How to Make Strawberry Jam
Delicious Homemade Strawberry Jam Recipe

Want to learn how to make strawberry jam? This homemade strawberry jam recipe is absolutely delicious, and so easy that it almost feels like cheating.

My husband and I call this homemade jam recipe "Margaret's Marvellous Microwave Method", in honour of our friend who first introduced us to it. "I've found this fantastic way of making jam", said Margaret one day, "and you won't believe how easy it is..."

Once I'd learned how to make jam this way, I had to agree that is (a) truly yummy (b) quite possibly the easiest recipe in the world. This recipe also works well with other berries.

How to Make Strawberry Jam

Ingredients (makes 3 cups of jam)

• 500g strawberries, hulled (roughly 1 lb, or two small punnets)
• 250-500g jam sugar (roughly 1-2 cups)

If you like, you can add a squeeze of lemon juice, but that's strictly optional. Margaret's original recipe called for equal weights of fruit and sugar, but I like mine less sweet so I usually use only half as much. You can buy jam sugar in most supermarkets. It's just sugar with a little bit of pectin in it to help the jam set.

Method

1. Mix strawberries and sugar together in a large (3L or more), microwave-proof bowl. No need to chop the strawberries, they will get mushed up when they boil.
2. Put bowl on a dinner plate, to make it easier to put in/out of the microwave when the bowl is hot.
3. Microwave on high for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or so. To test whether jam has reached setting point, smear a little bit onto a cold plate and let it cool. Draw a line through the jam with your finger. If the jam wrinkles and stays separate, it is ready. If not, microwave it another 5 minutes.
4. While jam is in microwave, prepare some clean jars by pouring boiling water over them to sterilise them.
5. When jam is finished, ladle it into the jars, up to 1/2 inch from the top. Put lids on jars, and turn jars upside-down for five minutes to seal and sterilise the lids. Then turn upright and let cool.

To make your jam look pretty, tie some coloured coloured fabric over the lid with a piece of ribbon, and make a nice label :-)

What next?

If you have a friend with a fondness for sweet spreads, then you might also like to have a look at my easy and delicious lemon curd recipe.

Happy Gifting!