Strawberry-Ginger Limeade Freezer Jam

1. Wash and dry five 8-oz. freezer-safe containers, glass jars, or freezer jars.

2. Place half of the strawberries in a large baking dish and mash with a potato masher. (This gives the finished jam a better consistency than using a blender or food processor to break down the strawberries a bit.) Transfer mashed strawberries to a large bowl and repeat with the remaining berries. (You should have about 4 cups mashed strawberries.) Stir lime juice, zest, and ginger into the fruit.

3. Whisk the sugar and instant pectin together. Pour sugar mixture into the strawberries in a steady stream. Stir constantly 3 minutes. Spoon jam into freezer containers, leaving a 1/2-inch headspace to allow for expansion in the freezer. Seal and label. Let jam jars stand at room temperature 24 hours before freezing.

4. Freeze jam up to 1 year. To use, let jam thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Thawed jam will keep up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator. Makes 5 half-pints.

Pectin 411

Pectin is a gelatinous carbohydrate that's naturally present in some fruits, and it's the key to jelling. It comes in powdered and liquid forms, and we suggest using instant powdered pectin (such as Sure-Jell or Ball) for this recipe. Avoid substituting one form of pectin for another and add it as directed in the recipe. Using less (or different) pectin is likely to deliver a syrupy result.

To use regular pectin (not instant):

To use regular pectin (not instant), wash and dry six 8-oz. freezer-safe containers, glass jars, or freezer jars. Prepare strawberries as directed in Step 2. In a large saucepan combine the sugar and one 1.75-oz. pkg. powdered fruit pectin for low-sugar recipes, such as Sure-Jell Premium Fruit Pectin for Use in Less or No Sugar Needed Recipes (in pink box), and 1 cup water. Bring mixture to boiling over medium-high; boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add strawberry mixture; stir 1 minute. Follow directions in Step 3 to fill containers, seal, label, and let stand. Freeze and thaw to use as directed in Step 4. Makes 6 half-pints.