Want to confidently know the difference between jam, jellies, and preserves? Keep reading to find out the highlights of each and how they differ from each other.

Jam, Jellies, Preserves, OH MY! 

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard people question the difference between jams, jellies, and preserves. We’re here to debunk all the myths and solve this question once and for all. 

We completely understand where the confusion comes from. Jam and jelly are made with basically the same ingredients, so why are they so different? Let’s start off by defining the differences between jam and jelly.

The Difference Between Jam and Jelly 

Jam (which is what Worthy focuses on) is made out of fruit, sugar, and pectin. Although, jelly is made up of these exact ingredients too! The biggest difference is that jam is made of real fruit chunks, whereas jelly is typically made of fruit juice.

Jam and jellies also differ in texture and appearance. In jellies, all the juice is used and none of the actual fruit, resulting in a jelly with no pulp or seeds. After the fruit is boiled and soft, the pulp and peels are separated from the juice using something like a colander with a cheesecloth (Healthline). Jellies usually have a very solid structure and hold themselves in place by using more pectin.

In contrast, jams typically include the pulp and seeds unless otherwise stated on the label. Jams are spreadable but not as thick as jellies. At Worthy Jams, we grind the fruit, and then in huge kettles, it’s mixed with all the other ingredients. 

Differences in Health Benefits 

Although the ingredient list is relatively the same, a study showed that after 9 months on the shelf, jam retained the antioxidants from the fruit (Healthline). Since jam uses the whole fruit (other than the pits and stems), there are naturally more health benefits compared to jelly. 

In addition to the high antioxidants in the fruit, berries such as raspberries, blueberries and strawberries are an extremely high source of fiber. Any jams made with these berries, such as Worthy’s Strawberry Cardamom Jam, will be a great source of fiber and antioxidants.  

Now that we’ve determined the main differences between jam and jellies, what on earth are preserves?! 

What are Preserves?

Put simply, a preserve is anything that is being stored in a jar to last longer. In the days before fridges were invented in 1913, people preserved fruit in forms of jam and jelly in the winter months (Britannica). 

To this day, jams and jellies are a popular household staple. 

So, there you have it. The difference between jams, jellies, and preserves. Now you can confidently be a genius in this topic. Make sure to tell your friends!

Worthy Jams is a uniquely flavoured jam and salsa company dedicated to creating distinctive flavour profiles with pure ingredients that are vegan, and gluten-free with no additives. Our one-of-a-kind flavours include Strawberry Cardamom, Vanilla Rhubarb, and Earl Grey Lavender Peach, which will have you experiencing true jams Worthy of your palate! If you want to take your cooking to the next level, place your order today on our website.