How to Fix Freezer Jam
Instructions for how to fix freezer jam that didn’t thicken using liquid fruit pectin.
Sometimes homemade freezer jam can be too runny. If your homemade jam turned out more like syrup rather than jam, then follow these instructions for how to fix freezer jam that didn’t set.
What is the difference between jam and jelly?
Jellies are made from the fruit juice squeezed from the fruit. Jams are made from crushed or cut-up fruit.
Jams are thick but not firm like jellies.
I love the small chunks of fruit in homemade freezer jam.
Remaking runny freezer jam can seem like a pain, but it it worth the results. You have probably have already invested a good amount of money into fresh ingredients.
We prefer using Certo Liquid Fruit Pectin when fixing runny freezer jam.
Three Steps on How to Fix Freezer Jam
- Sanitize containers
- Set aside a trial batch
- Prepare the remainder of batch
Looking for a Freezer Jam Recipe?
This is the recipe for our favorite Strawberry Freezer Jam.
Freezer Jam is a perfect recipe for beginners because the fruit doesn’t need to be cooked and you can prepare a whole batch in 30 minutes or less.
How to Fix Freezer Jam
Ingredients
- 1 cup jam that didn't set
- 3 Tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Certo Liquid Fruit Pectin
Instructions
- PREPARE containers: Rinse clean containers and lids with boiling water; dry thoroughly.
- PREPARE A TRIAL BATCH: Measure 1 cup of jam into small bowl. Add sugar and lemon juice. Stir 3 minutes until sugar is completely dissolved. Add liquid pectin. Stir an additional 3 minutes. Pour into one of the prepared containers. Cover and let stand 24 hours before checking to see if set. Store opened pouch of pectin in refrigerator.
- PREPARE REMAINDER OF BATCH: If the trial batch sets correctly, prepare remaining jam. DO NOT remake more than 8 cups of jam at one time. Use the same directions and measurements as for trial batch per 1 cup of remaining jam. Pour into prepared containers. Cover and let stand 24 hours before freezing.
Notes
- 3 teaspoons = 1 Tablespoon
- 8 Tablespoons = 1/2 cup
- 16 Tablespoons = 1 cup
How to Use Strawberry Freezer Jam
We also like to use this jam in our No Churn Cheesecake Ice Cream.
You can even use a few tablespoons of jam to make strawberry milk. We use strawberry milk in lots of recipes like Strawberry Milk Bubble Tea and Milk and Cereal Breakfast Popsicles.
Warm up with this Strawberry White Hot Chocolate with Homemade Whipped Cream.
24 Comments on “How to Fix Freezer Jam”
I used liquid pectin the first time and the fruit separated and was all at the top and it did not set. This recipe helped fix my strawberry freezer jelly PERFECTLY! THANK YOU! I did it in two batches. First with 2 cups then with 3 cups. Followed your instructions to the T until 3 mins of mixing the sugar and lemon juice was not dissolving the sugar all the way so I popped it in the microwave for 25 seconds and viola. Then I mixed for another minute then added the liquid pectin exactly as instructed. Worked beautifully! THANKS AGAIN!
can you take your freezer and fix it and refreeze it?
If I used the low sugar pectin to start with Will this liquid pectin work to fix the jam that did not set enough?
I made a mistake and used twice the amount of pectin for my freezer strawberry jam. My jam is now very thick. How can I correct this. I have already put my jars of jam in my freezer
My freezer jam accidentally got too much sugar! Very thick and sweet. Anyway to fix it?
Can I use this to fix freezer jam that I used the powder pectin originally?
quite a lot of strawberry freezer jam using surejell powder. 18 containers are runny and never set up. How can I fix?
Do you really need to add the extra sugar? The jam is pretty sweet as it is.
Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! Never had runny jam before and you saved it. Thanks so much!
Thank you so much for this recipe. I thought I was going to have to throw out 3 batches of jam. Don’t know what happened this year. I have been making jam for years. Your recipe was a life saver. ❤️🍓Laurie
Ok… Sorry to ask – but I actually made the jam and put it in jars… it is not 24 hours later – and it didn’t set. So…. do I follow above instructions – which means I add more pectin… first do a trial batch and if that sets -complete the rest of the jars? Can I dump all the jars in one bowl and go from there – since I would have to wash and dry all the jars?
i have the same question but haven’t seen an answer yet, did you get a reply?
Same. I dumped all my jam (approx 8 cups) back into a large bowl, added more liquid pectin (1 pkg), and re-bottled it. As I already had 2 pkgs of pectin in it already, I thought 1 more would make it good, and it did! Just add a little more pectin, it’ll be fine 🙂
hello Katrina ~
I’ve just now followed your directions, fingers crossed my jam will set up now! I’m wondering if you recommend letting it stand for 24 hrs on the counter or in the refrigerator?
Thanks in advance for your help (again!).
My strawberry freezer jam didn’t set because by mistake I didn’t add the correct amount of sugar. I had let it set for 24 hours before I realized it. I remade it adding the missing sugar. Do I need to let it set another 24 hours?
why the extra sugar?
Hi there! Can I still fix freezer jam that has already been frozen? it’s been in the freezer for 3 days. I noticed it didn’t set correctly by the color difference. Sure enough I thawed some that is too runny.
Never mind, I just saw the comment below about this.
My jam is uber sweet. I had the correct amount of sugar but I can still feel granules in it. Can I cut back on the sugar. 2 cups of strawberries, 4 cups sugar? It seems like too much.
I made freezer jam, but it has turned out runny. I have frozen it. Would it be possible to thaw it out and follow these instructions to thicken it?
Thanks!
I’m not sure I would try that after it has been frozen. Mostly it’s not a good idea to defrost something and then refreeze.
After about 2 weeks my freezer jam molded. I have never had this happen, any suggestions as to why this happened?
Thanks
Possibly the containers were not sanitized thoroughly?
Yummy!