Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Well friends, today we're back in the kitchen and finally doing some canning together again. I took yesterday's strawberry harvest and turned it into strawberry jam, but with a little twist. Instead of following the recipe exactly, I decided to experiment with using less sugar and seeing if I could still get a good set while making a little more jam from the berries I had on hand.
As the jam cooked, I shared some of my thoughts on pectin, foam skimming, and what can happen when jam recipes don't quite go according to plan. We also took a look through a really neat USDA food preservation guide from 1973 that I found at a garage sale. Some of the old recommendations were fascinating and definitely got me thinking about how people preserved food years ago.
Of course, the real question was whether this experiment would actually work. The next morning we checked the test jar from the refrigerator, and I was pretty happy with the results. Nice chunky strawberry jam, less sugar, and more jars on the shelf. I'd call that a win. Thanks for joining me in the kitchen and preserving a little bit of summer with us.
Rachel's Low Sugar Strawberry Jam Experiment
Ingredients
🍓About 2 quarts strawberries, topped
🍓1 package Sure-Jell powdered pectin
🍓5 cups raw sugar
🍓Small amount of lemon juice
🍓Kitchen / Canning Equipment we use: amzn.to/4exQ0cw
Method
🍓Add strawberries and pectin to a pot.
🍓Heat and lightly mash berries as they soften.
🍓Stir in 5 cups sugar.
🍓Bring to a rolling boil.
🍓Boil approximately 5 minutes while stirring.
🍓Add a little lemon juice.
🍓Skim foam if desired.
🍓Fill jars leaving about 1/2 inch headspace.
🍓Wipe rims and apply lids finger tight.
🍓Process in a steam canner (or water bath equivalent) for 10 minutes.
🍓Allow to cool and check for set.
Results
🍓Yielded nearly 8 half-pint jars.
🍓Used less sugar than the USDA recipe.
🍓Produced a chunky, spreadable jam that set successfully.
---------------
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🌺 GREENSTALK Vertical Gardens: greenstalkgarden.com/?rstr=SHOP1870 (Promo Code SHOP1870 for $10 off!)
🥫 FORJARS Canning Lids: forjars.co/?sca_ref=1911228.45BY9FFxdg (Promo Code SHOP1870 to get 10% off)
🍃 HARVEST Right Freeze Dryers: affiliates.harvestright.com/1182.html
🔦 OLIGHT Flashlights: bit.ly/3z6daku (Promo Code SHOP1870 for 10% off!)
🛒 Our Favorite AMAZON Products: amzn.to/3ihSgZP
---------------
Our Mailing Address:
That 1870's Homestead
P.O. Box 179
Newport, MI 48166
---------------
✅ Connect with Us 🐐
YouTube: youtube.com/@1870s
Facebook: facebook.com/1870sHomestead
Instagram: instagram.com/that_1870s_homestead
EMAIL: that1870shomestead@gmail.com
---------------
Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links - at no additional cost to you. We will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase, after clicking through the links. ♥ Todd & Rachel
---------------
0:00 Strawberry Harvest Into Jam
0:24 Breaking the Jam Rules
1:16 Less Sugar More Jam
2:18 Why I Use Pectin
4:36 Adjusting the Boil Time
6:00 A 1973 USDA Canning Guide
8:27 Foam Skimming Tips
11:45 Filling the Jars
14:42 Did the Experiment Work
16:25 Favorite Strawberry Preserve Recipe
18:38 Comparing Old USDA Recipes
20:01 Uncooked Freezer Jam
22:00 Canning in Tin Cans
24:26 Processing the Jam
25:02 The Next Morning Test
25:55 Success With Less Sugar Jam
Well friends, today we're back in the kitchen and finally doing some canning together again. I took yesterday's strawberry harvest and turned it into strawberry jam, but with a little twist. Instead of following the recipe exactly, I decided to experiment with using less sugar and seeing if I could still get a good set while making a little more jam from the berries I had on hand.
As the jam cooked, I shared some of my thoughts on pectin, foam skimming, and what can happen when jam recipes don't quite go according to plan. We also took a look through a really neat USDA food preservation guide from 1973 that I found at a garage sale. Some of the old recommendations were fascinating and definitely got me thinking about how people preserved food years ago.
Of course, the real question was whether this experiment would actually work. The next morning we checked the test jar from the refrigerator, and I was pretty happy with the results. Nice chunky strawberry jam, less sugar, and more jars on the shelf. I'd call that a win. Thanks for joining me in the kitchen and preserving a little bit of summer with us.
Rachel's Low Sugar Strawberry Jam Experiment
Ingredients
🍓About 2 quarts strawberries, topped
🍓1 package Sure-Jell powdered pectin
🍓5 cups raw sugar
🍓Small amount of lemon juice
🍓Kitchen / Canning Equipment we use: amzn.to/4exQ0cw
Method
🍓Add strawberries and pectin to a pot.
🍓Heat and lightly mash berries as they soften.
🍓Stir in 5 cups sugar.
🍓Bring to a rolling boil.
🍓Boil approximately 5 minutes while stirring.
🍓Add a little lemon juice.
🍓Skim foam if desired.
🍓Fill jars leaving about 1/2 inch headspace.
🍓Wipe rims and apply lids finger tight.
🍓Process in a steam canner (or water bath equivalent) for 10 minutes.
🍓Allow to cool and check for set.
Results
🍓Yielded nearly 8 half-pint jars.
🍓Used less sugar than the USDA recipe.
🍓Produced a chunky, spreadable jam that set successfully.
---------------
👕 Shop Our Merch: bonfire.com/store/1870smerch
🌱 MIGardener: migardener.com/1870
🌺 GREENSTALK Vertical Gardens: greenstalkgarden.com/?rstr=SHOP1870 (Promo Code SHOP1870 for $10 off!)
🥫 FORJARS Canning Lids: forjars.co/?sca_ref=1911228.45BY9FFxdg (Promo Code SHOP1870 to get 10% off)
🍃 HARVEST Right Freeze Dryers: affiliates.harvestright.com/1182.html
🔦 OLIGHT Flashlights: bit.ly/3z6daku (Promo Code SHOP1870 for 10% off!)
🛒 Our Favorite AMAZON Products: amzn.to/3ihSgZP
---------------
Our Mailing Address:
That 1870's Homestead
P.O. Box 179
Newport, MI 48166
---------------
✅ Connect with Us 🐐
YouTube: youtube.com/@1870s
Facebook: facebook.com/1870sHomestead
Instagram: instagram.com/that_1870s_homestead
EMAIL: that1870shomestead@gmail.com
---------------
Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links - at no additional cost to you. We will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase, after clicking through the links. ♥ Todd & Rachel
---------------
0:00 Strawberry Harvest Into Jam
0:24 Breaking the Jam Rules
1:16 Less Sugar More Jam
2:18 Why I Use Pectin
4:36 Adjusting the Boil Time
6:00 A 1973 USDA Canning Guide
8:27 Foam Skimming Tips
11:45 Filling the Jars
14:42 Did the Experiment Work
16:25 Favorite Strawberry Preserve Recipe
18:38 Comparing Old USDA Recipes
20:01 Uncooked Freezer Jam
22:00 Canning in Tin Cans
24:26 Processing the Jam
25:02 The Next Morning Test
25:55 Success With Less Sugar Jam
