Rhubarb Freezer Jam

By
Leda Meredith
Leda Meredith
Leda Meredith
Leda Meredith is a food writer and certified botanist who has written five books on foraging and preserving food.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 07/23/21
Tested by
Renae Wilson
Photo of Renae E. Wilson
Tested by Renae Wilson
Renae has certifications in both Pastry Arts and Culinary Arts from the Institute of Culinary Education and works as a private chef and caterer, recipe tester and developer, and food writer. Renae has written and developed recipes for Rachael Ray In Season, the Kitchn, Food52, and more.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Rhubarb Freezer Jam

The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Freezer Time: 8 hrs
Total: 8 hrs 30 mins
Servings: 48 servings
Yield: 1 1/2 pints

The bright red stalks of early spring rhubarb give this jam its lovely color as well as it's tangy flavor. Similar in appearance to celery, rhubarb ribs are a little more tender in texture and their tart flavor makes this vegetable a favorite for pies, crisps, and jams. Rhubarb is also a great side to pork, poultry, and sometimes game meats like venison.

Make this delicious jam and forget about complicated canning processes. Cook the mixture on the stove, cool off, and refrigerate or freeze. Small containers no larger than a pint are recommended for this recipe. When you thaw a pint you don't have to deal with an overwhelming amount of jam.

Use on bread, toast, and scones, in fruit parfait, as a pie filling, or on top of ice cream. Place a dollop of the jam as a topping for Brie or Manchego cheese and enjoy with a glass of wine.

"If it's easy and delicious, I'll make it. This jam is exactly that. It’s a perfect addition to my morning yogurt. I also used it as a glaze for grilled pork chops. Because it isn't too sweet, it can easily lean savory. If you tend to graze, enjoying it by the spoonful is also fine." —Renae Wilson

Rhubarb Freezer Jam Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 4 cups chopped rhubarb (1 to 1 1/4 pounds rhubarb stalks)

  • 3/4 to 1 1/4 cups sugar

  • 2 tablespoons water

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Rhubarb Freezer Jam ingredients

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

  2. In a medium-sized pot over low heat, combine the rhubarb, 3/4 cup of sugar and water. Stir constantly until all of the sugar is dissolved, or about 5 minutes.

    place the rhubarb, water, and sugar in a pot

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

  3. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the rhubarb pieces fall apart. When the compote is about as thick as applesauce, turn off the heat. This process might take 15 to 20 minutes.

    jam cooking in a pot

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

  4. Taste the mixture and add additional sugar if you desire more sweetness. Keep in mind, though, that the sour flavor is part of what is special about rhubarb. If you do add additional sugar, return the pot to the stove and cook over low heat. Stir constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove the jam from the stove and let it cool off to room temperature before using or storing it.

    Rhubarb Freezer Jam in a pot, sugar in a spoon

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

Recipe Variations

Here are a few tasty and easy variations for the rhubarb jam:

  • Strawberry-rhubarb: Replace half of the rhubarb with hulled, chopped strawberries and reduce the amount of sugar, starting with 1/2 cup and then adding more if needed.
  • Ginger: Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of grated fresh ginger or 1 tablespoon of finely chopped crystallized candied ginger with the rest of the ingredients. Cook as instructed.
  • Sorbet: Chill the jam in the refrigerator overnight—from 8 to 12 hours—or as long as 24 hours. Process in an ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's instructions.

How to Store and Freeze Rhubarb Jam

Rhubarb jam will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. It is still safe to eat after that but the quality will decline. Freshly made, unfrozen rhubarb jam should go into the fridge as soon as it's cooled off:

  • Fill freezer containers with the rhubarb jam, leaving an inch of headspace. Refrigerate for up to a month or freeze for up to six months.
  • Alternatively, fill quart-size freezer bags with 8 to 16 ounces of the jam, and freeze. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, and transfer to an airtight container when ready to use. Keep refrigerated for up to a month.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
22 Calories
0g Fat
6g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 48
Amount per serving
Calories 22
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 0mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 6g 2%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 1mg 4%
Calcium 9mg 1%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 29mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)