Gooseberry Jam

Gooseberries are not very familiar to North Americans but Europeans are very familiar with the gooseberry.  They have been grown for hundreds of years and are the perfect addition for the homesteader or backyard gardener.  Hopefully this delicious jam encourages you to plant a few bushes.  Cultivating and planting are easy and this is a low maintenance deer proof beautiful bush.

Growing Gooseberries

For jam, gooseberries should be soft and ripe.  Gooseberries can be either green or red.  I prefer the red because it makes a beautiful jam.  This recipe can be doubled.  It is a no pectin recipe because gooseberries are naturally high in pectin, but be sure to follow cooking instructions so it sets.

Makes 4 half pints

6 cups gooseberries ( tails and stems removed)
water or red currant juice
4 cups sugar
Pinch of salt

1.  In a large stainless steel pot, simmer gooseberries, covered in a little water or red currant juice.  Mash if desired

2.  When the berries have softened, add in the sugar and salt.


3.  Bring to a boil.  Boil uncovered for 10 or 15 minutes stirring occasionally until one of three things happens.  Actually all three will happen just decide how you will determine when the jam reaches gel stage.
1 .  Jam reaches gel stage 220 F use a kitchen thermometer. 
2.  Bubble change in texture; they become glossier and slower to pop.  
3.  The jam sheets off a spoon rather than drips.

Bubbles before gel stage

The bubbles when close to gel stage are glossier and slower to pop.

4.  Remove jam from heat skim if desired.

5.  Fill hot jars to 1/4 inch from the top, wipe rims, and seal.

6.  Process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes.  Add 10 minutes for high altitude areas.

7.  When finished processing, remove the canner lid and allow to sit for 10 minutes then remove jars from the water bath canner.

8.  ENJOY your delicious unique Gooseberry Jam!

Variation:-black currant jam substitute 1/2 to 1 cup black currants for 1/2 to 1 cup gooseberries.  This jam is similar to Jostaberry Jam.  The jostaberry bush is a cross between gooseberries and black currants.

Finished Gooseberry Jam!  I remove the rings for storage.