Old-Fashioned Strawberry Preserves

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Diana Rattray
Updated 04/30/21
Strawberry preserves recipe

​The Spruce / Teena Agnel
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Marinate Time: 4 hrs
Total: 4 hrs 45 mins
Servings: 16 servings
Yield: 4 (half-pint) jars
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
264 Calories
0g Fat
68g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories 264
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 68g 25%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 66g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 41mg 207%
Calcium 12mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 109mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This quick and easy recipe for strawberry preserves is made without added pectin. It's a vintage recipe and it makes about four half-pint jars that, when properly canned, will be shelf-stable. If you only want a small batch to refrigerate right away, use a small batch strawberry jam instead.

Use a candy thermometer for the best results. Serve your strawberry preserves with scones, biscuits, toast, or use as a filling for a layer cake or as a topping for ice cream.

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Ingredients

  • 3 pints ripe fresh strawberries

  • 5 cups granulated sugar

  • 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for strawberry preserves
    ​The Spruce / Teena Agnel

  2. Wash the strawberries in cold water and drain thoroughly. Hull them and discard the caps.

    Cut off strawberry tops
    ​The Spruce / Teena Agnel

  3. Combine the berries with the sugar in a large stainless steel or enamel-lined pan and let sit for 3 to 4 hours.

    Add sugar
    ​The Spruce / Teena Agnel 

  4. In a medium saucepot, bring the strawberries to a boil slowly, stirring occasionally. Add the lemon juice.

    Add lemon
    ​The Spruce / Teena Agnel

  5. Cook rapidly over medium heat until the strawberry mixture is clear and the syrup is thickened, or about 15 minutes.

    Cook
    ​The Spruce / Teena Agnel

  6. Ladle or funnel the strawberry preserves into hot, sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace.

    Ladle into jar
    ​The Spruce / Teena Agnel

  7. Process for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath.

    Process
    ​The Spruce / Teena Agnel

  8. Cool and store in the fridge until ready to use.

    Cool and store
    ​The Spruce / Teena Agnel

How to Test for Jelling Point of Jams, Jellies, and Preserves

  • Temperature: If you use a candy thermometer, cook the preserves to 220 F or 8 degrees above the boiling point. For each 1,000 feet of altitude above sea level, subtract 2 degrees. 
  • Freezer Test: Put a few small plates in the freezer. Near the end of the cooking time, begin to test. Drop a dab of jam on an ice-cold plate. Put it back in the freezer for 2 minutes. If the preserves wrinkle a bit when gently pushed with your finger, it is done. If it is still runny and your finger runs through it, continue cooking and test again in a few minutes.
  • Cold Spoon Test: Put a few metal spoons in the refrigerator. Dip a cold spoon into the boiling jelly and lift it. Let it run off the spoon. When two drops converge and "sheet" off the spoon, the preserves are done.

Tips

  • One pint of fresh strawberries weighs approximately 12 ounces. A 1-pound container, once the strawberries are hulled, will weigh about 12 to 14 ounces.
  • If the strawberry preserves set up properly, and you follow safe canning practices, the jars will keep for up to a year in a cool, dark place like your pantry.
  • If you're not sure if your preserves are properly canned, store them in the fridge and enjoy them within a month.
  • Be patient if the strawberry mixture is not reaching the gel point; it can take longer depending on altitude, the size of the batch, the pan size, and your stovetop. The proper temperature can't be reached until enough water has been evaporated, so if the berries have a high water content, this process will take longer. Warming the sugar beforehand can help speed things up.

What Is the Difference Between Strawberry Jam and Strawberry Preserves?

Jam and preserves are made in very similar ways and have a similar flavor, but there is one major difference. Preserves tend to be made with whole fruit, so the spread has bigger chunks of fruit than a jam, which is often made of mashed fruit for a smoother texture.