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Home / Latest Posts / Recipes / Strawberry Jam without Pectin Recipe

Strawberry Jam without Pectin Recipe

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By: Leigh Anne WilkesPosted: 6/26/19Updated: 6/30/22

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure policy here.

strawberry jam in a jar

Nothing beats homemade jam made with fresh berries!  This strawberry jam without pectin only uses three ingredients.

homemade strawberry jam

Why You’ll Love This Recipe!

I have made homemade strawberry jam for years.  In the past, I have always made freezer jam using the powdered pectin you can buy at the store. Last year when I was in France attending The Academy France we did a fun photo shoot making jam.  We made a cooked strawberry jam that only uses fresh berries, sugar and lemon juice, without added pectin.  The jam is cooked on the stove top and then can be canned or frozen. It was delicious and I loved that I didn’t have purchase and add in additional pectin.

strawberry jam ingredients

Why Don’t I Need Pectin?

Berries have natural pectin when they are cooked so they work perfect for a cooked jam.  We used strawberries but you could also use your favorite combination of berries.  Jam made without pectin has a softer consistency than jam made with pectin but I think it is perfect for spreading on toast!

Ingredients Needed

Strawberries

Sugar. Granulated sugar

Lemon. The lemon juice creates an acidic environment and helps to activate the natural pectin in the strawberries.

Strawberry jam without pectin

How to Make Homemade Strawberry Jam without pectin

  • Wash, hull and dice your strawberries into small pieces.
Cutting up strawberries for homemade strawberry jam
  • Measure fruit by weight, for this recipe we are using 2 pounds of strawberries, diced.  You will need 4 cups of sugar and 1/4 cup of lemon juice.  Use a 1:2 ratio of fruit to sugar. For every pound of fruit, use 2 cups of sugar.
measuring strawberries
  • Combine your strawberries, sugar and lemon juice into a heavy bottomed, large pot.  Since we were in France, we used an old confiture pan which is a French jam making pan.  I found one at a flea market and brought one home with me but any heavy bottomed pan will work!
  • Stir! The hardest part of making homemade jam is stirring.  Making jam without pectin takes longer than freezer jam because the jam has to cook and thicken. 
Stirring homemade strawberry jam.
  • Bring the berry mixture to a boil and then stir the for about 30 minutes at a low boil.
  • The jam will darken and thicken as it cooks.
homemade jam in a pan

How Do I Know When My Jam is Done?

Here’s the trick!  Coat the back of a spoon with jam and run your finger through the middle of it. If the jam stays separated, it’s done.

How to Store Strawberry Jam

  • Refrigerator strawberry jam lasts for 2 months or more in the fridge. Sterilize jars in the dishwasher first and dry. Fill jars leaving 1/2 inch of air space at the top. Fill jars and allow jam to cool completely before refrigerating.
  • Freezer strawberry jam without pectin will keep in the freezer for 6 months. Follow same directions as refrigerator jam.
  • Shelf Stable Jam. If you want to store jam at room temperature in the pantry you will need to can the jam.
Strawberry jam without pectin

How to Use Jam:

  • On Biscuits
  • In Jam Scones
  • Over Ice Cream
  • On toast
  • In a yogurt parfait
  • In cookies

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will strawberry jam without pectin last?

In the refrigerator it will last several weeks and in the freezer it will last up to three months.  Remember it doesn’t have all the preservatives store bought jam does so it won’t last as long in the refrigerator.

Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh strawberries to make jam?

You can, frozen strawberries will work great.

Do I need to wash the strawberries before making jam?

Wash and pat dry your strawberries before using.

homemade strawberry jam with a spoon

Enjoy the jam in these recipes!

  • Jam Muffins
  • Jam Scones
  • Jam Bars
  • Raspberry White Chocolate Cookies
  • Jam Diaganols

Be sure and follow me over on You Tube for weekly cooking demos.

4.6 from 5 votes
strawberry jam in a jar

Homemade Strawberry Jam without pectin

Recipe From: Leigh Anne Wilkes
Nothing beats homemade strawberry jam made with fresh berries!  This jam only uses three ingredients and no store bought pectin.

serves: 96 servings
Prep:30 minutes
Cook:30 minutes
Rate Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. strawberries hulled and diced or sliced
  • 4 cups sugar
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice freshly squeezed

Instructions

  • In a large, heavy bottom pan, combine all ingredients and stir to combine.
  • Bring to a boil over medium heat and continue to cook and stir at a low boil for about 30 minutes or until jam darkens and thickens.
  • Dip the back of a spoon into the jam and then run your finger through the jam. If it stays separated and doesn't run back together, the jam is done.
  • Pour jam into sterilized containers, add lid and allow to cool at room temperature. Refrigerate or freeze as desired.

Tips & Notes:

Makes 3 pints
To know if the jam is done or not, coat the back of a spoon with jam and run your finger through the middle of it. If the jam stays separated, it’s done.

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 35kcal (2%) Carbohydrates: 9g (3%) Protein: 1g (2%) Fat: 1g (2%) Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) Sodium: 1mg Potassium: 15mg Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 9g (10%) Vitamin A: 5IU Vitamin C: 5.8mg (7%) Calcium: 2mg
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Course:Condiment
Cuisine:American
strawberry jam in a jar
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  1. Donna Daum says

    Posted on 6/21 at 5:22 pm

    very easy and very good turnout of jam

    Reply

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