Can you freeze jam? - Freezing Hacks

When you make a lot of jam at home from your summer bounty and do not plan on canning them, freezing homemade jam is a great option. It extends the shelf life of the jam and you can enjoy it for up to a year.

Preparation

Cook: make the jam at home or you can use store bought jam too.
Cool: let the jam cool down completely to room temperature to prevent condensation.
Store-bought: for store bought unopened jar no prep work is needed. You can store the unopened jar as is in the freezer.

Instructions

Portion: portion the jam into jars or freezer safe containers. I like to use 8 oz. to 16. oz glass jars so that it can be consumed in few weeks after opening. Leave about ½ inch space at the top for jam to expand in the freezer.
Label: Mark the jars and containers with the details of the contents like "blueberry jam", quantity (8 oz, 16 oz, etc), and the date. Labeling helps to identify the contents later without having to open the containers.

Storage choices

Glass jars: Ball jars and other freezer safe glass jars work well to store jam in the freezer. Just ensure that you lock the lid tightly to avoid formation of icy crystals.
Airtight containers: freezer-safe air-tight containers made of plastic or silicone can be used.
Silicone ice cube trays: freeze the jam for 10-12 hours in the silicone ice cube trays. After that transfer the cubes to another container or ziplock bag.
Ziplock bags: Although, not an ideal choice for jams, but ziplock bags can also be used to freeze jam. It is better to freeze it in double layer inside another container to prevent freezer burn.

How to thaw frozen jam

Refrigerator: place the jar or container of frozen jam in the refrigerator overnight or for 10-12 hours.
Microwave: For quicker thawing, open the jam container and use the defrost setting on the microwave in intervals of 10-15 seconds.

Usage

Toast: add a dollop of homemade jam on your morning toast or croissant.
Pastries: you can make pie, tarts, and pastries filled with homemade jam.
Ice cream: swirl some jam into your homemade ice cream.
Yogurt: mix in some homemade jam with to make a yogurt parfait.

Duration

Jam can be stored for up to a year in the freezer. After thawing it, it is best to consume it within 2 months.

More freezing hacks:

Looking for other ideas like this? Try these: