Homemade Strawberry Jam

Homemade Strawberry Jam

Ingredients:

5 - cups prepared ripe strawberries (about 4lbs)

1 - 7.5 oz box (49 - gram) Sure Jell powdered fruit pectin

1/4 - cup lemon juice

1/2 -teaspoon butter or margarine, optional

7 - cups sugar, measured into a separate bowl

canning jars, lids and rings

large canning pot

Directions:

Bring boiling-water canner, half full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water.

Place washed jars in boiling water for 10 minutes to sterilize them.

Pour boiling water over flat lids and rings in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling.

Remove the stems from the strawberries and lay them on a large baking sheet. Using a potato masher crush strawberries thoroughly, one layer at a time.

You can leave some chunks, but try to mash them pretty good. Measure exactly 5 cups prepared fruit into 6- or 8-quart sauce pot and add lemon juice.

Stir pectin into prepared fruit in sauce pot. Add butter to reduce foaming, if desired. Bring mixture to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly.

Stir in sugar. Return to full rolling boil and boil. Jam reaches it's ideal set at (220 degrees). Boil the jam until it reaches 220 degrees (use a candy thermometer). Skim off any foam with a spoon.

Ladle immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/8 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads with a clean cloth. Cover with 2-piece lids. Screw bands tightly.

Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.) Cover; bring water to gentle boil.

Process pint size jars for 10 minutes and half pints for 5 minutes. Using canning tongs remove jars and place upright on a towel to cool completely. Check seals by pressing middle of lid with finger.

If the lid does not pop back then it is sealed.  If the lid pops back when pressed then it is not sealed. Either reprocess jars or store in refrigerator.

Store properly canned jam in pantry. Properly canned items can last in your pantry for up to 1 year.

Recipe source: Sure Jell

Recipe yields: Approx 5 pint size jars