How to Keep Your Spread Separated

If you ask us, the best thing since sliced bread is all the tasty stuff you can put on it.  But sometimes, it sure can be difficult to tell which is which.  So here are a few hints to help you tell the difference between your jellies and jams.

Jelly

Jelly is made from fruit juice.  It's usually clear and smooth, and it's often firm enough to hold its shape--until you spread it, of course.

Jam

Jam is made from crushed fruit, so it's not as clear as jelly. While it's fairly smooth, it won't hold its shape as well as jelly does.

Preserves

Preserves are made with whole fruit that's sliced and jarred in a softly jelled syrup.

Conserves

Conserves are jams, but they're made from two or more different kinds of fruit. Usually, they have raisins or nuts added, too.

Marmalades

Marmalades are preserves made with a citrus fruit like oranges--sometimes even the peel--sliced and diced so it's spreadable.

Fruit Butter

Fruit butter is another type of preserve, but it's usually brown rather than clear or brighly colored. It's made from puréed fruit cooked with sugar and plenty of spices.