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Prep time
30 minutes
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Cook time
20 minutes
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Serves
8
Author Notes
This easy and delicious recipe is Instant Pot-friendly! After trying this recipe, I swear you will never buy those store-bought jams/preserves ever again. —Jiya.A
Test Kitchen Notes
Yes, all you need is three ingredients to make a sweet, delicious strawberry preserve that you can enjoy all season long—no need to wait for fresh strawberries! That being said, always use fresh, never frozen, berries when you're making any kind of preserves. Because you leave the berries mostly whole, you'll find the consistency is rather chunkier than your typical store-bought jam, but that's what makes the fresh berry flavor shine. You can also experiment with the amount of sugar, depending how sweet you like your preserves, or try throwing some fresh lemon zest into the mix as well. The best part is you don't need any pectin (which is traditionally used for thickening) in this recipe, and you can also make it in your Instant Pot!
Canning may be a little labor intensive, but the effort will be well worth it whenever you're craving the sweetness of fresh strawberries (or honestly whatever in-season berries you feel like preserving!). This strawberry preserve pairs so well with creamy peanut butter and some banana slices. Or lather the preserves on some muffins and/or homemade bread when you wake up in the morning. Pair it with almost any dessert and you'll have a showstopper of a treat on your hands. Just be sure to have your canning jars ready to go and sterilized before you begin this project. And be sure to label and date your jars so you can gauge how long they've been hanging out at room temperature/in the refrigerator. —The Editors
Ingredients
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4 cups
fresh hulled strawberries, halved if large
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1 1/2 cups
fine cane sugar
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1/2 cup
fresh lemon juice
Directions
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Wash and clean the strawberries thoroughly. In a large bowl, toss the strawberries and sugar and let rest for about 10 minutes.
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Into a large, heavy, stainless steel saucepan (or Instant Pot on Sauté mode), pour the strawberry mixture. Stir in the lemon juice.
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Cook on low heat (or Sauté mode), stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes, until the berries release their juices, the sugar dissolves, and the mixture starts to come to a slow boil. Mix well with a spatula and mash the berries lightly, leaving tiny chunks in the mixture.
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Once the mixture is thick and coats the back of a wooden spoon, remove from the heat (or press "Cancel" on the Instant Pot).
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Make sure you have the canning jars/glass jars ready for storing the preserves. The glass jars should be hot (wash with hot water), sterilized, and dry.
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Divide the strawberry mixture among the jars, making sure it's airtight. Store in a cool, dry place or refrigerate. It will stay fresh for 1 to 2 months.
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