Strawberry Watermelon Jam

Canning jam is a great way to preserve the sweet fresh fruit of spring and summer, but what about making a jam that will literally transport your taste-buds to summer? Strawberry Watermelon Jam is just that, sweet, bright, fresh, and a true taste of summer.

If you’re at all familiar with the numerous other jam recipes on my site, you know I’m a big fan of combo flavors. I love a good classic strawberry jam, but when making homemade jam, why not experiment and make things you’ll never find on a grocery store shelf?

Sweet strawberries and fresh summer watermelon are flavors that go naturally together so well, in salads, in juices, so why not in jam? I had high hopes from the beginning for this one and let me tell you, it did not let down! It was magical from the first taste and dare I say it…it may be my favorite jam!

Okay, I know, I say that every time I make a new jam, so let’s say this is my favorite summer jam! That’s exactly how it tastes, like summer in a jar. If you’re ready to preserve some summer flavor, look no further than this sweet, fresh, bright strawberry watermelon jam.

Canning Tools & Steps

Before I get into the process for cooking and making this jam, I always like to remind any newbie home preserve makers that there are some tools and steps that ensure safe canning and quality jam every time. Not to mention making the process simpler for you!

Canning Equipment

• A large canning pot with canning rack – You can buy a canning pot, or use a large wide stock pot and simply buy an insert that keeps the jars from the bottom of the pot (shattered jars are no fun!).
• Jar clamps – This is essential, trust me!
• Hand Protection – I like to use thick gloves, but my mom goes with towels, just be aware those jars will be HOT.
• Funnel – A good wide mouth one works well for canning.
• Ladle – I like a nice metal one for working with hot jam, especially if you can get one with a hook that holds it on the side of the pot.
• 8 ounce mason jars(or whatever jars you choose to use) – I like 8 ounce jars because I go through it faster, which means more jam variety in my fridge, but you can use any jar with NEW lids.
• You can also buy a canning set, but there are tools in there I never use, so that’s up to you!

Once you’ve got your canning equipment assembled, read through these canning steps. They happen while your jam is cooking, so it’s important to know when and how to complete each step!

• Before you start cooking your recipe fill your canning pot with enough water to cover your canning jars by 1 inch. Bring it to a boil over high heat. 
• While your cooking place your clean jars in the pot of boiling water for a minute or so to warm them up. This prevents cracking from a temperature difference when you add the hot food to them. 
• Remove them from the water with your jar clamps and place them on a towel upside down to let the water run out. Make sure your jar clamps are angled as the picture shows below to prevent hot water from running down onto your hand or stove.

• When your preserves are done, flip the jars over using your hand protection, they’ll still be hot.
• Using your funnel and ladle, fill jars immediately with your hot preserves, leaving ¼” of space between the rim and the jam. 

• Wipe the rims clean carefully with a warm, damp paper towel then dry them completely. This is important for the jam to seal properly.
• Place seals on and using your hand protection, screw on the lids as tightly as you can. Then use your jar clamps to submerge the jars in the boiling water again. 
• Allow to ‘process’ in the boiling water for 10 minutes. Remove and set them on a towel, (they’ll be very hot!) and leave them at room temperature until each lid has ‘popped’ 

Pro Tip: You’ll know the jars are ready for the cupboard when you hear a ‘pop’ of the seal locking. You can also check this by pushing down on the center of the seal. If it clicks, it isn’t done yet. This can take up to 24 hours, so be patient!

Ingredients

As with most jam recipes, you’ll find that the ingredient lists isn’t long or complex, it’s all about the right balance of sugar, fruit, and when necessary, pectin.

• Strawberries – Either fresh or frozen strawberries are perfect for this. While fresh strawberries definitely do the job on delivering flavor, I actually preferred frozen. They broke down better and resulted in an evenly textured final jam. Be sure to let them thaw at least halfway, and discard the excess liquid.
• Watermelon – You’ll need roughly half a large watermelon for this. Look for one with a yellow field spot or one that feels heavy for it’s size for best flavor.
• Lemon – Just a splash to brighten things up!
• Sugar – Classically made jam is not a health food! There is sugar, and that’s what makes it delicious. White sugar is my go to for jam making.
• Regular pectin – you’ll need a shallow half cup or 1 packet of regular pectin for this. For questions on using low or no sugar pectin, please see FAQ’s.
• Butter – This is completely optional, it doesn’t affect flavor or the set up of the jam. Adding a mere teaspoon of unsalted butter however will prevent any foaming during the cooking. Foam is not harmful in any way, but it doesn’t look great in the jars and I don’t love skimming it off, so I add butter!

That’s it, pretty simple! Now I see a lot of recipes out there lately touting ‘no pectin’ as some sort of selling point and I’m here to tell you, the jam is not better or worse for using pectin. Some fruits contain enough natural pectin to set up beautifully on their own, like my loquat jam. Others, like this strawberry watermelon jam, use fruits that have little or no natural pectin, so we add powdered pectin (which is naturally derived from pectin rich fruits) to help the jam set up quickly without cooking the fruit to death.

I’m pro-pectin all the way. It keeps jam cooking times consistent, it allows for a beautifully set up final jam, and takes a lot of guesswork steps out of the process. It’s inexpensive (order pectin here) and I recommend stocking it to anyone who likes the idea of homemade jam.

Read more about pectin and the various types of home preserves in my Jams, Jellies, and Home Preserves Guide.

A Note on Pectin – 1 box of pectin is 1.75 ounces, to use regular (not low sugar) bulk pectin, use 6 level tablespoons unless directed otherwise by the package instructions. This is a shallow 1/2 cup. 

How to Make Strawberry Watermelon Jam

With your canning equipment in hand and your canning pot of water coming to a boil, you’re ready to get started! The actual jam making process is simple, and you’re kitchen will smell incredible.

1. First we’ll need some watermelon juice. Start by removing the rind and chopping the watermelon into rough cubes. Then pop them in your blender or food processor to create a puree. Drain the puree through a fine mesh sieve and collect the juice.
2. Next combine the strawberries, watermelon juice, pectin, and lemon juice in a large pot. If you’re using a dab of butter, add that now. Place over medium high heat and stir. Keep stirring gently but frequently until the mixture comes to a rapid boil that does not stop even when you stir.
3. When you’ve reached that rapid boil, begin adding the sugar. Stir the entire time you add the sugar, and continue to gently stir after, until the mixture returns to a rapid boil that does not stop even as you stir. Begin timing for exactly 1 minute and 10 seconds.
4. When the time has elapsed, remove the jam from the heat and proceed with your canning! (see above!). Or ladle into jars, allow to cool, and store in the fridge.

Regardless of whether you choose to can, freeze, or just pop your jam in the fridge, know that an open (not sealed by canning) jar of jam is safe in your fridge for up to 1 month. This yields enough for six 8 ounce jars of jam that can be canned, with enough extra to enjoy immediately.

Should you choose not to can this, allow the jam to cool completely before you place in the fridge.

FAQ’s

Enjoy your Taste of Summer

Try your homemade jam on everything! Homemade drop biscuits, classic shortbread cookies, a toasted slice of white whole wheat bread, or a fun summery version of these easy raspberry twists are all great options. to simple whole wheat sandwich bread. It’s incredible how the freshness of watermelon comes through and brightens up the strawberry flavor. It’s sweet and summery and I know this is certainly going to become a yearly ritual for us now. I hope it’s that for you too. Enjoy, and until next time, Happy Eating!

If you liked this jam recipe check out these!

• Pomegranate Cranberry Jam
• Pomegranate Jelly
• Pear Butter
• Quick and Easy Blueberry Compote
• Strawberry Jam
• Cherry Vanilla Jam
• Loquat Jam