This guide highlights how to make freezer jam and jelly. Uncooked jams and jellies are easy to prepare and have a fresh fruit taste. They can be made from most fresh or frozen fruits or fruit juices. The other ingredients needed are commercial pectin, sugar and in some cases, lemon juice.

Uncooked jams and jellies must be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. However, do not store them in the freezer until after the gel is formed. This could take up to 24 hours. Placing them in the freezer too soon will prevent the jam or jelly from "setting."

After the gel has formed, they can be kept up to three weeks in a refrigerator or up to a year in a freezer. Freezer storage is best for maintaining natural color as well as flavor. Room temperature is not recommended because uncooked jellied products will mold or ferment in a short time. Once a container is opened, the product should be used within a few days.

This excellent reference about how to make freezer jam features several recipes, including: uncooked berry jelly, grape jelly, uncooked strawberry jam from fresh fruit, uncooked orange jelly and uncooked blackberry or raspberry jam from fresh fruit. This is an excellent way to delve into basic canning!