How to Make Blueberry Jam

If you've never tried your hand at jam-making before, then we have a recipe for your that's virtually foolproof and needs just three (yes three!!) basic ingredients.

Blueberry jam has to be one of our absolute favorites. It's the perfect accompaniment to warm, homemade biscuits; it's wonderful spread on golden toast for breakfast.... it even tastes great with ice cream (try it and see!).

Many jam recipes call for pectin, a natural product that helps jams set and jellies gel! And whilst pectin-based jam recipes are perfectly good, we actually prefer making it without. For one thing, it means there's just one less ingredient to worry about - after all, simple recipes are the best! 

But we also find that the shorter cooking time needed for pectin-based jams really doesn't develop the flavor of the fruit in quite the same way as recipes like this one, which require the fruit to be cooked for longer and allow more of the moisture to evaporate. 

How to make blueberry jam 

• 1 lb blueberries (fresh, or frozen without syrup and thawed)
• 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

1. Put the blueberries in a heavy based pan.
2. Crush the fruit with a potato masher to release the juices. How much you crush the fruit will depend on how chunky you like your jam!
3. Add the sugar and lemon juice to the pan and steadily simmer all the ingredients together over a low heat, stirring frequently (this is important, or the jam will stick).
4. Continue to cook gently for about 25 to 30 minutes, skimming off any foam that may appear on top of the mixture.
5. When you think the jam is ready, it's time to test the consistency.

How do you know when the jam is done?

Put a small plate in the freezer before you start preparing the jam. When you think the jam is ready, take the plate out of the freezer and spoon a little blob of jam on to it. Put it into the fridge for a couple of minutes to cool. If the jam appears set, with a 'skin' on its surface, it's ready to put in the jars! If not, simply carry on cooking, checking again every 5 minutes, until it's ready.

Storing your homemade jam

Once the jam is ready, put it into sterilized jars, seal them and label them with the date. You can keep unopened jars of jam in a cool, dry place for up to a year, although they will have a fuller flavor during the first 6 months after preparation. Once you've opened the jam, keep it in the fridge. We guarantee it won't last long!

Now you've mastered making blueberry jam, why not try your hand at blueberry jelly, too!