Question 1

Why do I need to use chopped strawberries instead of whole strawberries?

Accepted Answer

Strawberries are low in pectin, a natural fiber in the skins and rinds of fruit that helps thicken jam. Without adding any pectin, the liquid part of the jam isn't quite thick enough to keep whole strawberries suspended. It is thick enough to suspend small pieces of strawberry, though. And as a bonus, it distributes the strawberry pieces more evenly throughout the jam!

Question 2

My strawberry jam came out more like a strawberry syrup. What went wrong?

Accepted Answer

Strawberries are naturally low in pectin, so it's a little tricker to get the jam to gel without adding pectin. That's why I recommend cooking the jam to 220°F/105°C, sugar's natural gelling point with water. I've also found that dicing the strawberries prior to cooking helps to make a thicker jam. Don't throw out failed jam—you can thicken it by reheating it in a pot to 220°F/105°C. You can also strain it and use it like a larger batch of my small batch strawberry syrup for topping ice cream or mixing into drinks.

Question 3

My jam ended up being really thick and stringy. What went wrong?

Accepted Answer

It sounds like you may have overcooked the jam. This can happen if you didn't stir the jam frequently enough while cooking, if your thermometer is inaccurate, or if you left the jam to cool in the hot pot rather than transferring it to a jar right away. But don't worry—just stir in a splash of water at a time until it gets to your desired consistency!

Question 4

Can I add flavoring to my homemade jam?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You're welcome to stir in a teaspoon or two of vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste to the jam right after you remove it from heat.

Dairy-Free

Small Batch Strawberry Jam

Small Batch Strawberry Syrup

Pomegranate Mojito

Pomegranate Margarita

Pomegranate Mocktail

Pomegranate Moscow Mule

Pomegranate Cosmopolitan

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Small Batch Cherry Jam

Lavender Mojito

Lavender Bee’s Knees

Lavender Lemon Drop

Easy-to-follow recipes with cleanup ratings

Join the List