I love homemade jam's and jellies, but sometimes I just don't have the time to whip up a batch of traditional cooked jam. When time is not on my side that's when I make freezer jam! Freezer jam is one of the easiest jams to make and tastes incredible.
If you're not familiar with freezer jam, it's a no-cook jam made with fresh fruit and a few simple ingredients. Because this is a no cook jam it taste just like fresh fruit and is bursting with color and flavor. Freezer jam also requires no canning, so it must be stored in your freezer instead of on the pantry shelf.
Freezer jam is perfect for anyone that is new to jam making, because all you have to do is mash up the fruit, add the sugar, and pectin, mix and store. That's it... easy peasy! I love to use freezer jam on toast, bagels, as topping on cottage cheese or most of all served on top of my favorite homemade yogurt! When it comes to freezer jam the question everyone asks is .... can you freeze mason jars?
- Yes, you can absolutely can freeze mason jars, but only certain ones. Freezer safe mason jars are jars that have straight sides and have no neck or shoulders. See below photo for example. 🠋
- Another important thing is to always remember to keep the liquid you are freezing cool. Adding hot food to a jar and then freezing it will cause the jar to crack. Cold food goes into Cold jars.
- You also need to make sure to only fill the jars up to the freeze line. The importance of the freeze line is to indicate the maximum amount of liquid you can safely store in the jar without the risk of cracking when the contents freeze and expand. See above photo for the fill line recommendations. 🠉
- Also do not use metal lids. Metal lids will rust when frozen or stored in a wet environment, so it's best to use plastic mason jar lids. You can find them at Walmart or on Amazon.
This is an example of the jars that are freezer safe and the ones that are not! Jars with straight sides give room for expansion, but regular mouth jars have a "neck or shoulders" which create a high-pressure point and can result in the jar shattering as the contents expand, so always use straight sided jars. Once you know the in's and out's on freezer jam you will be well on your way to making the easiest and freshest tasting jam ever!
You can use any freezer pectin, but my favorite brands are Mrs.Wages (freezer pectin) and Ball Brand Instant Pectin (freezer pectin). Ball brand can be hard to find in the grocery store, but it is readily available online. The ingredients you will need to make freezer jam is fresh fruit or berries, freezer jam pectin and sugar. For todays recipe I used Mrs. Wages Freezer pectin.
Freezer jam can have a grainy texture if the sugar didn't have a chance to fully dissolve. The way to prevent this from happening is to make sure to mix the sugar into the mashed fruit really well.
After the sugar is mixed in let the fruit and sugar mixture sit for about 20 minutes before adding the pectin. This will give the sugar time to dissolve.
Ladle the freezer jam up to the freeze safe line, wipe the rims and cover with plastic mason jar lids. Let the jars of jam sit out on the counter for 30 minutes before transferring to the freezer for storage. Freezer jam will store for up to 1 year in the freezer or 3 weeks in the refrigerator. I always store mine in the freezer and when I want to use the jam, I just let it sit at room temperature for about 10 - 15 minutes before using. Then return the jar back to the freezer.
My favorite fruit varieties to use in freezer jam is strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, mixed berries, blueberries and peaches.
I hope you'll give this recipe a try make sure to stop back by and let me know how you liked it!
Hungry for more? Check out the Recipe Index by Mommy’s Kitchen.
Be social and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest! for all the latest updates!
Join the Mommy's Kitchen Mailing List and you'll get the latest recipes and updates delivered straight to your inbox for Free!
Please respect my recipes and photographs. If you use a recipe, post it in your own words, give proper credit and link back to the original post. All photographs on Mommy's Kitchen are originally produced by me unless otherwise noted. Please do not use or distribute photos without permission.
5 comments
Speedy Blueberry Refrigerator Jam
Yield: 2 pints
4 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1 ½ to 2 cups sugar
1 (3 ounce) package lemon flavored gelatin
If blueberries are frozen, let them defrost and come to room temperature. In a large saucepan (it needs to have as much empty space as there are blueberries), combine all three ingredients. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Stay with it! You might have to turn the heat down a bit or it will boil over. Pour or ladle into jars; cool on the counter with lids/rings lightly tightened. Tighten lids and refrigerate for up to 2 months.