It may seem simple, but there’s a lot to remember when it comes to storing jams and preserves. You need to make sure your jam is set to the right consistency before you bottle it. You need to ensure your jars, lids and equipment are sterilised and secure. And you’ll definitely want to do everything you can to pack in the delicious tangy flavours of your preserves. To make things a little easier, here are our top tips for how to store homemade jam.
Sterilise Your Jars
From jam to honey to homebrew, the number one rule of all kinds of preserving is to sterilise your containers. Sterilising your jars prevents your homemade jam from becoming contaminated, which can cause bacteria to grow and make your jams spoil.
You can sterilise your jars in a number of ways. If you have a dishwasher, just run your jars and lids through on a hot rinse cycle. You can also boil them, or put them in the oven. Follow these easy steps for sterilising your jars.
Sterilise Everything Else
It’s not just your jars that need to be sparkling clean. Make sure all the equipment you’re using – including spoons, lids, and funnels – have all been sterilised before you start. You can use the same method as you used for your jars if your items are suitable for use over a certain temperature.
Test Your Jam
To keep your jam fresh for as long as possible, you need to jar it when it’s at its best. The perfect moment to pot your preserve is when it hits its setting point. The easiest way to check if your jam is at its setting point is to use a sugar thermometer to heat the jam to 105°C. If you don’t have a sugar thermometer, follow the instructions here to test your jam.
Jar Your Jam While It’s Hot
If you ladle your jam into your jars and close them while the jam is still hot, this can help keep bacteria out until you open the jar again. The heat forms a vacuum seal with the lid of the jar, which helps to keep bacteria out and flavour in.
Use The Right Jars
If you choose the right jars for storing your homemade jam, the whole process becomes a lot easier. For example, using a jar that’s suitable for hot fill means it’ll easily withstand the high heats needed to sterilise and fill it. Jam jars that come with metal twist-off lids don’t need to be used with a wax seal, so they can be a more cost-effective solution than other jar types.
Store In A Cool, Dark Place
You don’t need to store jams and preserves in the fridge. If they’ve been boiled and preserved in the right way, bacteria is unlikely to grow in the jar, so there’s no need to keep it chilled. Instead, store it in your kitchen cupboard. To make sure your jams stay free from contamination, always use a clean knife or spoon to dip into your jar.
With these top tips for how to store your homemade jam, you can keep your delicious preserves fresh and flavoursome for even longer!
If you’re still looking for jars for your homemade jams, we offer jars in lots of styles and sizes. Whether you’re giving away your jams as gifts, or just making the most of a seasonal glut of fruits, you’re sure to find the jar for you in our collection. All our glass jam jars are suitable for hot fill unless otherwise stated. Shop our picks below – or take a look at the full collection.
Shop Online For Glass Jam Jars
FAQs
Most homemade jams and jellies that use a tested recipe, and have been processed in a canner for the recommended time, should retain best quality and flavor for up to that one year recommended time. All home-canned foods should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place, between 50-70°F.
Can you store homemade jam in plastic containers? ›
Glass jars, the type you use for canning or even cleaned jars that previously held store-bought jam, are great. McClellan also likes lidded Pyrex containers. You can even use plastic so long as you let the jam cool first before pouring it in to avoid melting anything. A refrigerator jam isn't going to last forever.
How long does homemade jam last in the fridge without canning? ›
If you're making fruit jam at home and skipping the canning process, what is often called quick jam or freezer jam, store in the fridge or freezer to preserve, and be aware that it should be consumed within 10 days if refrigerated and 3 months if frozen. It's not shelf stable without proper canning.
How to keep homemade jam from molding? ›
You need to use heatproof glass jars with sealable lids for storing jam. The jam needs to be hot when you pour it into the jars. As the jam cools, the lid is sucked down like a vacuum, creating a strong seal to protect against mold and bacteria.
Can you store homemade jam in the pantry? ›
According to the USDA, an unopened jar of jam or jelly can be stored in the pantry for up to 12 months.
How to store homemade jam without canning? ›
Ladle jam into clean jars. Close jars and let jam cool to room temperature. Refrigerate up to 2 weeks or freeze up to 1 year.
Can you store jam in Tupperware? ›
You can just store the finished jam in the refrigerator (in jars or even in Tupperware), where it will keep for many months. But if you're anything like me, there's no room in your refrigerator. Besides which, my method is nearly as easy and doesn't take much in the way of special equipment.
How to tell if homemade jam is bad? ›
Please note, that it's essential to check the jam for signs of spoilage, such as mold, unpleasant odors, or changes in texture. If any of these indicators are present, discard the jam immediately to ensure your safety.
Does homemade jam need to be canned? ›
Jam does not need to be canned; if you can consume it within a month, you can store it in the refrigerator without it going bad. But if you make a lot of jam, or want to save it to make jam-filled cookies or another winter baking project when fresh fruit is nowhere to be found, you should preserve it.
How do you increase the shelf life of homemade jam? ›
A low-sugar jam will, therefore, have a shorter shelf life due to its high water content. The trick to preserving your jam for as long as possible is to keep it in the refrigerator, whether it is unopened or opened. The cold slows down the proliferation of bacteria and allows you to savor your jam for a longer period.
The “boiling water bath” is a food preservation method commonly used in making jams. It involves dropping a basket of sealed jars into a large pot of rapidly boiling water. Boiling water kills most yeasts, moulds and bacteria while the high acid in the foods will prevent botulism bacteria from growing.
What is the best preservative for homemade jam? ›
Sugar serves as a preserving agent, contributes flavor and aids in gelling. Cane and beet sugar are the usual sources of sugar for jelly or jam. Corn syrup and honey may be used to replace part of the sugar in recipes, but too much will mask the fruit flavor and alter the gel structure.
Can homemade jam be left unrefrigerated? ›
"Refrigeration can extend its shelf life by a few months, but because jam has a pH level of 3 (bacteria grows most in pH levels of 6.5-7), there's no harm in storing it in your pantry," explains Eric Sieden, director of nutrition and food services for Glen Cove, Plainview, and Syosset Hospitals in New York (per ...
Do you put homemade jam straight in the fridge? ›
Once your jam is done, you can simply store it in the refrigerator for a long time and not worry about it spoiling. I pour it into small jars, cover them with lids and let them cool to room temperature. Once the jam cools, you'll be able to see its final texture.
How do you store jam in a Mason jar? ›
Place lids and bands on jars and label. Refrigerate jam or jelly for up to three weeks or serve immediately to enjoy now. Freeze it: Leave ½-inch headspace when filling jars. Cool, lid, and label.
How do you store homemade strawberry jam? ›
Fill containers with jam and leave 1/2” of head-space at the top. Cover with lids and allow to stand at room temperature for 24 hours. After 24 hours you can store jam in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks or freeze it for up to 1 year!
