Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe

Name: Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 1455 min
Ingredients: 3 cups granulated sugar; 1 1.75 ounce box of Sure Jell pectin (for less or no sugar added recipes); 1 cup cold water; 8 cups fresh strawberries ((about 4 cups crushed strawberries))

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This Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe is a delicious way for using up all those in-season, perfectly sweet, ripe strawberries.

Are you new to jam-making? If so, this is the perfect recipe for you. This is not a traditional canning project. It takes just about 15 minutes of prep because there is no water bath procedure for sterilizing or sealing the jars.

As a result, this delicious strawberry jam is easy but isn't shelf stable. Keep it in the freezer or refrigerator to keep it from spoiling. Store it in the freezer for up to 12 months. Just think - you can have fresh tasting jam even in the middle of winter!

An open jar of strawberry freezer jam with a spoon sticking out of the jar and a biscuit laying next to it.

A Note About the Sugar

Before you get to the recipe, let's chat about the sugar. The amount of sugar in this recipe may seem to be a lot of sugar. But, hear me out. The popular brands of store-bought jam can have about a Tablespoon of sugar in each Tablespoon of jam.

When you compare that to this recipe, our delicious homemade jam only has 1 teaspoon of added sugar per Tablespoon of jam.

Why You'll Love this Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe

It's easy! Making homemade strawberry freezer jam using this recipe is super simple. You only need 3 ingredients.

This is a no-cook freezer jam! For our easy strawberry jam recipe, we combine the sugar and water with the pectin, boil that mixture, and remove it from the heat before adding the freshly crushed berries.

Equipment Needed

Medium Saucepan
Whisk
Glass jars or freezer containers

Ingredient List

Granulated sugar
Sure Jell pectin (for less or no sugar added recipes)
Water
8 cups fresh strawberries (4 cups crushed strawberries)

*Please scroll down to the recipe card for specific ingredient amounts.

All the ingredients needed to make the strawberry freezer jam including water, sugar, strawberries and Sure-Jell pectin.

Instructions

Step 1. Wash the strawberries. Remove the tops and slice the strawberries into a large bowl.

Step 2. Use a potato masher or add them to a food processor to crush strawberries until there are small chunks of fruit but they aren't pureed. Set aside.

Step 3. In a medium saucepan, whisk sugar and Sure-Jell together.

A collage of the first four steps in making the strawberry freezer jam.

Step 4. Mix water into the sugar mixture and bring to a boil, over medium-high heat, stirring continuously. Once the mixture reaches a rolling boil, cook for one minute. Remove from heat.

Step 5. Add the crushed strawberries into the mixture and stir until fully combined.

Step 6. Pour the strawberry mixture into jars, leaving a little space at the top for expansion when freezing. Wipe the jar rims and put on the lids. Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours. Then refrigerate until serving or freeze.

A photo collage of the next steps in making the freezer jam including boiling the pectin mixture, adding the crushed berries, and pouring the mixture into the jars.

Pro Tip

It is important to bring the sugar and pectin mixture to a rolling boil, meaning there are bubbles across the entire surface of the mixture, and boil for one minute. This is important because this process dissolves the sugar crystals that would otherwise leave the freezer jam grainy. Not dissolving the sugar can lead to problems with the jam setting.

Storage

Use the Strawberry freezer jam immediately after the 24-hour cooling period. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks or frozen for up to 1 year, for the freshest tasting jam.
Thaw in the refrigerator before using.

Variations

Next time you make this freezer jam, change it up and use another ripe fruit that is in season. Raspberry freezer jam or blueberry freezer jam would be my suggestions.

Recipe Notes

The recipe requires approximately 4 pints of berries.
When crushing the berries, add a few to the large mixing bowl, crush them with a potato masher, and then add some more berries to make the process a little easier.
For this recipe, we used the Sure-Jell less sugar added fruit pectin. It’s in the pink box.
I like to use recycled and washed jelly jars without labels for storing the freezer jam. They are a perfect size! The most common sizes are about 12 ounces or in half pint sizes. Some of them even have a decorative lid that is fun if you’re planning to give the jam to a friend or neighbor.
Serve this homemade jam on toast, biscuits, English muffins, oatmeal, pancakes, or waffles. Or use it to top desserts like ice cream, pound cake, or brownies.

A bowl of vanilla ice cream with jam topping.

What is the difference between freezer jam and canned jam?

Unlike traditional strawberry jam recipes, the fruit in freezer jam is not cooked. Some people even refer to this jam as “No Cook Jam” instead of freezer jam. Because the fruit isn’t cooked, the result is a jam that tastes like fresh fruit.

What is fruit pectin?

It is a thickening agent used in many fruit jellies, jams, and desserts to achieve a certain consistency. It helps the jam set. It is naturally occurring in many fruits and vegetables, some more than others. For this recipe, we use a powder form.

Why does the jam have to sit on the counter for 24 hours?

This is the time necessary for the fruit pectin to thicken.

What do I do if the jam separates?

Sometimes when the jam is setting up, small bits of fruit may come to the top of the jar. As it cools, you can stir it to help the fruit stay distributed and suspended throughout the jam. This can also be remedied by stirring the jam after thawing.

What do I do if the jam doesn’t set up?

If the jam is runny, there is no harm in using it that way.

Do I have to use glass jars?

Because this isn’t a recipe requiring a traditional canning method (sterilizing and sealing), you don’t have to use glass jars to store the freezer jam. It can be poured into any airtight plastic freezer containers or freezer bags until ready to use.