Make your own blackberry jam by canning fresh berries.
Can blackberries as a jam, jelly or butter to preserve their fresh, ripe flavor and enjoy them all year long. Blackberries are a high acid food and so may be canned in a water bath canner, as high acid foods require less heat to kill any bacteria present. The berries also have high water content which means they will not hold their shape once canned. When canning, the blackberries should be at their peak ripeness as they will not ripen once picked and canning will preserve their current flavor.
Instructions
1. Sterilize canning jars by boiling in water deep enough to completely cover the jars for 10 minutes. The jars must be no more than five inches deep to avoid bruising the fresh berries. Boil or wash the rings of the jars. Do not boil the lids as it will prevent proper sealing. Lids should be washed in mild, soapy water.
2. Wash the berries by soaking them in water deep enough to cover or by rinsing each berry individually. If there are bugs present, add one cup of salt per gallon of water to remove the bugs. Remove any berries that are bruised or cut off bad spots on the berries. Prepare the berries for canning according to the recipe you have selected.
3. Place the prepared blackberries in the jar. Allow for 1/4 inch head space. Head space is the distance between the top of the jar and the top of the contents inside. This space is necessary for proper sealing. Stop filling periodically and shake the jar gently to dislodge air bubbles.
4. Clean the rims of the jar with a damp cloth to remove any spatter or debris that could interfere with the seal. Dry the rims with a dry cloth.
5. Place the lid on the jar, followed by a ring. Using just your fingers, turn the ring until you are no longer able to turn it without applying force. This is called finger-tightening.
6. Place the jars in the canner and fill with water until the jars are completely covered and the water is approximately two inches deeper than the jars.
7. Process the jars in the canner for 10-20 minutes according to the recipe directions. Remove the jars with tongs and allow the jars to cool completely.
8. Test the seal of each jar by pressing down in the center of the lid. The lid should not move.
Tags: according recipe, deep enough, fresh berries, high acid, jars canner, preserve their
