A foolproof and easy Strawberry Jam recipe with step-by-step photos. Tips on how to make strawberry jam and which sugar to use when making jam.

Strawberry Jam Recipe
A homemade strawberry jam is hard to beat. When strawberries are at their peak and, hence, cheap to buy, it’s hard not to buy a large tray of them to feast on as a sweet summer dessert.
I love to buy our strawberries from the weekly farmers’ markets where the produce is always fresher and better quality. In fact, I find that the strawberries are often just at their peak when I buy them, which means they need to be devoured almost right away (usually not a problem!).
Small Batch Strawberry Jam
Quite often, the vendor will give me an extra punnet or two, usually because I am a frequent customer, but most likely because they know they can’t sell overripe strawberries the next day.
On such occasions, if we are unable to eat all of the strawberries in time, I like to make a small batch of strawberry jam.
Making jam in small batches is a quick and relatively easy process, and there is just something so reassuring about having a jar of homemade jam in the fridge.

Which Sugar to Use For Making Jam
I prefer to make jam using normal granulated sugar or caster sugar.
However, you can also use sugar with pectin added (also called “jam sugar“), and I find this sugar is most useful when you are making jam with fruit which contain low amounts of natural pectin.
Whenever I use jam sugar, I find that the resulting jam is often thicker than when made with normal sugar. However, it does take the stress out of whether the jam will set or not.

How to Make Jam Set
Pectin is the substance in fruit which makes the jam set by thickening the mixture. Some fruits contain more pectin than others, and lemon juice is often added to most jams as a way of adding pectin.
High-pectin fruits include:
- Apples
- Blackcurrants
- Redcurrants
- Gooseberries
- Raspberries
- Plums
- Cranberries
- Oranges
- Lemons
- Apricots
Low-pectin fruits include:
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Rhubarb
- Peaches
- Cherries
If you are using low-pectin fruits in your jam, you should also add some lemon juice or perhaps mix in some high-pectin fruit to help your jam to set. Alternatively, using jam sugar with low-pectin fruit works well.
How to Make Strawberry Jam
I was once looking for a no-fuss and easy strawberry jam recipe and came across one in Bake by Rachel Allen.
Rachel Allen’s strawberry jam recipe seemed a little unusual at first, in that it requires you to first warm the sugar in the oven before adding it to the cooked fruit. This is to help keep everything at a consistent temperature and to speed up the cooking process.

While the sugar is heating in the oven, hull the strawberries and roughly chop them, especially if they are large.

To make any jam, you first need to cook down the fruit until it has softened to your liking. If you want a relatively smooth jam, cook the fruit until you have a smooth purée. If you like small bits of fruit in your jam, cook the jam for slightly less time.
Once you add the warm sugar to the cooked fruit, this will start the process of turning the mixture into a jam, during which time the fruit mixture will start to thicken.
The jam is ready when a thermometer reads 105°C (220°F), but sometimes it can be ready before it reaches this temperature, so I recommend just keeping a close eye on the jam.
You need to stir the jam frequently so that it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan and burn, and you will notice that the jam will thicken substantially after boiling rapidly for about 10 minutes.

If you don’t have a thermometer, you can use the jam plate test, also called the cold plate test or wrinkle test.
While you are making the jam, simply place 3 or 4 small plates in the freezer.
To test if your jam is ready, place a spoonful of hot jam onto the cold plate, and use your finger (or a teaspoon) to run a line through the blob of jam.
If the jam starts to fill the line, this means that the jam is still too liquid and runny, and that it is not yet ready.
If the line remains and the jam does not fill the gap, then the jam has reached setting point and is ready.

More Jam Recipes
If you are looking for more jam recipes, you might also enjoy:
More Strawberry Recipes
If you are looking for more strawberry recipes, you might also enjoy:


Homemade Strawberry Jam
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: Makes 3-4 cups
- Category: Jams
- Cuisine: Australian
A foolproof and easy Strawberry Jam recipe, great to make when strawberries are in season. Tips on how to make strawberry jam and which sugar to use when making jam. Recipe adapted from Bake by Rachel Allen
Ingredients
- 1 kg (2 lb 4 oz) granulated sugar
- 1 kg (2 lb 4 oz) fresh and ripe strawberries, hulled
- juice of 2 lemons
Instructions
- Place 3 or 4 small plates into the freezer.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Place the sugar in an ovenproof bowl and warm it in the oven for about 15 minutes.
- In a large saucepan with high sides, cook the strawberries with the lemon juice over medium-high heat.
- As the strawberries start to soften, use a wooden spoon or potato masher to mash the strawberries to your desired consistency. I like my strawberry jam to be somewhat smooth so I mash everything to a pulp.
- Bring the mixture to a boil and cook for a few minutes before adding the warm sugar.
- Stir until the sugar has dissolved and continue boiling the mixture for about 10 minutes.
- Stir the mixture frequently (and carefully) to make sure that it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
- If any froth appears on the surface of the mixture, skim this off with a large spoon.
- If you are using a sugar thermometer, the jam is ready when it reaches 105°C (220°F).
- If you are not using a sugar thermometer (or even if you are), to test if the jam has reached setting point, put a tablespoon of jam onto a chilled plate. Run your finger through the jam. If the line remains, the jam is ready. If the jam fills the line, it is still too liquid and has not yet reached setting point. If the jam is not ready, continue boiling the mixture and testing the setting point every 5 minutes or so.
- Fill your sterilised jars with the jam and seal them while they are still warm.
Kitchen Notes
When making this strawberry jam, I find that I have to boil the mixture for about 20-30 minutes before it reaches setting point.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Per teaspoon
- Calories: 42
- Sugar: 10.5g
- Sodium: 0.2mg
- Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10.9g
- Fiber: 0.2g
- Protein: 0.1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Update
This recipe was first published on 19 September 2018. It has been updated with more comprehensive recipe notes.
Great recipe! It was nice to make a small batch of strawberry jam and it tasted absolutely delicious. Thank you!
★★★★★
I loved the recipe! Will
Definitely prepare it agaìn!!
★★★★★
So glad you enjoyed this recipe!