Name: Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1-1/4 lbs strawberries, hulled and quartered, 4 cups prepared; 1 -1/4 lbs Rhubarb, trimmed, sliced into ¼ inch pieces, 4 cups prepared; 5 1/2 Tbsps. Ball® Classic Pectin; 3 1/2 cups sugar; 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract; 1 teaspoon butter

This strawberry rhubarb jam recipe can be made with fresh or frozen rhubarb and your choice of fresh or frozen strawberries. This recipe has lower sugar than other recipes but it is not short on garden-fresh fruit flavors.

4 jars of Strawberry Rhubarb Jam with toast

Rhubarb is a plant that once established, can produce for upwards of 20 years. I walk you through how to plant rhubarb in this post. I have a large rhubarb plant in my garden and when I have a good harvest year I am able to make recipes such as rhubarb orange chutney (amazing added to a cheese board!), rhubarb-cast-iron-crisp, rhubarb cake, rhubarb bread with orange icing and my personal favorite, rhubarb strawberry margarita!

More rhubarb recipes:

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam Ingredients:

Rhubarb – fresh if you have it but frozen will work. Be sure to not pour off the liquid from the rhubarb if you are using frozen. Include the liquid in your recipe.
Strawberries – washed, stems removed, hulled and quartered. Frozen strawberries can be substituted for fresh.
Sugar – white granular sugar is what I use
Pectin – ball canning has both pre-portioned boxed, and a resealable container. Either option will work in this recipe.
Vanilla Extract – I make my own vanilla extract but use what you have at home.
Butter – unsalted butter, just a teaspoon, will help reduce the foam on the jam.

strawberries and rhubarb in a pan for jam

How to make Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

Prepare a boiling water bath canner. Heating jars in simmering water until ready to use, but do not boil. Wash lids in warm soapy water and set aside with clean, damage-free bands.
Crush strawberries and slice rhubarb into 1/2 inch pieces.
In a heavy bottom pot combine the strawberries, sliced rhubarb and stir in pectin.
Turn heat to medium and bring mixture to a simmer to help soften rhubarb.
Bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down, stirring constantly.
Add sugar, vanilla and butter all at once, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
Return jam to a full rolling boil. Boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat and ladle hot jam into a hot jar leaving a 1/4 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Wipe jar rim, apply band, adjust to fingertip tight. Place jar in boiling water canner. Repeat until all jars are filled.
Process jars 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool 12-24 hours. Check lids for seal, they should not flex when the center is pressed.
Any jars that did not properly seal should be stored in the refrigerator.

This post was adapted from the recipe on PreservingFresh.com

Do you have to can this jam?

This jam should be processed in a water-bath canner to make the jam shelf stable but if a water bath canner is not available, freezer jam can be made.

Follow all the instructions up until the water bath canning process but instead of placing the jars into the water, allow them to cool on the counter for 24 hours before freezing the jars. Be sure to use freezer save containers when making freezer jam.

Tips for this recipe:

Be sure to remove the leaves of the rhubarb, they are not edible.
Check the rhubarb to ensure it is spoon or fork tender. It may take longer than 10 minutes to soften.
Fresh rhubarb is best but use frozen if that is all you can find. Just be sure to add any liquid that releases from the frozen rhubarb.
Serve on a buttered, toasted English muffin.
The butter is added to help reduce the foam. It is optional.

More Jam Recipes:

Yield: 6 half pints