So how can you enjoy the bright summer
taste of strawberries all year long? This year, consider preserving some of the
berries you pick!
Strawberries can be preserved using a
variety of techniques including freezing, dehydrating and canning. Regardless
of which method you choose, be sure to use ripe, freshly picked berries.
Strawberries are best when preserved on the day you bring them home, so you
will want to set aside a little extra time after returning from the Upick.
In my opinion, there’s no better way to
capture the flavor of summer than with strawberry jam. Homemade strawberry jam
is a classic treat, and it’s a great place to begin if you’re just getting
started in the world of home canning.
Canning fruit like strawberries can
safely be done using a hot water bath, which simply means that jars of the
prepared berries are submerged in boiling water for a set amount of time to
allow the jars to seal. You can easily pick up the necessary equipment at
hardware or farm supply stores, or at big box stores. You will need a large
stock pot, a rack to keep the jars off the bottom of the pot, and glass jars with
two piece lids made specifically for canning. It is also helpful to have a
funnel for filling the jars and tongs or a jar lifter for removing hot jars
from the canning pot. Once you have these tools, along with your freshly picked
strawberries, you’re ready to start making jam.
When choosing a jam recipe, it’s best to
use a trusted source that relies on the most up to date food safety
information. Today, let’s take a look at making jam without added pectin using
a recipe from the UMaine Cooperative Extension. For 4 cups of prepared berries,
you will need to clean and sterilize 4-halfpint or 2-pint jars by boiling them
in your canning pot for 10 minutes. Prepare your strawberries by hulling and
crushing them. Mix the berries with 4 cups of sugar and bring them to a boil
while stirring continually.
As you continue to boil the mixture, the
jam will begin to thicken. Use a jelly or candy thermometer to determine when
the jam is ready to go into jars. At our elevation of less than 500 feet, the mixture will need to reach
a temperature of 220 degrees F. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can also
place 2 tablespoons of jam on a cold plate and chill it in the freezer for 2
minutes. If the mixture gels, it’s ready to go into jars.
Fill your jars with the hot jam, leaving
¼inch of head space, or empty space, at the top of the jar. Wipe the rim of
your jar with a clean, damp cloth before applying the 2piece lids. Place the flat
lid on top, and then apply the screw band, only tightening it with the tips of
your fingers. Place your filled jars back in the canning pot, and bring the
water back to a boil. Leave the jars in the boiling water to process for 5
minutes, then turn off the heat and remove the jars from the canning pot. Do
not adjust the screw bands, simply place the jars on a towel or rack to cool
for 12-24 hours. Once the jars are cooled,
you need to remove those screw bands to make sure that you’ve got a good seal
between the jar and the flat lid. This seal is what will keep your jam
preserved through the coming year, assuming that you don’t eat it all right
away!
Making jam is just one of the ways you
can savor this year’s strawberry harvest. Similar food preservation techniques
can be used for most summer fruits and berries. If you’re interested in
learning more about canning, there are many opportunities available. I suggest
taking a class through the UMaine Cooperative Extension, or picking up a book
on the latest canning information. The world of food preservation is full of
ways that you can keep the flavors of summer with you throughout the year.
Let’s dig in!
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