Description
This Slow Cooker Strawberry Jam recipe offers an easy and hands-off way to create homemade strawberry jam using fresh strawberries, lemon juice, sugar, and fruit pectin. Perfect for beginners and jam lovers alike, it delivers a sweet, thick, and vibrant strawberry spread that can be enjoyed on toast, desserts, or as a gift.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits
- 4 pints (about 2 kg) fresh strawberries, rinsed, hulled, and sliced
Other Ingredients
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) lemon juice
- 4 cups (800 g) granulated sugar
- 1.75 oz (50 g) powdered fruit pectin (1 packet)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Strawberries: Rinse the strawberries thoroughly under cold water, remove the hulls, and slice them. Add the sliced strawberries to a 5 to 6-quart slow cooker to set the base for the jam.
- Mix It Up: Add the lemon juice, granulated sugar, and powdered fruit pectin to the slow cooker. Stir the mixture well to ensure the sugar and pectin are evenly distributed among the strawberries.
- Start the Cooking: Cover the slow cooker and set it to LOW heat. Allow the mixture to cook for 1 hour, then stir it carefully to prevent sticking and to promote even cooking.
- Keep It Going: Continue cooking on LOW for an additional hour, stirring again after the hour to keep the jam from burning and help it thicken evenly.
- Turn Up the Heat: Increase the slow cooker setting to HIGH and cook the jam for 2 to 3 more hours, stirring occasionally. You’re aiming for a thick, glossy jam consistency during this phase.
- Store Your Jam: Once the jam has reached your desired thickness, transfer it into clean jars. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 months, freeze for up to one year, or process in a hot water bath canning method for 20 minutes if you want longer shelf life.
Notes
- Use ripe, fresh strawberries for the best flavor and natural sweetness.
- Make sure to stir frequently during the last few hours to prevent burning on the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Adjust sugar quantity slightly if you prefer less sweet jam, but keep pectin levels consistent to ensure proper thickening.
- Always use sterilized jars when storing jam to avoid spoilage.
- Freezing jam can cause slight texture changes but preserves flavor well.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 to 5 hours
- Category: Jam, Preserves
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tbsp (about 40 g)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: slow cooker jam, strawberry jam recipe, homemade strawberry jam, easy jam, fruit preserves
