Chia seeds are finding their way into may recipes such as baked goods, smoothies, or salad toppings. Because they form a gel when added to water, are they suitable for making fruit jam?
The structural component that makes chia seeds gelatinous is water-soluble fiber. This slimy material forms a gum that can be used to thicken or emulsify ingredients.
There are no recipes for using chia seeds when canning jam in a water bath canner. They only storage method for this type of product is to refrigerate it and use within a couple months.
The University of Arizona has a publication on chia seeds and includes a recipe to make a Fresh Berry Chia Seed Jam. Go to https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1692-2016.pdf.
