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Tips & Guides

How to Make Jam at Home

Making jam is a simple way to use up big hauls of summer produce, and a great use of bruised items that might otherwise go to waste. It’s especially awesome as a way to eat seasonally, stretching summer flavors through the winter months.

Though it might seem like a big task to tackle, jam doesn’t need to be daunting! It’s a fun project and comes in infinite varieties, so if yours doesn’t come out exactly how you pictured it the first time, it’ll still probably taste great. If you’re new to jam, here are some FAQs to get you started on the path to sticky goodness that will last you months to come.

Jam? Jelly? Marmalade? Why all the different names?

All of these refer to fruit cooked with sugar to preserve it, but there are a few distinguishing differences. Jam is made using whole or cut up pieces of fruits. Jelly can refer to a product made from juice rather than whole fruits. Marmalade refers to a similar process for preserving citrus.

What is the best recipe for jam?

Jam is all about striking the proper balance between fruit, sugar, and acid, which can vary depending on the tartness and sweetness of the fruit that you’re using. Think of jam making in ratios — for every pound of fruit you use, you’ll want to use somewhere around ¼ cup to a cup of sugar, and a tablespoon of lemon or lime juice. It’s a big range, and has a lot to do with the fruit itself as well as your personal preference! If you need help getting started, here’s a recipe to get you going.

Do I have to make a sweet jam?

While many popular jams feature sweet berries, you can absolutely make jams out of savory ingredients too, like this spicy tomato jam!

What’s pectin and do I need to use it?

Pectin is a naturally occurring fiber that can be found in most plants, including fruit. It’s a thickening agent that helps jams to “gel” to that spreadable, not-too-runny consistency we’re used to seeing in store-bought jams. Depending on the natural pectin content of the fruit you’re using (apples and citrus have a lot while berries have little), you may be able to achieve this outcome without adding any pectin at all. For some lower-pectin fruit combinations, adding extra (extracted from high pectin fruit friends) can help you to get this effect!

Do I have to can my jam?

Not necessarily! Many people prefer to make refrigerator jam, meaning they skip the step of canning their final product and instead store their jam in the fridge or the freezer. If you’re making a small to medium amount of jam, you’ll be able to eat it well long before it would go bad, as the sugars and acid in the jam give it a hearty shelf life in the fridge.

How long does jam last?

Jams can usually keep for about a month in the fridge, and up to a year in the freezer. If you plan to make a bigger batch of jam that exceeds the capacity of your fridge and freezer, canning is a good way to ensure it stays fresh. Canning doesn’t have to be too complicated. There are lots of helpful guides available to home chefs to help them through the process. If you’re ready to get started, here’s a hyper-thorough guide on all things jamming and canning!

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Mitzi Ang
Mitzi Ang
6 years ago

So after this photo, there’s no direct recipe on making tomato jam? Talk about a failed opportunity

Reply
Reilly Brock
Reilly Brock
6 years ago
Reply to  Mitzi Ang

Great point. We just added the tomato jam recipe to the post. You can also find it here:
https://www.imperfectrecipes.com/tomato-jam
Thanks for speaking up and for reading our blog.

Reply
Leona Weltzer
Leona Weltzer
4 years ago

Is it possible to make orange jam? I think I have only seen marmalade which included some peel.

Reply
Imperfect Foods
Imperfect Foods
4 years ago
Reply to  Leona Weltzer

You sure can! You can follow these instructions with three peeled oranges pureed instead of the berries to make a tasty orange jam!

Reply
Courtney Y
Courtney Y
4 years ago

Why is this called ‘How To Make Jam at Home’ but then there are no recipes?

Reply
Imperfect Foods
Imperfect Foods
4 years ago
Reply to  Courtney Y

We’ve got a few links to recipes in the post! Head here if you’d like to check out our berry jam recipe! If you’re feeling like something on the savory side, head here to take a peek at this tasty spicy tomato jam!

Reply
Kimberly Baxter
Kimberly Baxter
4 years ago

what about using Instantpot?

Reply
Imperfect
Imperfect
4 years ago
Reply to  Kimberly Baxter

You can definitely use the instapot for this!

Reply
Lynn Delvecchio
Lynn Delvecchio
4 years ago

If I don’t have all the fruit in the right. Condition at the same time, can I gradually build up a container of fruit in the freezer that would otherwise get tossed and then make jam when there is enough?

Thank you.

Reply
Imperfect Foods
Imperfect Foods
4 years ago
Reply to  Lynn Delvecchio

You sure can! We’d advise setting the bags of frozen fruit out to defrost for about half an hour before starting to make your tasty jam when you’re ready!

Reply
Lindsay
Lindsay
4 years ago

How much pectin is supposed to be in the berry jam recipe? You said berries are low in pectin but there wasn’t any listed in the recipe.

Reply
Imperfect Foods
Imperfect Foods
4 years ago
Reply to  Lindsay

Your pectin use is up to you! If you prefer a thicker consistency, use a bit, but you don’t have to use it!

Reply
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