It wasn’t until I was in college that I tried freezer jam. Can you believe I had lived my entire life until then without any? Crazy. I would like to take a minute to thank my roommates, it was either Cami, or Chelsea who brought some from home and changed my bagel eating life. This was my staple meal while in school, a plain toasted bagel, with slightly melted plain cream cheese and piled with strawberry freezer jam.
When strawberries are in season you can pick some up for only $.99/lb. This is a great price to pick up extra and make a batch to stick in the freezer.
Don’t over smash them in the food processor. Just small pieces will work!
For every 2 pounds of strawberries mashed, I used 1 1/2 cups sugar and one packet freezer jam fruit pectin.
I got all the supplies from Walmart. I love the nifty little freezer jars they had, they made it easy and the kids could grab then since they are not made of glass. If your Walmart doesn’t carry the Ball Plastic Freezer Jars you can find them on Amazon HERE.
It will last up to a year in the freezer or a month or so in the fridge.
If you have not had freezer jam on a bagel with cream cheese, do yourself a favor and make some this fall!
Strawberry Freezer Jam
Ingredients
- 4 cups crushed fresh strawberries
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 (1.75 ounce) package dry pectin
- 3/4 cup water
Directions
- Mix crushed strawberries with sugar, and let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, stir the pectin into the water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and boil for 1 minute. Stir the boiling water into the strawberries. Allow to stand for 3 minutes before pouring into jars or other storage containers.
- Place tops on the containers, and leave for 24 hours. Place into freezer, and store frozen until ready to use.
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At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot…..do you just put a jar in the fridge to thaw and use it like you would regular jam. If so, how long does it last in the fridge?
OK…I saw one month in the fridge. Just ignore previous post!
No actually you use it frozen! It is a spreadable consistency when frozen and you store it in the freezer. When using it you take it directly out of the freezer spread it on and put it back in the freezer.
I’m glad you asked that because I was wondering the same thing!
I can’t wait to try this! Any Tiffany food processor reviews? I have never owned one. Thank you
Cool! Thanks!
Just thought I might add….I have been eating freezer jam my whole life and I have never eaten it frozen! We always prepare it, freeze it, then when ready to eat it you take a jar out and thaw it in the fridge and keep it in the fridge. That way it thaws enough to be spreadable. It becomes like a thick preserve….sooo delicious on buttered toast. It never lasts long enough to go bad…but will last a couple of weeks in the fridge. You will get so much more of the yummy Strawberry taste when it isn’t frozen…try it! :0)
OMG! You mean I have been eating it wrong???!!! I don’t care how you eat it, I LOVE it on toast also!!!
I got 1 lb california strawberries this morning at the 99c only store for 99c each- I had to dig a little to make sure I was getting good ones (some were moldy) but the really ripe ones make the best jam anyway! I came home with 8/ 1 lb containers and am off to make jam!
I like to eat mine thawed too, and it never lasts long enough in the fridge to go bad 🙂
I’m definitely going to have to try this! My 5yo is sensitive to food colorings and I can’t seem to find a jelly or jam without them. He’s also sensitive to sugar, but for some reason not fake sugars. I wonder how well this would do with Stevia? Or, is sugar needed for some chemical process I’m not aware of?
I am not sure. I wish I knew. But if you try it will you let us know?!
I sure will! 🙂
The local farmer’s market (Corpus Christi, TX) had fresh peaches today, picked just yesterday. I only bought a pound to see if they were yummy, and at $2/lb you can understand why, but they sure are! Next week, gonna try this with peaches. Yummy!
Sugar serves several purposes in freezer jam. It sweetens the jam, helps it to set up and prevents bacteria growth. If you make low-sugar or no-sugar-added jam, a special pectin must be used.
Thanks, heather. I didn’t know that, but I did suspect. Can you get it at Walmart too?
Also, what area of Walmart should I look for these supplies? I tried by the jams/jellies and the baking goods. I kinda ran out of time, but my next stop was going to be by the foils and baggies.
Try over in the cooking section by the kitchen supplies like pans and pyrex.
Finally found them, but not at Walmart, at HEB. I still haven’t tried it without sugar, but I did just come across a recipe on OnceAMonthMom.com for Apricot Freezer Jam that uses white grape juice to sweeten it instead of sugar, so I guess it can work.
http://onceamonthmom.com/apricot-freezer-jam/