This microwave strawberry jam is a great option when you need a delicious jam quickly. Just one bowl, 3 ingredients, and 15 minutes of cooking. And it's without any pectin or artificial flavorings. Use fresh or frozen strawberries and you will never have to buy a store-bought jam again.
Table of Content
I never buy jam or jelly. First, I find it too sweet. And secondly, the fruit content is so little. I like my jam fruity, not sugary sweet. So, I would rather have a jam with a shorter shelf-life, than a jam that can be stored for a year because it's preserved with too much sugar. Know what I mean?
Why make microwave jam?
- Unlike classic strawberry jam, which is made on the stovetop and sterilized into canning jars, this jam is made in the microwave.
- This is a quick and easy version that gets done in less than 15 minutes.
- I usually make in small quantities during the off-season when I am low on jam. And you can use fresh or frozen strawberries.
- A very forgiving recipe - For example, if you cook it less and find it is still not set, just put it back in the microwave for a minute or two. Similarly, if you find it to be too thick, just add a few tablespoons of water and give it a good stir.
- And of course, unlike our strawberry jelly, this is made without pectin.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Strawberries - The best candidate for jams are the strawberries that are dark red, and more on the soft side. For instance, the ones that have been kept aside in the fridge for a day or two.
Pro tip - Never let the strawberries soak in water as they absorb water making a very runny jam. I like to wash, hull and dry the strawberries with a paper towel or leave them in the fridge to completely dry - this also helps reduce the cooking time. - Sugar - Traditionally, people use a ratio of 1:1 for fruit and sugar, just like commercial jams. That's too sweet for me. Since I prefer my jam more fruity, I use less sugar. Sometimes, I prefer using thick granulated sugar so it cooks slowly with the fruit. Today, I'm using fine grain sugar.
- Lemon juice - It's best to use fresh lemon juice. You can also add zest, but I'm not a big fan of zest in my strawberry jam.
Step by step instructions
- Check the strawberries and remove any bad, discolored, or bruised ones. Give them a quick wash, drain in a colander.
Pro tip - You can use soft strawberries but discolored and bruised ones will ruin the jam. Also, don't soak the fruit in water for too long as they do soak up moisture. - Hull the strawberries and give them a rough chop.
Pro tip - Hulling strawberries simply means removing the stalk and white tough part below the stalk in the center of the strawberries. - In a microwave-safe bowl, add the strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Microwave on high for 3 minutes.
Pro tip - Use a microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup at least 4 times larger than the ingredients because the sugar mixture will rise high when cooking.
- Remove from the microwave, stir well, then use a vegetable masher and mash the strawberries.
Pro tip - This will give a smoother consistency of jam as well as break down the fruit pectin. - Put it back in the microwave for another 5 minutes. Remove, stir and do the same again - 5 more minutes. Total cooking time so far 13 minutes.
Pro tip - At first, all the sugar will dissolve and it will look very liquidy. But, it will thicken as the water in the sugar evaporates through cooking.
- Continue microwave at 3 to 5-minute intervals. Depending on the power of your microwave, it will take from 15 to 25 minutes. I have an 800 W microwave and it took me about 25 minutes.
Pro tip - What's important is to note the consistency of the jam (as shown in the video). - Let the jam cool in the bowl for a few minutes until it is easier to handle, then pour it into a sterilized jar.
- This jam will keep at room temperature for 2 weeks or can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Frequently asked questions
All fruits have pectin, which is a natural substance. Some fruits have more pectin than others, like apples, berries, and other fruits. Our grandmothers did not use any artificial pectin. And yet, they've made us some amazing jams. Low-heat, slow cooking is the key to making a good jam because that's when the pectin is naturally released.
Almost all jams use lemon juice. Lemon is a great way to cut down on that sweetness with a citrus edge. It also prevents the sugar from crystallizing. Most importantly the lemon helps prevent any growth of bacteria when canning the jam.
No matter what jam you make there is so much you can do with it besides spreading it on toast. I often use jam in my macarons for a quick fruit filling. My kids love to help me make shortbread cookies, so they can stick their thumb in the center and add jam. Also, nothing beats fresh homemade fried donuts filled with a jam that just melts in the mouth. These classic Linzer cookies are made every year for gifts. And I use any or all types of jams I have from that year.
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Printable Recipe
Microwave Strawberry Jam - (3 ingredients)
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Video
Ingredients
- 1 lb (500 g) Strawberries
- 1 cup (200 g) Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
Instructions
- Check the strawberries and remove any bad, discolored, or bruised ones. Give them a quick wash, drain in a colander. Pro tip - You can use soft strawberries but discolored and bruised will ruin the jam. Also, don't soak the fruit in water for too long as they do soak up moisture.
- Hull the strawberries and give them a rough chop.Pro tip - Hulling strawberries simply means removing the stalk and white tough part below the stalk in the center of the strawberries.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, add the strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Pro tip - Use a microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup at least 4 times larger than the ingredients because the sugar mixture will rise high when cooking.
- Remove from the microwave, stir well, then use a vegetable masher and mash the strawberries. Pro tip - This will give a smoother consistency of jam as well as break down the fruit pectin.
- Put it back in the microwave for another 5 minutes. Remove, stir and do the same again - 5 more minutes. Total cooking time so far 13 minutes. Pro tip - At first, all the sugar will dissolve and it will look very liquidy. But, it will thicken as the water in the sugar evaporates through cooking.
- Continue microwave at 3 to 5 minutes intervals. Depending on the power of your microwave, it will take from 15 to 25 minutes. I have an 800 W microwave and it took me about 25 minutes.Pro tip - What's important is to note the consistency of the jam. (as shown in the video).
- Let the jam cool in the bowl for a few minutes until it is easier to handle, then pour it into a sterilized jar.
- This jam will keep at room temperature for 2 weeks or can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Recipe Notes
- Wash, clean, and drain the strawberries - excess water in the bowl will need more longer cooking time.
- Use a bowl larger than you think it will need. Cooked sugar rises high and can overflow. Most importantly, cooked sugar can cause serious burns.
- Make sure the bowl you use is microwave safe as this mixture does get VERY hot.
- Use a fine grain of sugar so it dissolves quickly in the fruit.
- Mash the fruit if you like a spreadable jam. Leave the fruit larger if you like a chunky jam
- Most of the scum in this jam settle on the sides of the bowl so avoid scraping that into the jam.
- To increase the shelflife of the jam, use a clean sterilized jar to store the jam.
- If not sure, let the jam cool for a few minutes, then if necessary cook some more.
- If you like to flavor your jam - try orange zest, cinnamon, vanilla bean.
- For easy cleanup - pour how water in the bowl and leave it for a few minutes. It is easier to clean.
Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
Gayathri
Hi Veena , I want to make this jam on Monday but I have only frozen strawberries. Do I have to wash and dry these,e as the fresh ones.... what is the process for frozen strawberries? Also I bought 1 kg fresh plums to make Jam . Can the same recipe be followed. ? I like your recipe because I too it less sweet and more fruity.pls do give your advice so that I Can make this.
Veena Azmanov
No Gayathri. You can use frozen strawberries as is. Just ensure you don't have to much excess ice around it. You can also thaw it with the sugar in the fridge overnight. The sugar helps macerate the fruit. You can follow the recipe exactly like this
Gayathri
Thank you so much for your swift reply 🙂
Dawn
This recipe turned out perfect! Have you ever tried freezing the microwave jam?
Veena Azmanov
No, but I don't see why you can't. I just make small batches when I need them cause my freeze space is limited
Jen
It would have never occurred to me to use a microwave to make jam. This is awesome!
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Jen. Yes, so easy too