Wild Strawberry Jam for Winter

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   How do you make wild strawberry jam for the winter? Gather the ingredients from the list.

2. Step 2:

   

   First sort through the wild strawberries, removing all the twigs, stems, and leaves. Then rinse them thoroughly but very gently in water — these are delicate berries that bruise easily. If it's been rainy and the berries are gritty with soil, it's best to soak them in plenty of water first, then carefully rinse and drain. Put the clean berries in a saucepan.

3. Step 3:

   

   Pour the sugar over the clean wild strawberries, give the pan a little shake so the sugar settles in among the berries, and let it stand for 2–3 hours at room temperature so the berries release their juice.

4. Step 4:

   

   We'll cook the jam in two stages. Set the pan of berries and sugar over slightly-above-medium heat, stirring gently from time to time. You can add a pinch of citric acid — it helps the jam keep better and gives it a brighter color. Once it comes to a boil, skim off the foam and leave the jam at room temperature for a few more hours until it cools completely.

5. Step 5:

   

   Then heat the jam back to a boil, stirring. Prepare your canning jars: scald them with boiling water or sterilize them in the oven, the microwave, or a pot of boiling water. Fill the prepared jars with the hot jam. Seal tightly with sterilized lids and turn upside down. Wrap them in something warm and leave until completely cool. Store the finished jam in a dark, dry place.