My strawberries were sitting in my fridge for over a week and I didn’t want a whole container to go bad. I decided to preserve them by making a jam! This way, I know how much sugar I put in it and my whole house would smell delicious in the process. So, what’s the difference between all these fruit concoctions anyway?
I thought The “Kitchn” explained it best:
Jam is a thick mixture of fruit, pectin, and sugar that is boiled gently but quickly until the fruit is soft and has an organic shape, yet is still thick enough that it spreads easily and can form a blob. In addition to being a spread, jams are also good for fillings.
Jelly is made from sugar, pectin, acid, and fruit juice and is a clear spread that is firm enough to hold its shape. Jellies can also be made from ingredients other than fruit, such as herbs, tea, wine, liqueurs, flowers, and vegetables.
Fruit butter is a smooth and creamy spread that is created by slow-cooking fruit and sugar until it reaches the right consistency; these types of spreads are not always translucent and are often opaque. Fruit butters are best used as a spread and a filling.
Preserves are spreads that have chunks of fruit surrounded by jelly.
Conserves are made with dried fruits and nuts and are cooked. They have a very thick and chunky texture. Conserves work very well as a spread and as a condiment for meats and cheeses.
Marmalade is a citrus spread made from the peel and pulp of the fruit. Marmalade’s are cooked for a long time and have no pectin, and are used as spreads and glazes.
So what’s a gelée? It’s just the French word for “jelly.
Oh – and in case you are wondering – pectin is basically a naturally occurring substance that is found in apples, berries and other fruit. When heated together with sugar, it thickens – which is characteristic of jams and jellies.
Yes, this is probably something to be made in early to mid summer when the berries smell fragrant – but since you are cooking them down, it works just as well anytime since you are concentrating flavor (and adding some sugar as well).
Homemade Strawberry Orange Jam
INGREDIENTS
1 package of strawberries
1 orange, zested (Same orange to zest)
1 orange, juiced
1/2 cup sugar ( I used brown)
1/2 lemon, juiced
DIRECTIONS
1. Cook on low heat until you achieve the consistency you want – (I like mine, like the picture above)
2. Let cool & lick the spoon.
1. Cook on low heat until you achieve the consistency you want – (I like mine, like the picture above)
2. Let cool & lick the spoon.
