During the strawberry harvest, many gardeners think about how best to preserve the harvest, since the period for consuming fresh berries is short. Using strawberry jam recipes allows you to get a tasty treat that can be consumed immediately or used as an additional source of vitamins during the winter. To do this, just look through the list of options and choose the most suitable one.
Specifics of preparation
The main difference between jam and traditional strawberry jam is that when preparing the delicacy, it is not necessary to preserve the shape of the berries. Obtaining a jelly-like consistency is made possible by using sugar in recipes. There are many options for preparing the delicacy, ranging from simple recipes without cooking to more complex ones that require the addition of special gelling agents to obtain a thicker product.
To prepare jams, do not use copper or aluminum containers, since when they come into contact with such materials, strawberries acquire an off-flavor and are saturated with harmful additives. It is recommended to use stainless steel or enamel pans. It is better to use a large wooden spoon to stir the delicacy during cooking.
Long-term storage of blanks can only be guaranteed by carefully sterilized jars.
How to select and prepare strawberries
For work, take ripe berries without obvious signs of spoilage and rot. For rinsing, use running water or a basin of water. The berries for jam must be cleared of sepals and stalks. Making jams involves chopping strawberries in any of the available ways - by hand, using a blender, meat grinder or masher. If desired, you can grind the raw materials using a knife.
Methods for making strawberry jam at home
Strawberry stock can be prepared in the traditional way by boiling, which allows you to obtain a product for long-term storage.Connoisseurs of time and effort often use simple “five-minute” recipes, which make it possible to quickly process a large volume of raw materials and immediately get a tasty delicacy. During the cooking process, you can take advantage of household appliances that make your work much easier.
A simple recipe for the winter
You can make strawberry jam using only 3 ingredients. The lemon in this recipe is responsible for the “correct” chemical reactions during storage. For preparation you need:
- sugar - 800 g;
- berries - 1 kg;
- lemon - 1⁄2 pcs.
The berries, cleared of foreign objects, are crushed using a blender until a mixture of homogeneous consistency is obtained. Next, the berry base is poured into a container and set to cook over medium heat, holding for 5 minutes from the moment of boiling. After this, carefully add lemon juice and continue the process for another 20 minutes with constant stirring. When foam forms on the surface, remove it without allowing the jam to “escape.” The hot dessert is poured into jars and left until it cools completely.
"Five Minute"
The advantage of “5-minute” is the simplicity of the recipe and the minimum time required to obtain the delicacy. To prepare 3 350 ml cans you will need:
- strawberries - 1 kg;
- sugar - 400 g.
The processed berries are placed in a deep container, covered with sugar and left in the refrigerator for 5 hours. Place the strawberry base along with the juice into a saucepan, bring to a boil and keep on fire for 5 minutes. After this, the jam is transferred to cool into sterilized containers, which, after rolling, are turned upside down.
In a slow cooker
You can prepare the dessert using the following ingredients:
- crushed strawberries - 3 cups;
- sugar - 600 g.
Chopped berries and sugar are placed in a multicooker to release juice, setting the “keep warm” mode. Readiness is determined by the degree of complete dissolution of the sand. Next, set the “baking” mode, which corresponds to 100-120 0C. The mixture is held for 15 minutes, stirring constantly. It will boil actively for the first 7 minutes, after which it will gradually begin to gain thickness.
With gelatin
Jam of a thicker consistency allows you to add gelatin, and with such a component, less sugar is required. The delicacy option assumes the following proportions:
- strawberries - 600 g;
- sugar - 0.5 kg;
- gelatin - 1 tsp;
- water - 50 ml.
The water in the recipe is needed to dissolve the gelatin. The berries are sprinkled with sugar and pureed until smooth using a blender. The mixture is kept on the fire for 25 minutes, its color should change towards a burgundy hue. Diluted gelatin is slowly introduced into the berry base with constant stirring, keeping it on the fire for another 7 minutes.
With pectin
You can cook jam with pectin, which makes the dessert thicker. For preparation you need:
- strawberries - 1 kg;
- granulated sugar—700 g;
- pectin - 2 tbsp. l.
Using a blender, achieve a puree-like consistency of the berries. Sugar in the amount of 2 tbsp. l. mixed with pectin and added to the fruit mixture, which is then brought to a boil on the fire. It is kept in this state for 4 minutes with constant stirring, after which it is poured into jars.
Seedless
The tastier jam is obtained without seeds; this delicacy, due to its special consistency, is ideal for sweet toasts. The highlight is that after chopping the berries, strain the berry base through a sieve to remove the seeds.You can use any of the traditional recipes as a basis. It should be taken into account that the initial mass of the berries is significantly reduced after obtaining the base for seedless cooking.
In the bread machine
You can make jam using a bread machine, since you don’t need to waste time constantly stirring. The dessert is prepared using the following ingredients:
- strawberries - 1.5 kg;
- sugar - 600 g;
- lemon juice - 3 tbsp. l.
Chopped berries and sugar are mixed, fruit juice is added. The mixture is placed in a bread machine for 1.5 hours.
With mint
Mint goes well with strawberries, highlighting the taste of the berries and giving the dessert freshness. The following proportions will be required:
- strawberries - 1 kg;
- sugar - 1.5 kg;
- mint - 1 bunch;
- lemon juice - 100 ml;
- pectin - 2 sachets.
Mint is poured with 1 cup of boiling water for 60 minutes, the water saturated with the taste of greenery is subsequently used in the cooking process. The berry base is combined with mint infusion, lemon juice and sugar are added and kept at a boil for 15 minutes. Next, add pectin and keep on fire for a couple of minutes.
How to store strawberry jam
The storage conditions for the delicacy depend on the processing method. The sterilized product can be stored in a room with a temperature range from 0 to +25 0C. The workpiece without heat treatment must be kept in a cooler place, and the temperature should not exceed +10 0C. The average shelf life of strawberry-based desserts is considered to be 1 year; if they contain citric acid, it can be extended to 24 months.
