Fruit preserves vs Jams: A comparison

Are you a fruit lover and wish to have fruits all year round? We all know that fruits are seasonal & perishable and some of our favorite ones are not available throughout the year. To enjoy the authentic taste of fruits anytime, we look forward to products like Jams and Fruit preserves. Jams and fruit preserves look more or less the same but do you know that these two products have some difference which you must know before buying any –

Let us do a comparison between similar-looking Jam and Fruit Preserve?

• Define: 

As per FSSAI – JAM means the product obtained by processing fresh fruit, canned fruit, dried fruit or fruit pulp, with water, sugar, dextrose, invert sugar or liquid glucose either singly or in combination by boiling to a suitable consistency and with or without : (a) citric, malic, ascorbic acid (b) permitted preservatives and colors. (c) Pectin derived from any fruit.

Jam is a soft pulp prepared from ripe, fresh, dehydrated, frozen fruits, fruit pulp, fruit juice concentrate, and dry fruit.  

Fruit preserves refer to fruit that has been prepared and put in cans or jars for use for a long period. It is a spread that contains small pieces or whole fruit or uniform-size pieces in clear, thick gelled syrup. The fruits used in preserves are plumpish and soft.

As per Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology: Fruit  preserves  are  preparations  of  fruits  whose  main  preserving  agent  is  sugar  and  sometimes acid,  often  stored  in  glass  jars  and  used  as  a  condiment  or  spread.  There  are  many  varieties  of fruit  preserves  globally,  distinguished  by  method  of  preparation,  type  of  fruit  used,  and  place  in  a meal.    

• Ingredients: 

Their difference lies in the physical state of the fruit used, and in the method of preparation. Jams contain the pulp of fruits while fruit preserves contain chunks of fruits. 

Jams have a high content of sugar, they are mostly uniform in consistency. Most of the jams available in the market have added colors and flavors to make them look attractive. Food preserves have more fruit content. 

• Method of Preparation: 

Jam is cooked by boiling a single fruit or combination of fruit mashes or pulp sugar or other nutritive sweeteners. In general, jam is made by taking mashed fruit pulp and boiling it with sugar and water. Jam is free from burnt or objectionable flavors and crystallization. 

Fruit Preserve is cooked by mixing an agitated blend of fruit and thick sugar syrup and then heating it. Preparation of fruit preserves is one novel method of preserving the seasonal fruit for use. The fruit peel is usually not removed from the fruit for the preparation of the preserve. 

• Usage: 

Jam is generally used as a spread on bread or parathas as a topping. Fruit Preserve, on the other hand, is eaten spoonful with  other food items since they have big chunks of fruit in it.

• Fibers: 

In order to maintain consistency, in preparation of jams, most of the solid pieces of fruits are left or strained to leave fewer amounts of fibers while in fruit preserves, mostly fruits are used.

Well like most of the Indians, the sweet taste is preferred in all houses. The above description will help you choose your product. So what are you going to buy next time, jam or fruit preserve?