I love to can strawberries because freezer space is often limited at my house. Plus, there is a multitude of ways to use canned strawberries later. Such an easy way to preserve your fruit.
My kids can’t seem to get enough of these sweet nuggets of goodness, and as a result, they usually eat the berries faster than I can preserve them. Truth be told, they eat them out of the garden before they are hardly ripe.
Be aware that the color and flavor of your canned strawberries becomes a little muted but that doesn’t mean they can’t be utilized in many lovely ways. Just look how beautiful this jar of canned goodies looks.
Canned Strawberries
Canning strawberries is not hard but does require some forethought and a bit of waiting.
INGREDIENTS
3 pounds strawberries
1/2-3/4 cup sugar
How to Can Whole Strawberries
These directions will make a 1-quart jar of canned strawberries.
The first step is to wash and hull 3 pounds of strawberries with a strawberry huller or a paring knife.
Hulling Strawberries
Next, we will place them in a saucepot and coat the berries with 1/2- 3/4 cup of sugar. Allow it to sit, rest, and “sweat” for 5-6 hours in a cool place.
Strawberries in a Pan
Next, place the pot on the stove and cook just until the strawberries are warm and the sugar is melted. Using a jar funnel, fill your hot quart jar leaving a 1/2 inch headspace.
Place the lid on top of the jar and add the ring. Tighten the ring to fingertip tight and process in a boiling water bath canner for 15 minutes if at sea level. (Remember to adjust the pressure for your elevation if higher than 1000 feet.) Don't start the timer until the water has come to a rolling boil. After the timer goes off, remove the lid, turn off the heat and allow the jars to cool for 10 minutes.
Then, place them on a heat-resistant surface about 1-2 inches apart and let them sit for 24 hours. Next, remove the rings and wash off the jars with hot soapy water. They should be stored in a cool, dry, dark location and used in the next 1-3 years. After that, the nutritional value begins to decrease.
If any jars didn't seal, place them in the refrigerator and use them right away.
Canned Strawberries
If you have any questions about canning with the boiling water canner or how to adjust the pressure for altitude, take a look at my canning basics videos.
