Easiest way to make strawberry jam?

[lynchyk]

I'm getting bunches of strawberries from my CSA and I'd like to make some Jam. What's the easiest way/recipe?

I already have quart size mason jars from when I was getting raw milk. Do I need to buy new lids (they were never "sealed" just covered the milk). I prefer not to buy alot of extra equipment but don't mind spending a little if it makes it easier.

I have no idea how to "can". Do I need to use that pectin stuff? Is there a benefit to using it? I came across a recipe that doesn't require it.

Can I use a different sweetener than white sugar? What works well or have you made it with no sweetener?

Thanks,
Kelly

[Jojo F.]

I made a strawberry preserves type stuff once that was really good. No pectin and no sugar just cooked and mashed strawberries and honey.

The pectin gives it that jelly type consistencey. I suppose you could juice an apple and use the juice for a "homemade" pectin.

I'm no help with canning. I think I just stuck it in my mason jar and used it up quite fast so it didn't sit around.

[cristeen]

To begin with, unless you use a LOT of jam, I wouldn't can it in quarts. Do you have any pints laying around? You will need to buy new lids for whatever jars you use. My preference is always to can in half-pints, since we don't go through jam that quickly, but I would never can it in anything large than a pint.

You can use any sweetener you like with it, honey, maple, rapadura, apple juice, etc., or no sweetener. BUT traditional pectins will not work with them. You can either cook it down to get it thick, or you can use Pomona's Universal Pectin, which I can find at the HFS. The recipes for different types of sweeteners are inside the box.