Jam vs. Jelly vs. Preserves vs. Marmalade

Jam and jelly, preserves and marmalades – these spreads are all variations on a theme. Take some delicious fruit, add lots of sugar, and cook it down until it becomes nearly solid, then spread it on a piece of bread, a muffin, a burger, or some slices of cured meat (a bit too fancy for our taste). However, the origin of these tasty spreads boils down to practicality, rather than culinary delight.

As early as the first century AD, people have been preserving fruit with sugar¹, including heating food in honey, to keep it from spoiling quickly. This was a great benefit for these societies, as food was not always plentiful and the ability to store some fresh fruit for winter could be the difference between life and death.

For modern cooks, fruit preserves are a matter of life and tastier life. This sugary tradition has stuck with us well after the advent of pasteurization and refrigeration because it tastes great and makes one of our staple foods – bread – a bit more exciting. Jelly, jam, preserves, and marmalade all have their partisans, but what's the difference between these types of fruit spread?

Jam vs. Jelly

Jam and jelly are the most popular style of preserved fruit spread, and to many people the words are nearly interchangeable. They're both sweet, spreadable, fruity concoctions that come in glass jars, but what's the difference between jam and jelly?

Jelly is the clearest and smoothest of the fruit spreads because it's made with only the juice of the fruit and not any pulp. Thus, jelly can be almost clear, which is why its consistency is so smooth – there's nothing in it to provide a different texture. On the other hand, jam is made with chopped or pureed whole fruit. Jam will contain seeds, skin, and pulp from the subject fruit and typically is not set with as much pectin, meaning it has a looser consistency than the firm gel of jelly.

The big differences between jam and jelly are that jelly is clearer and firmer, while jam has more actual fruit pieces in it. Jelly is made from the juice, while jam is made from the juice and actual bits of fruit.

What's the Difference Between Jam and Preserves?

While jam is made with pureed or finely chopped fruit, preserves are made either with entire fruit, in the case of small fruits like cherries or strawberries, or large chunks of bigger fruits. The big difference between jam and preserves is the size of the fruit and fruit pieces in each. The large pieces of fruit are still cooked down with the sugar, making a soft, spreadable texture out of the fruit chunks.

Preserves vs. Jelly

The difference is even starker when considering preserves and jelly. Preserves do not have the same consistent composition and clarity that jelly does – for some, this is the draw, and for others, it defeats the purpose. Jam is a balanced middle between smooth, clear jelly and thick, chunky preserves.

Jam vs. Marmalade

So, if jam is thick jelly and preserves are chunky jam, where does that leave marmalade? Marmalade is preserves that are made from citrus fruit and typically include some citrus rind. From flakes of zested rind to long strips, the amount of rind in each jar of marmalade will vary depending on the brand and preparation style.

The difference between jam and marmalade is very similar to the difference between jam and preserves. Marmalade is thicker, with larger pieces of fruit, and contains rind, while jam is going to be smoother and contains pureed fruit rather than pieces.

Choosing Your Favorite Fruit Spread

Which of these fruit spreads best fits your morning toast? That depends on what you're looking for.

• Jelly is the smoothest, as it's made from fruit juice, sugar, and a thickening agent.


• Jam has pureed or finely chopped real fruit, which can provide interesting texture and variations in flavor.


• Preserves and marmalade include large pieces or whole fruit cooked down with sugar.

These end up being a matter of preference and pairings – many people don't want chunky PB&J, but preserves can be a delicious addition to a country-style breakfast. Now that you know what you're getting when you open the jar, you can experiment with each type and see which you prefer.

Resources

1. A History of Jam and Preserves. Freshways. Accessed July 2021.