freezer jam, a review and some thoughts

If my friend and I make jelly/jam, it is because it was a good year for fruit, she has cherries, I have concord grapes. We always can it, she has all the canning equipment and over the years we have a good collection of little jelly jars. when the kids were in grade school they were good teachers gifts. we always have a good supply of sugar, we buy on sale.

So fast forward to this week. My DD and friends picked a flat of strawberries for us ($12). An old roommate had left a "promotional starter set" for freezer jam. 5 plastic containers, a recipe and pectin. So, skeptics that we were, we tried it. \ So good, so easy and very budget friendly, as opposed to the jars and canning equipment. and it really taste better, very much like fresh fruit and not nearly so sugary sweet like our jam recipes.

 I remember earlier this season someone asking if they could really save any money making there own jam and jellies, and I think most of us said no, it was more of a hobby. But, I think that you would break even with the freezer method if you didn't have to spend too much on the fruit. and now I see that many of the freezer variety recipes call for jello, rather than pectin, which cuts the price. so my bottom line thoughts: Don't be afraid to try a small batch of freezer jam.

PS besides the jams we also made two strawberry pies and a rhubarb strawberry pie. Very good, but made for a long night.

Freezer Jam is the only way in my house. We have tons of raspberries every year and that is the way I do the too.It tastes just like fresh picked berries.

Since pectin is not exactly cheap think about trying modified cornstarch (the same thing that makes instant no cook pudding). It is called " Instamt Clear-Gel " and sells in nmost large supermarkets for anyhwre between $2.50 and $3.00 lbs. Much cheaper than pectin . If you can find the Clear Gel, let me know and I'll post a recipe for freezer jam made with it. (You can also make your own instat pudding mix  with it).

I would love to have a recipe for Strawberry Freezer Jam.  I used to eat it when I went to my sisters and she has lost the recipe. 

Can you ask your sister if she used pectin or jello?  If she used pectin, the recipe is on the pkg. the recipe I used came with the sample, but I don't think it was a standard size pkg.  If she used jello there are many recipes on this site, but I can't get the search to work for me.  Let us know what she remembers who ingredients she used. 

Strawberry Jam made with  INSTANT CLEAR-GEL  (this recipe calls for low cal sweetener but  instead you can use as much sugar as you like)

4 cups of sliced strawberries

2 Tablesp. lemon juice

11 packets Equal or lther sweetener

2 rounded Tablesp. of Instant Clear-Gel.

In a medium sized sauce pan combine strawberries and lemon juice, Bring to a boil and boil 1 minute. Cool slightly,

Then pour into a blender, add sweetener or sugar and mix at medium speed. With blender running slowly por in the Instat Clear`-Gel to prevent lumps.. Blend until smooth and slightly thickened..

Pour into containers and refrigerate or freeze.

 STRAWBERRY  BREAKFAST  SPREAD. (for this the berries are not cooked but if you want to freeze it I would  proceed as in the above recipe and cook the berries for a minute)

1 cup fresh pureed strawberries

1/4 cup orange juice

6 packets Equal (or sugar to taste)

1/4 teasp, of ground coriander

2 level Teasp. Instant Clear-Gel

1 Tablesp. slivered orange peel.

Slice strawberries and put into blender and puree to make 1 cup. Add orange juice, Equal (or sugar to taste) and coriander and mix.

Wit blender going at medium speed slowly add the Instant Clear Geland blend until smooth and slightly thickend. Pour into container and blend in the orange peel. Best used within one week (or freeze). This spread is great on toast, hot muffins or pancakes.

Of course you can double the recipes.

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This is the last time I bump the freezer jam recipe made with Instant Clear-Gel. for Becca. The request wasmade 6 days ago. If a person wants a recipe bad enough it does not take six days to come back and acknowledge they have received a/o read it.

Just the other day I found a recipe for a freezer jam..... and it is for the cockpot.  If you are intrested here it is.......

Ingredients:
1 1/2 quart red, ripe strawberries
5 cups sugar
1/3 cup lemon juice

I don't know if you can reeze it for longer, I don't see why not.

Jennifer

gr_elo:

This is the last time I bump the freezer jam recipe made with Instant Clear-Gel. for Becca. The request wasmade 6 days ago. If a person wants a recipe bad enough it does not take six days to come back and acknowledge they have received a/o read it.

 You don't know what's going on in there lives.  What if some has passed away or something..... and she is having a hard time or had to travel.  Give her some time.  but by now I'm sure doesn't want to thank you.

I made strawberry jam one year using frozen strawberries (don't know if it was frugal, wanted to do it just for the fun of it and to give away a jar or two at Christmas).  It came out fine, but I thought it was too sweet.  Also made apple butter (using store bought unsweetened applesauce) in a crock pot and again, thought it was too sweet.  I'm always afraid to cut the amount of sugar specified, afraid it won't thicken - ??

benchsitter - where did you see the freezer jam recipes using jello versus pectin? 

 I've found that an extra bit of lemon juice can help cut extra sweetness in jams & fillings.  But I'm sure others may have their own tips as well!

This sounds easy enough that I would even try it.  I am always afraid to waste it by messing up!!  Sounds really good! I love strawberries.