Refrigerator Strawberry Jam
Nov 23, 2023, Updated Mar 13, 2024
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If you're craving homemade strawberry jam but don't want to use a water canning bath, this refrigerator strawberry jam recipe is for you! With 3 simple ingredients and only 5 minutes of prep required, you'll soon have a sweet, tangy jam that’s bursting with strawberry flavour. It's the perfect way to use up leftover berries, and tastes wonderful on toast, in yoghurt, or in your favourite summer desserts!
If you love summer berries, be sure to enjoy my gluten free blueberry and lemon cake and this super easy, two-ingredient peach and apricot jam.
Jam is an easy way to preserve and enjoy the best summer berries. With this easy fridge jam, your fresh strawberries will stay good for 14 days--plus, you’ll have delicious toast for days to come. Everyone wins!
Ingredients
This strawberry jam is so easy to make! All you need is three simple ingredients.
- Strawberries: In this recipe, I use strawberries because they’re really juicy and in season right now. However, this jam can be made with blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, or even apricots and peaches. Take your pick!
- Caster Sugar: This is white cane sugar that has a finer texture than regular granulated sugar, and is a popular choice for baking in the UK and Australia. Feel free to use granulated if you can't get caster sugar where you live.
- Lemon Juice: Not only does the lemon juice add a wonderful tang to the jam, but it also enhances the strawberries' natural sweetness and helps the jam thicken by activating the pectin in the fruit.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
- Mixed Berry: Swap out some of the strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries to create a mixed berry version with a more complex flavour.
- Vanilla: Add a vanilla bean during cooking or a teaspoon of vanilla extract after cooking for a slightly different flavour.
- Balsamic: Stir in a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar after simmering the jam for a tang that enhances the sweetness of the strawberries.
- Spiced: Add a pinch of cinnamon or cardamom to the jam as it simmers to add a warm, spiced flavour.
- Chia Seeds: Mix in chia seeds after cooking for a thicker jam with added fibre and nutrients.
How to Make Refrigerator Strawberry Jam
- Prep the fresh strawberries by rinsing them well and cutting off the leaves and stems.
- Pour the berries into a saucepan along with some sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Massage the berries until they're coated in the mixture.
- Macerate the berries by letting them sit for 1 hour to release their juices. This step really enhances the sweetness and flavour of the jam, so don't skip it!
- Set the pan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Cook until the jam is at your desired consistency, about 20 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking, and mash the jam with a potato masher if desired for a smoother consistency.
- Let the jam cool completely in sterilised jars, then seal them tightly with lids and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Enjoy it anytime on toast or in your favourite strawberry treats!
Recipe FAQs
Jam is made from crushed fruit and sugar, creating a slightly chunky spread with a wonderful fruit flavour. Paddington Bear's favourite snack, marmalade, is typically made from citrus peels and juice, and has a more bitter, tangy flavour and a chunkier texture. Both are delicious!
Lemon juice lowers the pH of the jam, helping to activate the natural pectin in the fruit so the jam sets properly. It also balances the sweetness and enhances the flavour of the berries.
Yes, refrigerator jam like this recipe will thicken and set more firmly after being refrigerated for a few hours. The cold temperature stabilises the pectin and makes the jam less runny--all the better for your morning toast!
I recommend storing your homemade strawberry jam in a sterilised jar for up to 2 weeks. Make sure it's tightly sealed for the best freshness.
Serving Refrigerator Strawberry Jam
There are limitless ways to enjoy strawberry jam. My British readers probably thought first about scones. Nothing enhances a cup of tea like scones with jam and cream! For those of you in the US, you might be thinking about peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which is a lovely combination of savoury, salty peanut butter and sweet, acidic jam.
Personally, I love using this beautiful strawberry jam in this easy strawberries and cream sponge cake, which is a beautiful centrepiece to a summer feast! You can use it in some of my other dessert recipes, too. Try swapping the lemon curd in my lemon curd meringue roulade for the jam, or use jam instead of fresh berries in my strawberry galette with cream cheese puff pastry.
Expert Tips
- Don't use frozen strawberries, as they have a higher moisture content and won't set as well.
- For a smoother jam, use a potato masher to mash up the berries as the jam simmers.
- The best thing about homemade strawberry jam is that you can bottle it up and give it as gifts.
Other Dessert Recipes You'll Love
Have questions or want to leave a review? Please do so below the recipe card! I always love answering your questions and hearing your feedback.
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Refrigerator Strawberry Jam
Ingredients
- 18 ounces fresh strawberries, sliced
- ¾ cup caster sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, from 1 lemon
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest, from 1 lemon
Instructions
- Macerate: Place the sliced strawberries in a saucepan and add the sugar, lemon juice, and zest. Massage the sugar and juice into the strawberries with your hands and leave to sit for 1 hour, or until the natural juices have been released.
- Cook: Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the berry mixture to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the jam is at your desired consistency.
- Cool: Store the jam in a sterilised jar with a tight-fitting lid and keep it in the fridge for up to 14 days. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Don't use frozen strawberries, as they have a higher moisture content and won't set as well.
- For a smoother jam, use a potato masher to mash up the berries as the jam simmers.
- Give a jar of this jam away as a special gift! Everyone loves this, as it's so tasty and versatile.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this? Leave a comment below!Images by Alanna Penna Photography
I love how this jam doesn't require pectin! It's so much easier to just use some fresh lemon juice instead. This really would be lovely on some sourdough toast!
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