Easy No-Cook Strawberry Freezer Jam
Delicious and easy no cook strawberry freezer jam that doesn’t require any cooking or canning! Only 3 minutes of stirring activates the instant pectin. Plus, this LOW SUGAR strawberry freezer jam recipe calls for half of the amount of sugar than regular jam recipes!
So excited to share my super easy, no-cook strawberry freezer jam with you all. If I could do this while 37 weeks pregnant, hot and swollen, you can make this jam too. It only requires 3 minutes of stirring, which you can even do sitting down. No sweating over a hot stove, hot water baths and no special canning equipment is needed!
Low sugar
I especially love that this recipe calls for half of the sugar than regular strawberry freezer jams, about 2 cups less!
Instant pectin
I add an extra tablespoon of pectin to my recipe than the instant pectin manufacturer suggests on the bottle because their recipe tends to be too thin for my liking for freezer jam. But that extra tablespoon makes it just right, so follow my recipe exactly instead of what the pectin bottle suggests, and you’ll be good!
Jam as gifts
Homemade freezer jam makes AMAZING gifts for family and friends too. Everyone will think you are the kindest person ever for gifting them delicious homemade strawberry freezer jam. Be sure to print off the free jam label gift tag to include with your jam.
(This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Items needed to make strawberry freezer jam
- Strawberries
- Instant Pectin (this is the one I use for guaranteed results)
- Sugar
- Colander
- 2 large bowls
- knife or stem remover
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- Potato masher (or food processor)
- Spatula
- Plastic freezer containers (you’ll need (6) 8oz size)
- OR glass half pint jars (freezer safe)
How to make no-cook freezer jam with instant pectin
- Wash, rinse, drain strawberries.
- Remove stems from tops.
- Mash strawberries with a potato masher or a lightly pulse in a food processor in a large bowl.
- In another large bowl, combine sugar and pectin.
- Add 5 cups of prepared mashed fruit into the sugar and pectin bowl.
- Stir for 3 minutes, constantly stirring the entire time. Place in clean, freezer safe containers and let rest on counter for 30 minutes. Then place in fridge and use within 3 weeks or freezer for up to a year.
What is the difference between jam and no cook freezer jam?
Jam is usually cooked on the stove until boiling and then processed in jars in a water bath canner. This type of jam is shelf stable and can last a long time preserved with this method due to the bacteria being killed in the hot water bath.
Freezer jam is not shelf stable and can only be stored in the fridge or freezer.
Do I need to sterilize jars for no cook freezer jam?
It’s recommended to wash your containers with hot soapy water, rinse well and dry. Sterilizing jars for freezer jam is not required since the jam is not stored on shelves but in the fridge or freezer where any bacterial growth is prevented due to cold temperatures.
How long does it take for freezer jam to set?
This no cook instant pectin strawberry freezer jam recipe sets in only 30 minutes!
How long does homemade jam last in freezer?
Freezer jam can last up to year in the freezer and up to 3 weeks in the fridge.
How much sugar is in low sugar freezer jam?
This recipe uses 2 cups less than regular jam recipes! I love that it uses almost twice as much fruit to sugar ratio than traditional recipes and tastes just as good!
Can I make freezer jam without sugar or with sugar substitute?
No, you need to use the correct amount of sugar the recipe calls for to properly activate the instant pectin.
Can I use thawed frozen berries for jam?
For this recipe it isn’t advised to use frozen berries for jam because the berries tend to be more liquid once thawed. The jam may not set up to the right thickness and be too runny.
How to eat freezer jam
Take the freezer jam container out of the freezer and place in the fridge to thaw. Do not microwave freezer jam to thaw quicker because this can ruin the pectin stability and increase bacteria growth.
Once thawed, you can eat this low sugar strawberry freezer jam on fresh homemade bread (here’s a gluten free bread recipe), gluten free pancakes, in a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, english muffins, shortbread cookies or anything you want.
Free printable jam gifting tag
Grab the free printable strawberry freezer jam printable tag, some cute string or ribbon and attach it to your jar to give as a gift to family, friends or even teachers!
Strawberry Freezer Jam
Ingredients
- 8 cups strawberries to make 5 cups crushed strawberries
- [2 cups sugar]
- [7 tablespoons Ball Real Fruit Instant Freezer Pectin ]
Instructions
-
Wash freezer containers in the dish washer or with hot soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly.
-
Rinse and drain water from strawberries using a colander. Remove stems from strawberries using a knife or stem remover. Place strawberries in a large bowl and mash with a potato masher until only small chunks remain.
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In another large bowl, add sugar and pectin. Make sure to use Ball Real Fruit Instant Freezer Pectin for best results. Use 7 tablespoons instant pectin to get the correct thickness for jam (do not follow measurements on the bottle).
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Measure out 5 cups of prepared crushed strawberries and add to the sugar. Stir sugar, pectin and strawberries continually for 3 minutes. After 3 minutes, the pectin will be activated and jam will be thicker.
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Pour jam into freezer containers, leaving about 1/2″ of space on top for head room expansion in the freezer. Let rest for 30 minutes on counter to for jam to set. After 30 minutes, place jam in the fridge to use right away or in the freezer. Freezer jam will last 3-4 weeks in the fridge or up to a year in the freezer.
Notes
(This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
