I LOVE the once a month classes the older ladies at church have started in order to teach the younger ladies some homemaking skills. The last class was on Homemade Bisquick Mix, and this week we learned how to make strawberry jam.
Here are the things you will need to make your own strawberry jam:
- 4 Cups smashed up strawberries
- 6 Cups sugar
- 1 package Sure Jell
- jars and lids
- jar funnel
- 3 large pots
- jar grabbers or tongs
1. Smash up the strawberries. You can use a food processor for this part or a manual chopper. If you have a lot of tension in your life lately, I highly recommend the manual chopper. Trust me.
2. Put the new or sterilized jars into one pot, and the lid inserts into another, both with a couple of inches of water and set to boil.
3. Add the strawberries and Sure Jell to a different pot and bring to a hard boil.
4. Add sugar and bring to a rolling boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
5. Remove jam pot from heat and use the jar grabbers to get one jar ready to be filled and one lid insert ready to top it.
6. Use the jar funnel and pour or ladle the jam into a jar. Fill it so no empty space will be visible when the lid is screwed on. (About 1/4 inch from the top)
7. Wipe the rim of the jar with a damp paper towel.
8. Screw the lid ring on and tighten.
9. Place jars back in pot and add enough water to cover tops. Boil for 15 minutes.
10.Remove and allow to cool. You will know the jars have sealed properly when you hear them “pop”.
10. Label the jars and share them with friends!
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Aww now I want to make jam…I don’t have any lids
Off to look at the homemade Bisquick. HOW COOL that you have that class…Adopt-A-Grandma!
That is AWESOME that the ladies are doing that! We definitely need that more in this day and age! Titus 2 classes
I’ll have to try this if our strawberries grow! It’s so dry here in OK that our garden isn’t doing so well 
How long is the jam good for? I’ve never thought to can my own jam!!! The classes sound like a fantastic idea! I really wish I was more familiar with the kitchen before having children. I guess I just thought it would come naturally, but it’s hard learning how to take care of more children than I have hands and then have to cook for them! At least my taste buds are more open to food compared to when I was younger.
Heather, If stored in a cool dry place, properly canned food can last for at least 1 year. You can read more about canning here.
True, but you did not properly can the jam. Read the rest of the documentation where you linked to learn about safe canning. Or just two questions up: http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/questions/FAQ_canning.html#3
Please do not tell people this is safely shelf-stable!
I made strawberry jam last weekend. It is sooo delicious that I am forever spoiled for store-bought jam. Anyway, my instructions included a processing of the filled jam jars in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes. I didn’t realize that the jars would seal without this step? Is this one of those “grandma’s tips” that you don’t actually have to do that? I know that some recipes don’t include processing, but then you usually have to store the jars in the freezer or fridge rather than the pantry. Thanks for all of your great articles. I really enjoy them.
Jen, This is the way we did it at the class. There was an explanation about why we didn’t have to pressure can, but I can’t remember it just now. Sometimes my Half-Heimers gets the best of me!
Hi Connie
Its Jennie Tedford. My mom pointed me to your website. I was just wanting to say hi and that an amazing addition to homemade strawberry jam is a little cinnamon, cloves, and all-spice 
It really adds some ourstanding flavor. I have a recipe that I always use. It calls for 4 C prepared fruit, 2 Tbsp lemon juice, 4 C sugar, 1 pkg fruit pectin and 1/4 tsp of cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. The rest of the recipe is about the same. You add the lemon juice and spices at the beginning with the strawberries before they start cooking. Its soooooo good!! 
I hope things work out for y’all soon. I have been thinking about y’all!
Hi Jennie! My kids still talk about The Tedfords!
Your recipe sounds great! I’ll have to give it a try!
Oh how cool! I want to go to those classes!! What an awesome church!
Happy Mother’s Day!
I made the jam for my daughter( 4 years old) and she loved it.Thanks a lot.
you dont really need lids, if you have some wax candles you can just seal the jam by melting the wax and pouring it over the top. Make sure the wax goes right up to the edges of the jar. A layer about 3mm thick is enough.
What a great idea! I’m going to have to suggest this to our church!
Thank you for the jam instructions, I made my first-ever batch today. I took the above commenter’s suggestions and added the cinnamon, cloves, allspice, lemon and 4C sugar. It’s very good, and also interesting because it is a flavor I’ve never had before. I labeled it Strawberry Spice on the jars.
How many jars does this recipe make? Thanks!
Uhhhhhh… I honestly don’t remember exactly how many. Sorry, Maria!
I’m thinking 8-12 pint jars…
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