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
The tescos value mixed fruit jam is quite nice and is the cheapest way to buy jam jars for your own jams.
Did you defrost the strawberries before adding to the pan?
Duke
Also you know what's innit, innit! :o
Cheers, Tony.
I've never made jam in my life but this has made me want to give it a go. :)
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.
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?
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.
Quote from: Squash64 on August 21, 2012, 15:38:36
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
Quote from: Duke Ellington on August 21, 2012, 12:37:28
Did you defrost the strawberries before adding to the pan?
Duke
No I don't bother defrosting them
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)
Quote from: the_snail on August 21, 2012, 18:46:22
Quote from: Squash64 on August 21, 2012, 15:38:36
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. :)
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.
Quote from: Spireite on August 21, 2012, 20:20:46
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
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.