Making your own rhubarb jam could not be easier! It’s a perfect way to preserve this wonderful flavor of summer to enjoy all year long!
One of the favorite flavors of early summer is certainly rhubarb. It is good in both sweet and savory recipes. The only problem with rhubarb is that the season is sooo short! You are lucky if you can find it 2-3 weeks out of the year.
There are 2 great solutions to this dilemma. The first is to make your own jam. This jam can be processed in a water bath canning pot and will last you all winter long (if you do enough, that is).
The second is to grow your own. It is one of the easiest plants to grow and it’s a perennial, so it comes up every year!
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What part of the rhubarb plant is edible?
The ONLY part of the rhubarb plant that is edible are the young, tender stems. The leaves are toxic and must be removed and discarded!! The leaves contain large quantities of Oxalic acid and can cause severe symptoms, and, in rare cases, even death.
What you need
- rhubarb stalks (petioles) – wash them well and cut into small pieces.
- sugar – sugar – you can also use other sweeteners like honey or a sugar substitute.
- water- you can also use a neutral flavored juice like apple or white grape.
- lemon juice – always use bottled lemon when canning
- pectin – classic pectin is fine for this recipe.
How to make rhubarb jam
Wash jars and lids with hot soapy water. Rinse well. Prepare your water bath canning pot. Get that started because it can take up to 45 minutes to come to a boil.
- Cut rhubarb stalks into 1/2″ pieces.
- Place in large pot with 1/2 cup sugar.
- Mix.
- Add water add lemon juice. Bring to boil. Stir constantly to avoid burning.
- Reduce heat to medium, simmer until softened, about 20 minutes. Add pectin. Bring to boil over medium high heat that can not be stirred down.
- Add the rest of sugar.
- Bring back to a full rolling boil that can not be stirred down. Boil for 1 minute.
- Stir for another minute or so. If a lot of foam has accumulating and did not stir down, skim the foam with a slotted spoon.
- Fill hot jam into hot jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles with plastic or wooden tool. Wipe jar rims. Attach lids and screw bands on fingertip tight. Process, according to recipe instructions, adjusting for altitude.
Health benefits of rhubarb
Rhubarb is considered a vegetable. The edible stems of the rhubarb plant have quite a few health benefits. Rhubarb is high in vitamin C & K, potassium, manganese and others. It also contains more protein than a glass of milk, according to an article from The Spruce.
A recent study suggests promise for rhubarb in aiding with control of high blood pressure during pregnancy, so it may help to avoid pre-eclampsia, according to Livestrong.
Don’t miss our complete step by step guide to canning.
What to eat with rhubarb jam
- English Muffins with Cream Cheese and Rhubarb Jam
- White Bread with Peanut Butter and Rhubarb Jam
- Rye Bread with Rhubarb Jam
- Grilled Chicken with Rhubarb Jam
- Belgian Waffles with Rhubarb Jam
- French Toast
- Rhubarb Pie
- Vanilla Ice Cream
- Rhubarb Bars
- Rhubarb Crisp
Pro tips for your success
- It’s of great importance to bring the jam to a full rolling boil. This means that as you stir it quickly, you should still it boiling. Don’t rush this step or the jam may not set.
- Use either fresh or frozen rhubarb to make jam.
- Adjust your time for altitude. Altitude adjustments in notes below.
- Recipe can be multiplied but do not do more than 5 times the recipe as written. If you would like to do more, you need to make multiple batches.
- You can make this jam low sugar too. The yield will be less the less sugar that you use. In other words, if you use ½ cup of sugar, you will end up with 2 half pints. If you add less sugar, you will end up with less jam.
- One batch make 2 ½ pints.
- If you would like to make strawberry rhubarb jam, use 4 cups of rhubarb to 1 cup of strawberries.
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Other delicious homemade jams
More rhubarb recipes
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That’s how easy it is to make Rhubarb Jam. Thanks for stopping by today!
Enjoy! And have fun cooking!
Xoxo,
Easy Rhubarb Jam
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds rhubarb stems chopped, about 5 cups
- 2 cups Sugar
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh or bottled bottled
- 3 3/4 tablespoon Ball RealFruit™ Low or No-Sugar Pectin
Instructions
- Sterilize clean jars, according to these directions,
- Place rhubarb, water & lemon juice in large saucepan.
- Bring to boil. Lower flame and cook at high simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rhubarb is tender.
- Increase heat and bring back to boil. Next add pectin and 1/2 cup of the sugar.
- Bring back to boil and, stirring continuously, bring to a boil that can not be stirred down.
- Add the rest of sugar, once the jam has come back to a boil that can not be stirred down, boil for one more minute.
- Fill jars, leaving 1/2" headspace. If processing, process in water bath canning pot for 15 minutes. Turn off burner, leaving jars in hot water for 5 minutes.
- Carefully remove jars from canning pot. Allow to cool on counter.
- If chunks of fruit seem to be floating, turn jars upside down for a while (20-30 minutes), then turn them right side up. Repeat this as many times as necessary to distribute fruit throughout the jam. I did it 2 times. Make sure you end up with the jam in the bottom of the jar. If it cools too much, the jam will stay in the top of the jar.
- Check seals after 24 hours. If lids pop when pressed in the middle, the jars have not sealed properly and should be stored in refrigerator.
- If you do not process the jars, store in refrigerator but they may only last a couple months, depending on your individual conditions.
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Nutrition
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Originally published June 1 2019 Updated May 4 2022
Rae
I just made this for the second time. It’s quite yummy. The first time I just measured 5 cups of chopped rhubarb and I ended up with slightly less than 3 half pint/250 mL jars. So this time I weighed the rhubarb (ended up about 6 cups with the rhubarb I was using) and still I ended up with about 3.5 jars instead of 5. I’ll have to tweak the recipe a bit to get a full batch. But I just had some on toast and quite enjoyed it; thanks for the recipe!
Beth Neels
I’m so glad you liked it Rae! You may have cooked it down more than I did. Did you use the same amount of sugar? That will effect the yield as well.
Rae
Sorry, just saw this now, thanks for the response, Beth. Maybe I did cook it down more. Once time we made strawberry rhubarb jam with the occasional “fish bone” as my sister called it, from bits that weren’t quite soft enough so I do make sure it’s all very soft now! I used the amount of sugar you indicated in the recipe.
Beth Neels
Lol. I have certainly been there and done that! 🙂 I don’t get too stressed out over the finished output as long as it tastes good and has a good texture. Thanks for trying out the recipe Rae!
Joan
Can you use frozen Rhubarb. It’s nearly impossible to find fresh here.
Beth Neels
Yes, you absolutely can use frozen rhubarb. Thanks for checking out the recipe Joan!
Jennifer
Hi Beth, Binky! I’m about to make this delicious sounding recipe but nowhere can I find how many pints it makes. I’ve sterilized 6 pint jars; did I guess correctly? This is for the rhubarb jam with the 5 cups of rhubarb. Thanks
Beth Neels
Hi Jennifer. Sorry about that. I added how many tablespoons it makes otherwise the nutrition program I have will give you the calories for any entire pint. This recipe makes about 2.5 pints. I’ll add it to the recipe notes. Thanks for trying it. Let me know how you like it!
Elaine Benoit
Rhubarb is my FAVORITE. I look forward every year for the season to arrive. This year it has been scarce. I finally nabbed some on Thursday and now I’ll get to make your delicious jam. I can’t wait!
Beth Neels
Yes, I love Rhubarb too, Elaine! You can grown it in a large pot too. You should try that and then you can take it with you, if you move! Thank you so much for the comment, my friend!
Patty
Love rhubarb jam and your recipe looks so easy, can’t wait to try it!
Beth Neels
Thanks Patty! It really is quite delicious!
Sara Welch
What a great recipe to have on hand for my toast at breakfast! Looks delicious!
Beth Neels
It’s perfect for toast toast and muffins and bagels! Thanks Sara!
emily
Lately I love dipping paninis in jam and this is the perfect flavor!
Beth Neels
Oh, yum! That is great idea! Like melted cheese and rhubarb jam would be awesome! Thanks Emily!
Anita
Oh, I have never tried making rhubarb jam before. I need to give this recipe a try. 🙂
Beth Neels
It really is delicious! Thanks Anita!
Roxana
I have never made rhubarb jam. So its nice to have this recipe. So simple and easy too.
Beth Neels
It really is easy! Thank you Roxana!
Stephanie
Such a great way to use rhubarb. I’ve never had rhubarb jam but my Mom used to make these really good rhubarb pies so I can’t wait to try this.
Beth Neels
I love rhubarb pie too! As a matter of fact, anything with rhubarb is a treat! Thanks Stephanie!