Floating Strawberries in my Jam - Darn It!!!!

[DutchsMommy]

OK, for those of you who make jam, I seem to have a major problem with the strawberries floating (seperating from the 'jelly' and settling at the top of the jar) when I make my jam. It happened again yesterday and I am ticked! I do fine with any other jam or marmalade I make but for some reason the strawberries just won't disburse nicely! I stirred for 7 mins (recipe said 5) after I took it off the heat to try and make SURE it didnt seperate this time, and still no luck. Anyone have any tips/experience?

 

[WendyZ]

I make strawberry freezer jam. Mine has to set on the counter for 24 hrs before heading to the freezer. So I turn it upside down half way through for a few hours and the berries slowly move through out the jam. Other than that they would stay at the top too. Hope that helps a little.

 

[chele4kids]

I found this on a canning website:

"I just recently got a copy of 175 Best Jams, Jellies, Marmalades and Other Soft Spreads, by Linda J Amendt. It turns out that it had a section on the topic of, "Preventing floating fruit."


According to the author, the most common cause of floating fruit is fruit that was chopped rather than crushed. She says that chopped fruit contains air trapped in the cells, and it does not absorb sugar well. She reminds people to cut the fruit into small pieces and then gently crush them with a potato masher."

I was always told that it had to do with how ripe or over-ripe the fruit was. This makes more sense, though. Good luck! I've also had success with turning the jars upside down for 24 hours after they've cooled.