Jam Jars

Jam jars are available in both glass and plastic. Many people use jam jars for preserving fresh fruits and vegetables into jams for year round enjoyment. The most common jam jar sizes are half pint jars, pint jars, one and half pint jars, and quart jars. Glass jars with lids are sterilized and then used.

Best method of preparing Jam Jars and lids for use

1. Either hand wash or wash the jam jars and lids in the dishwasher.

2. Inspect the jam jars for cracks or chips in the glass (even if they are new).

3. Sterilize the jam jars , lids, and screw bands for at least 10 minutes in boiling water. (follow the manufacturers instructions)

4. Heat the jam jars and keep them hot during the canning process. The most popular way to keep the jam jars hot is in a water bath in a canner.

Jams, Jellies, Preserves and Marmalades oh my!

Types of preserves (jellied fruit products):

Jellies-made by cooking clear fruit juice with sugar, holds it's shape on a spoon and but soft enough to spread out.

Jams- made from cooked and crushed fruit with sugar, less firm then jelly.

Preserves- made from small pieces of fruit in clear "gelled" syrup.

Conserves- jams that are made from different fruit combinations such as raisins, nuts, coconut.

Marmalades- made like jellies, gut with the addition of small pieces for fruit (fruit peel) in a clear "jelly".

Fruit Butters- made from fruit s that are cooked down to a thicker "butter" consistency.

Freezer jams with plastic jars

Freezer jams made with plastic jars and they take a lot of the work out of traditional preserving. You can either preserve jam in plastic freezer jars or freeze fruits when they are fresh to use to make jam in the winter when fruit is not as available.

Apricot Jam Recipes

Supplies and Equipment for Making Jam

Fruit-high quality, free from any mold or spoilage. The fruit can be fresh, frozen or canned.

High Natural Pectin Fruit-sour apples, sour blackberries, crab apples, cranberries, currants, gooseberries, grapes, lemons, loganberries, plums and quinces.

Low Pectin Fruit- apricots, figs, grapes, guavas, peaches, pears, plums, raspberries and strawberries. Definitely want to use a commercial pectin with these fruits when making jam.

Pectin- Commercial pectins are made from apples or citrus fruit and are avaialbe powdered or in liquid form.

Sugar- Used to sweeten the jam and to activate the pectin. White sugar is usually recommended in most jam recipes, however honey, corn syrup, brown sugar and maple syrup can be used.

Acid-Used for both flavor and to help the pectin "gel". Many recipes have lemon or lime juice in small amounts in the recipe.

Canner- to boil, sanitize and seal jars.

Jam Jars, lids, and screw bands.

Most popular small glass jam jars

Leifheit Canning Supplies 2-Cup Glass Preserving Jars

Leifheit Jam Jars are elegant looking, marquis shaped glass jam jars with lids. The special shape was designed to optimize space use and dish washer safe.

Ball 1/2-Pint Mason Jars, 12 Pack

Glass jam jars.

Bormioli Rocco Quattro Stagioni Jam Jars- 1/2 pint

Elite Mason Jars with Gingham Lids Bernardin Collection Elite Mason Jars - Gingham - Red