This recipe is so much easier than cooking the fruits and canning with wax, none of that has to be done.
The difference between freezer jam and regular jam is with regular jam, the fruit is cooked.
With freezer jam, the fruit isn't cooked and super quick and easy (I think even fresher in taste and in appearance).
The freezer-style jam has fruit mixed with sugar then the pectin is dissolved in water simmered together for just a few minutes, cooled, and poured over the fruit, that's it!
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I am often asked can you use glass jars for freezer jam? The quick answer is yes! I love to use freezer-friendly glass mason jars for this jam recipe and they're easily found online.
You can also use some plastic tight-fitting lid containers that is freezer friendly.
Frozen fruits can be used however if they are way wet or contain lots of liquid, they will produce a runny jam.
We recommend the second recipe for berries and fruits like peaches, pears, apricots, or fruits not sun ripe and naturally super sweet to use the additional sugar recipe and remove all skins and seeds with those fruits
Check out our recipes for red or blackberry freezer jam or make the strawberry flavor and if you want to switch to a fresh blueberry go for it!
What will you need to Make Freezer Jam?
- freezer safe jars glass or plastic are available at department stores and Amazon a cheesecloth for seedless jam
- sugar,
- powdered pectin
- ripe berries or choose another fruit like peaches or apricots(however you must remove the pits and skins on them and they must be overripe so they are easy to mash)
- water
Simple Freeze Jam and Tips
- Do not over mash the berries
- for frozen fruits, thaw and blot dry with paper towels
- substitute any berries and peaches mashed overly ripe work well
- serving ideas: on toast, biscuits, scones, ice cream in jam thumbprint cookies, sandwiches, English muffins, and anything else you love jams with we also use a glaze with Apricot Salmon baked it's so good!
- refrigerate for up to 3 weeks or freezer it for up to 8 months
Steps to Make Freezer Berry Jam
- Wash and dry the freezer-safe containers then set aside
- mash the fruits you're using with a potato masher or for seedless jams a food mill or cheesecloth to remove berry seeds, if using fruit with peels peel and remove pits(IE peaches, apricots)
- put the fruit in a bowl with sugar
- dissolve the pectin with water for 1 minute in the stovetop in a small saucepan
- pour over fruit
- let stand 3 minutes
- pour into containers and let sit for 24 hours at room temperature
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Old Fashioned Jam vs Freezer Jam
Freezer jam is a no-cook jam made with fresh fruit and super easy without having to be an expert on canning anything and all the work involved.
Since there is no cooking of the fruit involved it's a fresher tasting compared to regular boiled fruit jam and has a more brilliant color.
The downside is you can't keep it in the fridge as long as cooked jams and it really does have to be stored in the freezer for long-term storage.
The jam is definitely looser than cooked jam so don't expect a solid kind like you find in the grocery store, to me freezer jam is more like a spread.
Our family has always made freezer jams because it's so easy and not all the work as preserving the old-fashioned jam using paraffin wax on top (but your jars and containers do need to be washed thoroughly) it's easy peasy freezer jam and the instructions are right below in this recipe card.
Yield: 6
Berry Freezer Jams
Two freezer jam recipes, (Blackberry and Strawberry) are easy to make and placed in some freezer-safe containers to enjoy all winter long.
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 3 MinInactive time: 24 HourTotal time: 24 H & 13 M
Ingredients
- Blackberry, Red Raspberry, or Bosenberry Ingredients:
- 5 1/4 cups sugar
- 1 box of fruit pectin (1.75 - ounce box) only use a powdered form
- 3/4 cup water
- 3 cups of blackberries or red raspberries mashed (for seedless put through a cheesecloth or food mill)
- Strawberry Ingredients:
- 2 cups crushed fresh strawberries
- 4 cups sugar
- 1 package of fruit pectin (1.75-ounce box) only used a powdered form
- 3/4 cup water
Instructions
- Berry Instructions:
- Measure berries into a large bowl; thoroughly stir in sugar and let stand for 10 minutes.
- Mix water and pectin in a small saucepan.
- Bring to a full boil and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Pour all mixture into the fruit and continue stirring for 3 minutes.
- Immediately put into prepared containers (freezer jars or cartons that have been scalded), leaving 1/2 inch expansion space at the top.
- With a damp cloth, wipe any spills from containers.
- Cover at once with lids.
- Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours.
- Store jam in the freezer containers (plastic with tight lids or freezer-safe mason jars) until ready for use or refrigerate for up to two weeks.
- Strawberry Instructions:
- In a bowl add the strawberries with sugar and mash then let sit for 10 minutes.
- Dissolve and, stir pectin into water in a small saucepan.
- Boil on medium-high heat, for 1 minute.
- Pour the boiling water mixture onto the strawberries.
- Cool for 5 minutes.
- Place in clean mason jars leaving expansion for the top.
- Let sit at room temperature for 24 hours.
- Store jam in the freezer containers (plastic with tight lids or freezer-safe mason jars) until ready for use or refrigerate for up to two weeks.
Notes
Simple Freeze Jam and Tips
- Do not over mash the berries
- for frozen fruits, thaw and blot dry with paper towels
- substitute any berries and peaches mashed overly ripe work well
- serving ideas: on toast, biscuits, scones, ice cream in jam thumbprint cookies, jam oatmeal bars, sandwiches, English muffins, and anything else you love jams with we also use a glaze with Apricot Salmon baked it's so good!
- refrigerate for up to 3 weeks or freezer it for up to 4 months
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Freezer Marinade for Sweet and Sour Jam Meats
Freezer Marinade for Lamb and Pistachio Pesto Chicken
Freezer Marinade for Mexican Chicken
Freezer Marinade for Peanut Butter Chicken
Freezer Marinade for Roasted Chicken Garlic
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2010. It was edited and re-published in 2022.