Homemade Jams 101 with Kilner

If you have some extra time in the kitchen this season, why not have a go at making your own homemade jam recipe? It's easy to do, satisfying to make especially now as the weather gets cool, and all with a (sweet!) rewarding outcome.

In case you couldn't tell, we're a big fan of food prep. The best part is, you'll know for sure that your fruits jam consists of no preservatives because you made it at home! With some fresh fruit and sugar, and some nice-looking jars to store them in, we're taking you through everything you need to know about acing your homemade jams.

In Frame: Kilner Preserving Jars

Tips on Making Homemade Jam

1. From rhubarb jam to strawberry, the same rule applies: The best fruit to make jams are ripe, but still firm.
2. Pay attention to the ratio of acid and pectin in your fruits. You don't need to add pectin to high-acidic fruits like cherries, pineapples, raspberries or plums. But you might need to add lemon juice to lower-acid fruits like apricots, strawberries, peaches, and rhubarb.
3. Help your homemade jam set by cooking the fruit with a muslin pouch full of lemon rind and seeds (as they are naturally high in pectin).
4. Cooking your jam in small batches can help the fruit retain its natural colour and flavours, and help you save time cooking them!
5. Whether you're looking to make strawberry jam, peach jam, raspberry jam or whatever other flavours that suit your taste, not only are they yummy for your morning toasts, they're highly versatile for adding to other food! You can try them with brie cheese, shake them into cocktails, use them in stuffed french toasts, shortcake, or even top off yummy desserts with your self-made fruit preserves.

How to Make Homemade Jam (Step by Step)

Easy Homemade Jam Ingredients

• 5 cups fresh berries (blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, this can be any berry you'd like!) 
• 2 1/2 cups of sugar 
• 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Pinch of salt 

Makes: 2 (8oz) jars

Easy Homemade Jam Recipe

 1. Cut the fruit you're using into even pieces. Mash the fruit, sugar, lemon juice, and salt together (a potato masher may help!) until combined. Tip: The amount of sugar you use should be in proportion to how much fruit you're using. 

2. In a small saucepan, boil the fruit for 20 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally. This time will vary as the water content in fruits vary as well, but after 20 minutes of steady boil, you can start checking the jam's consistency. It will start by showing bigger bubbles at the beginning of boiling, but as your jam starts to cool, the bubbles will grow smaller and tighter.

4. When the jam is set to your liking, remove it from the heat and transfer it to your favourite Kilner jars! Cover the jars once you've placed your jam in and allow them to be cooled completely before moving into the fridge for long-term storage. 

In Frame: Kilner Jars for Storage and Preserving

How Long Does Homemade Jam Last? 

A commonly asked question is on how to store homemade jam and make it last a long time (because you've put in the effort, you'd want to enjoy it for many breakfasts to come, right?)

Once you have opened your jam, it can have a refrigerator shelf life of up to 3 months. But you definitely don't have to worry about figuring out how to seal homemade jam jars or if they will go bad too soon, because good quality airtight containers can secure the freshness and keep them in tip top shape!

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So there's no better time than now to try to make your own jam at home!

Get started by finding some Kilner preserving jars to showcase and store your homemade jams on the shelf or on the table. Enjoy!

Stay warm.

Love, The Matchbox Team