Strawberry rhubarb jam is a sweet summertime jam recipe with fresh strawberries and tart rhubarb yielding 5 half-pint jars of jam.
Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
Do you know the history of strawberries and rhubarb? It’s hard to find the exact time these two fruits were first used together, although it makes sense that rhubarb has historically been combined with sweet fruits to offset its tartness. That is why the combination of strawberries and rhubarb is a classic for jam!
Strawberries were brought to the Midwest in the late 19th century when refrigerated railcars allowed widespread distribution. Most strawberries in the U.S. are actually grown in California today, where they can be grown year-round, but here in the Midwest strawberries are grown in the summer months. Rhubarb, which is actually a very tart vegetable, is a hearty perennial plant that survives hard winters with the stalks ready for harvest in late spring. Together, these two fruits have been used in combination for not only jam but for pies, breads, muffins and other baked goods.
How to Make This Recipe
This classic recipe for strawberry rhubarb jam differs from some old-fashioned strawberry rhubarb recipes, in that it contains simple ingredients: strawberries, fresh or frozen rhubarb, lemon juice, butter, water, sugar and fruit pectin. Many recipes that were popular in the 1950’s and 60’s for strawberry rhubarb jam used strawberry flavored Jell-O as both a stabilizer and sweetener. Using strawberries that are in-season (usually in the summer months) will yield the best results for this recipe. This recipe uses the water bath canning method and will yield 5 half-pint jars.
Making jam takes some practice, but if you follow the steps carefully and take your time, you can be successful. To make this jam, the rhubarb (either fresh or frozen can be used) is slightly cooked with water and lemon juice until it is tender; it is then added to mashed strawberries where it is combined with fruit pectin and butter and brought to a boil. Once boiling, the sugar is added and the mixture is cooked until it reaches a temperature of 220°F. Then, the canning jars and filled and the jam is processed in a water bath. The jam can be used immediately after cooling or stored in a cool, dry place for later use. Jam will actually keep up to 2 years if stored properly!
Be sure to read the helpful tips below for successful jam making.
Supplies
- Potato masher
- Water bath canner, or a very large stockpot with lid and a rack
- Half-pint canning jars
- Lids/rims for canning jars
- Candy thermometer or small plates for the freezer
- Ladle
- Kitchen towels
- Tongs or jar lifter
- Medium sized saucepan
Tips for Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
- If using frozen rhubarb, thaw and drain completely before using in this recipe
- This recipe is for water bath canning only
- This recipe makes 5 half pints, but have 6 jars ready to use to place anything leftover after the 5 jars are filled for immediate use
- Start sterilizing your jars and preparing your rims/lids while you prepare the jam. Leave the jars in the hot water until you are ready to fill them.
- Follow the recipe ingredients carefully, do not double or cut in half. When making jam, you must make separate batches if you want to make more or less than what the recipe yields.
- No substitutions! This is not a low sugar recipe. Your jam will not set up properly if you make substitutions.
- Be VERY careful and TAKE YOUR TIME!
- Refrigerate any unsealed jars. Store sealed jars in a cool, dark place. Open jars must be refrigerated.
- If you live in elevation, cooking and processing times will be different. The USDA has a great guide to use found at the National Center for Home Food Preservation website.
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Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
Equipment
- potato masher
- water bath canner or a very large stockpot with a lid and rack
- 6 half-pint glass preserving jars
- 6 lids/rims for canning jars
- candy thermometer or small plates, chilled in freezer
- ladle
- kitchen towels
- tongs/jar lifter
- medium sized saucepan
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh or frozen rhubarb, diced into small pieces
- 1/4 cup water
- 3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and mashed with a potato masher
- 1 (1.75 oz) pkg commercial fruit pectin
- 1 teaspoon unsalted butter
- 6 cups granulated sugar
Instructions
To sterilize jars:
- Place jars (without lids or rims) in an upright position in a water canner or large stockpot with a rack and fill with hot water. You want to cover the jars with water by about 1 inch. Cover with a lid and bring to a boil; then boil for 10 minutes. Keep jars in hot water until ready to fill.
- Place lids and seals in a separate saucepan and keep on low heat to keep warm. They don't need to be sterilized, but will seal better if they are warm.
For the jam:
- In medium sized saucepan, add the 2 cups fresh or frozen rhubarb,, 1/4 cup water and 3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice. Bring to a low boil and cook until the rhubarb is tender, about 2-3 minutes
- Hull the 2 cups fresh strawberries, and mash with a potato masher. Add to a saucepan.
- Add the 1 (1.75 oz) pkg commercial fruit pectin and b1 teaspoon unsalted butter to the mixture and bring to a full boil that does not stop if stirred over medium heat.
- Once to a full boil, add the 6 cups granulated sugar and stir until dissolved. Return this mixture to a full rolling boil and boil for one minute, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.
- Check for doneness two different ways: if using a candy thermometer, boil mixture to 220°F (sea level); if using frozen plate, spoon a small amount of the jam onto frozen plate and return to freezer for about 2 minutes. Then, run your finger through the jam and if it wrinkles, it is done. If not, cook 1 minute longer until it wrinkles when this same method is repeated.
- Carefully remove jars from water canner using tongs or jar lifter and place on a kitchen towel to dry.
- Using a ladle and funnel, carefully spoon hot jam mixture into jars and leave 1/4" at the top. Wipe each rim of jar with a kitchen towel. Then place a warm lid on top and then a rim and screw on tight. *Any jam that does not fill an entire jar will need to be refrigerated for immediate use. Process jars.
To process jam:
- Place filled jars back into water canner or large stockpot using tongs or jar lifter. Ensure jars are still covered by at least 1" of water.
- Place lid on water canner or stockpot and bring to a full boil. When the water is boiling, set timer and allow jars to boil for 10 minutes (sea level).*
- Remove from heat and allow jars to sit in water 5-10 minutes. Then, carefully lift jars out using jar lifter or tongs and place on a kitchen towel and dry them off.
- Check to see if the jars are sealed by pressing down on the top of each lid. It is is firm and does not move, it is sealed. Jars will still "pop" (seal) for several hours after removing from water bath after processing. If the lid still bounces after several hours, it is unsealed and will need to be refrigerated for immediate use. Makes 5 half-pint jars (16 servings/jar).
Notes
- If using frozen rhubarb, thaw and drain completely before using in this recipe
- This recipe is for water bath canning only
- This recipe makes 5 half pints, but have 6 jars ready to use to place anything leftover after the 5 jars are filled for immediate use
- Start sterilizing your jars and preparing your rims/lids while you prepare the jam. Leave the jars in the hot water until you are ready to fill them.
- Follow the recipe ingredients carefully, do not double or cut in half. When making jam, you must make separate batches if you want to make more or less than what the recipe yields.
- No substitutions! This is not a low sugar recipe. Your jam will not set up properly if you make substitutions.
- Be VERY careful and TAKE YOUR TIME!
- Refrigerate any unsealed jars. Store sealed jars in a cool, dark place up to 2 years. Open jars must be refrigerated.
- If you live in elevation, cooking and processing times will be different. The USDA has a great guide to use found at the National Center for Home Food Preservation website.