This is the best jam and so very easy with no berry cooking required. The trick to getting this jam to set up correctly is to use the Ball Freezer Pectin. It MUST be the Freezer Pectin. The Classic Pectin will result in syrupy jam. I'll share a picture below of Freezer Pectin so that you can put a face to the name :)
It is ESSENTIAL to use freezer pectin if you want a good consistency to your jam without adding a ton of sugar. MCP, Sure Jell, or even just the Ball Classic brand of pectin will make a syrupy jam.
IF you can locate "Ball Instant Pectin" this will also work, but my grandma has not been able to find it for years so the Freezer Pectin will be your best bet.
WHERE TO FIND FREEZER PECTIN:
If you are local to the Tri-Cities, WA area I have found some Ball Freezer Pectin at Yoke's Fresh Market grocery store.
My grandma lives in the Boise area and has been able to find it at both Target and Walmart before, but it took some searching.
If you can't find it you can order a 4 pack off of Amazon, but just be aware that it is a little overprice compared to buying directly from the store.
Grandma Nielson's Freezer Strawberry Jam Recipe
4 cups mashed raw strawberries (homegrown is best!)
2 cups granulated sugar
3 Tbsp Ball Freezer Pectin
Please the mashed berries in a stainless steel bowl (to avoid staining)
Mix together the sugar and pectin in a small bowl and add it to the strawberries
Stir for 3 minutes, then ladle the jam into jars
Seal the jars with lids and leave on the counter at room temperature for 24 hours to help the jam set up correctly.
Enjoy!
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