Strawberry Jam

4.6
(971)

This strawberry jam recipe is by far the easiest recipe I have found for strawberry jam without using pectin. The jam is soft, spreadable, and delicious.

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A plate with a toasted English muffin, cut in half, topped with strawberry jam and butter, with a jar of strawberry jam in the background
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Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
40 mins
Servings:
40
Yield:
5 cups

This top-rated strawberry jam recipe is fresh, fruity, and wonderfully flavorful. 

How to Make Strawberry Jam

Making homemade strawberry jam is surprisingly easy. You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's go over the basics:

Strawberry Jam Ingredients

These are the three simple ingredients you’ll need to make this irresistible strawberry jam recipe: 

  • Strawberries: This strawberry jam recipe starts with two pounds of fresh, hulled strawberries. To hull a strawberry, use a paring knife angled toward the center of the berry and cut a circle around the leafy stem to remove the hull.
  • Sugar: Four cups of white sugar sweetens the jam, thickens the jam, and acts as a preservative.  
  • Lemon juice: Lemon juice is essential for getting the pectin to gel properly, setting the jam. It also helps prevent the growth of bacteria. 

How Do You Make Strawberry Jam? 

  1. Mash the strawberries. 
  2. Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and dissolve the sugar over low heat. 
  3. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cook and check the doneness according to the recipe below.
  4. Process according to the recipe below.

Cook’s Note

If the jam is going to be eaten right away, don't bother with processing, and just refrigerate.

How to Can Strawberry Jam

The fourth and fifth step of this recipe detail how to can strawberry jam at home. For more tips and instructions, check out our Jam Canning Guide.  

Ways to Use Strawberry Jam

Spread your homemade strawberry jam on toast or biscuits, use it as a dessert topping or ingredient, or dollop it onto homemade waffles or pancakes.  For more inspiration, explore these mouthwatering recipe collections: 

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

“I love that I didn’t have to use pectin,” says Jessika Wilkes. “I ended up cooking it for almost 20 minutes on medium. Came out super solid! So happy!”

“We had an abundance of strawberries from our garden and this jam was a great way to use them,” according to Kim. “I used less sugar than called for, and boiled the mixture down quite a bit to get the texture I was looking for.”

“This turned out perfect,” raves Martha. “I did use a candy thermometer to make sure it was ready. The jam is sweet enough, but not so much that it overpowers the fruit.”

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 40 servings

  • 2 pounds fresh strawberries, hulled

  • 4 cups white sugar

  • ¼ cup lemon juice

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    Ingredients to make strawberry jam

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Crush strawberries in a wide bowl in batches until you have 4 cups of mashed berries.

    A hand holding a potato masher, mashing fresh strawberries in a glass bowl

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Combine mashed strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a heavy-bottomed saucepan; stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved.

    A large pot of mashed strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice being stirred with a spatula

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Increase heat to high, and bring the mixture to a full rolling boil. Continue to boil, stirring often, until the mixture reaches 220 degrees F (105 degrees C).

    A large pot with simmering strawberry mixture being stirred with a spatula

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Check doneness after 10 to 15 minutes by dropping a small spoonful of jam onto a frozen plate. Let sit for 1 to 2 minutes; if jam appears to gel, it is ready. Continue cooking if jam appears thin and runny.

    A small plate with a drop of strawberry jam, next to a large pot of simmering strawberry mixture

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Transfer jam into hot sterile jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the top. Top with lids and screw rings on tightly.

    A ladle filling a glass jar with hot strawberry jam mixture, next to a large pot of hot strawberry jam

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill it halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars 2 inches apart into the boiling water using a holder.

    A large pot fitted with a metal rack with five sealed jars of strawberry jam in water

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  8. Pour in more boiling water to cover jars by at least 1 inch. Bring to a rolling boil, cover, and process for 10 minutes.

    A large pot fitted with a metal rack with five jars of strawberry jam submerged in boiling water

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  9. Remove the jars from the stockpot and let rest, several inches apart, for 12 to 24 hours. Store in a cool, dark area.

    A set of tongs removing a hot jar of strawberry jam for a large pot of boiling water

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  10. Serve and enjoy!

    A plate with a toasted English muffin, cut in half, topped with strawberry jam and butter, with a jar of strawberry jam in the background

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

1,463 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

85 Calories
0g Fat
22g Carbs
0g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 40
Calories 85
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 0g 0%
Sodium 0mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 22g 8%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 21g
Protein 0g 0%
Vitamin C 14mg 16%
Calcium 4mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 37mg 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.