Can chia and honey be used in canned jams? - Ask Extension
Lately I've seen a lot of recipes for "low sugar jam" that use honey for sweetness and chia for a thickener. Can this jam be water-bath cann...
Knowledgebase
Can chia and honey be used in canned jams? #877707
Asked July 17, 2024, 7:12 PM EDT
Lately I've seen a lot of recipes for "low sugar jam" that use honey for sweetness and chia for a thickener. Can this jam be water-bath canned or must it stay in the refrigerator? I am hoping to make berry jam with little to no sugar.
Clackamas County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Rita,
Great question!
You may preserve a low-sugar jam or jelly using honey instead of sugar in a boiling water or steam canner. It may affect the flavor of the jam. Be sure to use a pectin that is listed specifically as a low- or no-sugar pectin. I've included a link for our publication Low-Sugar Jams & Jellies/Fruit Spreads and Pectin Facts for reference.
We don't have resources for preserving jam or fruit spread using chia seeds as a thickener instead of pectin and therefore don't recommend it.
If you use chia seeds as a thickener for fresh berry/fruit puree, store it in the refrigerator and try to use quickly, as they will be susceptible to mold and fermenting due to the lack of sugar, which is the main preservative in these products.
I hope this answers your question. Thank you for asking Extension.
Warmest regards,
Buffy Rhoades
Education Program Assistant 2, Family and Community Health Program, Clackamas County Extension
Great question!
You may preserve a low-sugar jam or jelly using honey instead of sugar in a boiling water or steam canner. It may affect the flavor of the jam. Be sure to use a pectin that is listed specifically as a low- or no-sugar pectin. I've included a link for our publication Low-Sugar Jams & Jellies/Fruit Spreads and Pectin Facts for reference.
We don't have resources for preserving jam or fruit spread using chia seeds as a thickener instead of pectin and therefore don't recommend it.
If you use chia seeds as a thickener for fresh berry/fruit puree, store it in the refrigerator and try to use quickly, as they will be susceptible to mold and fermenting due to the lack of sugar, which is the main preservative in these products.
I hope this answers your question. Thank you for asking Extension.
Warmest regards,
Buffy Rhoades
Education Program Assistant 2, Family and Community Health Program, Clackamas County Extension
