Culinary Literacy: A Classic Strawberry Jam

June Is Strawberry Season

For generations, early summer has meant preserving the harvest so as not to go hungry during the winter months. Nowadays, preserving is no longer a household necessity to carry us through the rest of the year, but for many, it is still an enjoyable activity. Jams are the best when made from fresh fruit. Even brief refrigeration can shift and change the pectin properties, and pectin is the magician when it comes to the jellying process. Strawberry season in our region is about three weeks, so plan well and get ready! According to the Environmental Working group, year after year, strawberries top the Dirty Dozen list as being treated with the most fungicides and pesticides, so they recommend purchasing organic strawberries for health reasons. There are also U Pick farms in our area, but only a few practice pesticide-free growing. You can also purchase organic strawberries from the farmers’ market, but be prepared to get up early and stand in a long line. You can learn more about shopping at the farmers’ markets here.

Already the Romans…

You can learn more about strawberries, the only fruit with their seeds on the outside, their nutritional value, and their culinary history; check here.

Pectin is the magician of preserving

Jam is only as good as the fruit you are using. Unripened fruit is less flavorful but contains more pectin. For the best outcome, combine slightly underripe and just ripe fruit. For the jam to reach the jelly stage during cooking, it must contain pectin, which is a natural carbohydrate that is concentrated in the skin and seeds of the fruit. Apples and citrus fruits are highest in pectin and are used as the base for many packaged pectin powders. Cook jam gently and do not overcook it, as it may “kill” the pectin. Also, the shorter the cooking time, the better the flavor. The right balance of sweetness and acid is required in jam making and is achieved by adding a measured amount of lemon juice or citric acid.

Measure the berries, sugar, and acid

The best jams are made from small batches of strawberries. If your first attempt does not turn out well, keep notes on what you did and practice more next time. Hull and slice strawberries before weighing. Most recipes use an equal amount of sugar for fruit since sugar is both a thickener and a preserving agent.

rows of picked strawberries in pint baskets

It is best to use strawberries that have not been refrigerated since refrigeration can lower the pectin in the fruit. Frozen strawberries are not suitable for canning.

Ingredients:

2 lb (about 8 cups) of fresh strawberries

2 lb granulated sugar

½ cup lemon juice

1 Tbs of Sherry or Kirsch (optional)

fresh cut up strawberries and lemons on a cutting block

Start with a small batch.Small batches cook faster, so you will preserve the fresh flavor. Wash and hull strawberries and cut them into quarters of about equal sizes for even cooking.

strawberries and lemons sitting in a bowl with juice and a wooden spoon stirring

Toss the berries in a non-reactive pot or Dutch oven. Add lemon juice (I even add the remains of the lemon) and sugar. Mix well and let sit, covered for up to 8 hours at room temperature to let them marinade and release their juices.

While the strawberries are marinating, wash your jars with hot water and soap our jars, and boil them for a few minutes in a water bath. Place them on a clean kitchen towel to dry and cool.

Cook fruits in a wide, shallow non-reactive pan. Cook over medium-high. Strawberries need to be cooked evenly to extrude pectin but not so long as to kill it, which would make the preserves too runny. Stir occasionally to avoid scorching. When the jam is done, remove the lemon and stir in the Sherry or Kirsch.

Ladle the jam carefully into clean jars. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three months. If you want to store them longer, they need to be processed in a canner while submerged under 2 inches of water, processing them for 10 minutes. Let the jar cool upside down for proper sealing. If a seal fails, reprocess or refrigerate it and use it within three months.

cooling jars sitting upside down on counter

The jars are cooled upside down to make sure they seal properly. Store fruit spreads in a cooler, dark place, such as a basement. Exposure to heat or sunlight can cause fruit spreads to lose their color, flavor, and texture. When cooked correctly, the resulting jam has an intense strawberry flavor with vibrant red color.

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