Topic: Strawberry Jam - my costings

[kippers garden]

I made some strawberry jam at the weekend with my strawberries from my freezer and I worked out how much it cost to make it.

I worked out, that because I grew my own strawberries, each jar of my homemade jam costs just 22 pence per jar to make.  The cheapest strawberry jam I have managed to find, is Tesco’s value jam which is 35 pence per jar and has only 35% of fruit in it too.
 
Though I do say so myself, I’m sure mine tastes an awful lot nicer.

There is a picture of my jars of jam here (approx half way down):
 
http://notjustgreenfingers.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/strawberry-jam-jam-making-tips/



I hope this information helps someone

[Chrispy]

The tescos value mixed fruit jam is quite nice and is the cheapest way to buy jam jars for your own jams.

[Duke Ellington]

Did you defrost the strawberries before adding to the pan?

Duke

[Kleftiwallah]

Also you know what's innit, innit! :o

Cheers,     Tony.

[Squash64]

I've never made jam in my life but this has made me want to give it a go. :)

[Chrispy]

Strawberries can be a bit harder to do as they need extra pectin, if you have rasberries, use them for your first go, they are dead easy.

[Squash64]

I like jam that isn't very sweet if that makes sense.  Is it necessary to use the amount of sugar given in recipes or can it be reduced?

[Chrispy]

It is the sugar that preserves the fruit, if you don't use enough sugar you will need to keep it in the fridge and even then it won't last a long time.

Can't help with an actual recipe, sure someone will share one soon.

[the_snail]

I like jam that isn't very sweet if that makes sense.  Is it necessary to use the amount of sugar given in recipes or can it be reduced?

I have not tried it myself as I just found it after reading your post and doing a bit of googling. It sounds nice though.

http://www.sugarfreerecipes.co.uk/making-your-own-sugar-free-jam.html

[kippers garden]

Did you defrost the strawberries before adding to the pan?

Duke

No I don't bother defrosting them

[Spireite]

One Christmas when I needed jam jars for my freshly made mincemeat I was tring to find empty jam jars...and found it cheaper to buy Tesco value jam and lemon curd...and then discard the contents 8)

[Squash64]

I like jam that isn't very sweet if that makes sense.  Is it necessary to use the amount of sugar given in recipes or can it be reduced?

I have not tried it myself as I just found it after reading your post and doing a bit of googling. It sounds nice though.

http://www.sugarfreerecipes.co.uk/making-your-own-sugar-free-jam.html

Thank you for taking the time to find this link, it will be very useful for all sorts of recipes. :)

[Digeroo]

If you do not like suger you can try freezer jam  Works particularly well with strawberries. You mush them up with a little sugar and put into icecube tray and simply freeze and then bag up,
Actually the plastric ice bags are good.  When you want some you take out a cube thaw out and use immediately or cut out one from the plastic.

http://www.drinkstuff.com/products/product.asp?ID=7997

Takes a bit of squishing to get the jam in.

[kippers garden]

One Christmas when I needed jam jars for my freshly made mincemeat I was tring to find empty jam jars...and found it cheaper to buy Tesco value jam and lemon curd...and then discard the contents 8)

I did this last year too

[Mrs Tweedy]

This is a little off topic but I put a notice up in my front garden telling my neighbours that I needed jars and since then they put their jars in a plastic box by the front door.

Then I buy new lids from Patterson's glass.

I use the jars for my own preserves but always use new jars and lids when making to sell.