pot or pan. Good jam-making pan should be non-reactive (avoid aluminium), conduct heat well, be non-stick and ideally, have low sides.
• kitchen thermometer- good to have, but it's not essential. If you have kitchen thermometer, it just makes things easier. It allows you to reach the exact temperature that your jam should reach to set.

Do I need pectin to make this jam?

No. This recipe doesn't require any pectin. Pectin is a natural fiber that holds up the cell walls of fruit and vegetables and it's often used as a thickening agent. Some fruits and veg have a higher content of it than others.

Jam made without pectin has a softer and more loose texture than the one made with it, and it will take a little bit longer to cook, but tastes just as delicious! Adding lemon juice to the jam mixture will be enough to help it to set and achieve the desired consistency.

Any tips for making this recipe?

Just a couple of things worth mentioning to make sure you succeed with your strawberry jam:

• make sure to cut the strawberries into equal pieces
• crush the fruit with potato masher until the juices are released
• start with low heat, and keep it that way until all of the sugar has dissolved
• increase the heat to high once sugar has dissolved
• you can also use granulated sugar or jam sugar (with added pectin) to make this recipe

How to sterilise jars for jam making?

Sterilising your jars is an important process in preserving any fruit or veg. It removes all bacteria from the jar so that when you use it for preserving, the food will remain fresh within the vaccum.

I would suggest to sterilise your jars straight after you have finished cooking the jam. Preheat the oven to 160 C and wash jars and lids in hot, soapy water. Rinse, but do not dry them. Instead, place the washed jars on a baking tray and place them in the oven for 10 minutes.

Place the lids into a boiling water for a couple of minutes, then turn the heat off and keep the lids there until you use them. Remove the jars from the oven and fill them up with jam (leaving about 1 cm headspace), top with wax disk and seal with the lid.

What if I don't have kitchen thermometer?

Don't worry, it is still possible to make jam without it. You can check if your jam is ready by performing the simple plate test. Place a couple of small plates/ saucers in your freezer before starting to cook your jam mixture.

When your jam has been hard boiling for about 15- 20 minutes, spoon out a little bit of jam onto one of the cold plates. Leave it for 30 seconds, then push it with your finger. If the jam wrinkles and doesn't flood to fill the gap, it is ready (watch the recipe video to see exactly what I mean). If not, return the jam into boil for 2 more minutes, then take off the heat and perform the test again. Repeat until it is ready.

If you are looking for some ideas on how to use the jam, here are few suggestions for you:

• simply spread it on toast or scones
• use it as a topping for crepes or pancakes
• use it in bakes (Victoria sponge cake, muffins or cupcakes)

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