The classic way to preserve strawberries is by boiling them down. This means that the fruity enjoyment from your own garden is preserved for a long time. Find out here how it works on the stove, in the oven and in twist-off jars.
How can I preserve strawberries?
To preserve strawberries, fill clean jars with cleaned fruits, pour sugar water over them (300 g sugar to 1 liter of water) and close the jars. Heat the jars in a water bath (75°C, 25 minutes) and allow them to cool so that a vacuum is formed.
Cleanliness is the top priority
Hygiene is of the utmost importance so that the preserving process goes smoothly. Bacteria are killed in the preserving food; Of course, the shelf life of the strawberries is only guaranteed in completely clean jars. In addition, all work materials must be meticulously cleaned before canning. For the preparatory work, we recommend proceeding according to the following checklist:
- wash all everyday items with hot water
- Fill glasses with water, place in a pot with water and bring to the boil
- Screw lid also boil in water until bubbling
- Wipe rubber rings with vinegar and also place them in boiling hot water
- Let mason jars dry upside down
- Air dry rings and lids on a clean kitchen towel
After the materials have been sterilized, it is the turn of the freshly harvested strawberries. Only use ripe, undamaged fruits. Do not wash these under running water, but in a bowl. Cut off the green sepals in the last step so that the fruits do not soak up unnecessarily with water. Only now is it weighed so that the recipe for preserving is correct.
Traditionally canning strawberries on the stove
Once the preparations are complete, it's time for the actual preserving. Fill the strawberries into the glass jars without applying strong pressure. Then dissolve 300 grams of sugar in 1 liter of water and pour the mixture over the strawberries. Now wipe the edge of the glass, place the rubber ring on it and close the jar with a retaining clip. This is how it continues:
- place the preserving containers in a large pot so that three quarters of them are in water
- attach a special thermometer to the edge of the kettle for preserving purposes
- heat the water to 75 degrees for 25 minutes
- After cooking, leave the glasses in the water for a few minutes
Last but not least, take the mason jars out of the kettle and spread a tea towel over them. Water vapor and air now contract again, forming the desired vacuum. After canning, store the preserved strawberries in a cool and dark room.
Preserving in the oven made easy
Investing in a special canning kettle is not always worth it. Instead, use your oven to preserve your strawberries. Place the filled and sealed glass containers on a high baking tray filled with 2 centimeters of water. Heat the oven to 175 degrees for 25 minutes. The strawberry jars then cool in the oven for 30 minutes.
Tips & Tricks
When canning strawberries in twist-off jars, the cooking process in the jars is unnecessary. Instead, prepare the recipe in a pot and pour the finished mixture into the glass containers. After screwing on the lid, turn each jar upside down for a few minutes.
