Jams Vs. Preserves Vs. Compotes Vs. Jellies: What's The Difference?

Jams, preserves, compotes, and jellies are common kitchen ingredients that many people get confused with. In essence, all of them are a combination of fruits and sugar, but they still have some differences that set them apart.

Prior to the introduction of the at-home refrigerator in 1913, it was uncommon to find a strawberry in the winter or a mango except in the summer—unless it had been preserved. Jams, jellies, competes, and preserves were created by hardworking fruit eaters in the past to keep fruits fresh when they were out of season. When the ability to freeze and refrigerate fresh food in season in warmer climates became available, fresh food in season in warmer climates could survive a voyage elsewhere for consumption, eliminating the need for old-fashioned preservation techniques. While no longer required, several earlier techniques of food storage became customary treats. All of these fruit spreads or combinations have now become cherished delicacies all over the world. Although they all have the same base, there are still some differences between them.

What Is A Jam?

A jam is a fruit mixture that is made by cooking sugar and acid along with a fruit. The fruit could either be chopped, crushed, or pureed. Pectin is an essential component of jams, and they have a slightly looser consistency than jellies. Not just that, but some jams may also contain fruit peels, chunks, or pieces in order to add more texture and flavor.

What Is A Jelly?

Jelly is a common ingredient that you will find at all grocery stores. It is a sweet spread made from fruit. It is made by cooking fruit juice with sugar and an acid (mostly pectin), just like jam. It is strained down and removed from all the chunks and pieces of fruits or seeds after being completely cooked. Once the cooking is done, you are left with a transparent and smooth jelly. Unlike jams or preserves, jellies aren't loose and hold their shape well.

What Is A Preserve?

Preserves are identical to jams, but the key difference is that preserves have a thicker consistency thanks to the inclusion of whole fruits, large chunks, pieces of fruit, or crushed fruit. Although there are sometimes chunks of fruit in jams, it isn't common, unlike in preserves, where you will usually have whole fruits in them.

What Is A Compote?

A compote is another fruit spread. It is cooked slowly, which gives it its signature flavor by combining whole fruits or chunks with sugar syrup. Compotes are much more complex than other spreads on the list, as they can be further infused with spices, liquor, or thickeners like pectin if some recipes ask for it.

So What's The Difference?

All these fruit spreads have the same fruit base, but depending on how the fruits are used, they range from whole fruits, chunks, peels, and purees to crushed fruits. The most common difference is the texture and thickness. Jellies and preserves are thicker spreads than jam, whereas compotes, on the other hand, boast a complex flavor thanks to the additional ingredients that are added according to the recipe used.