The main difference between jelly jam and marmalade is that jam is a fruit spread that includes crushed fruits cut into pieces, while jelly is a clear fruit spread made out of firmed fruit or vegetable juice. Marmalade, on the other hand, is a food spread usually made out of citrus fruit extract and their peel, which are boiled with water and sugar.
Jam, jelly, and marmalade are different types of fruit preserve we most frequently consume as an accompaniment to a range of food items such as bread and bakery items. However, jelly, jam, and marmalade differ from each other in their ingredients, texture, and their method of preparation.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Jelly
– Definition, Features
2. What is Jam
– Definition, Features
3. What is Marmalade
– Definition, Features
4. Similarities – Jelly Jam and Marmalade
– Outline of Common Features
5. Difference Between Jelly Jam and Marmalade
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Fruit Preserves, Jelly, Jam, Marmalade
What is Jelly
Jelly is a fruit spread that is usually made with fruit juice or a liquid extract of various fruits and vegetables. Jellies are usually semi-transparent. During the process of jelly production, the manufacturers sweeten, boil, simmer, and congeal the extract of fruits or vegetables with the help of a substance like pectin or gelatin.
The juices of most fruits, vegetables, and berries are sources rich in pectin. For instance, apples and citrus fruits are boiled in a sugar solution, and then they are mixed with low-pectin fruit, vegetable, herb, or berry extracts such as blueberries, mint, and green peppers in order to boost the process of gelling. Other fruit preserves like jams and marmalades stand distinct from jellies as they include a fruit pulp or the whole fruit.
What is Jam
Jam is a fruit preserve we make with chopped or mashed fruit or vegetable pulp. Manufacturers usually boil a selected fruit or vegetable pulp in a sugar solution. The percentage of sugar that needs to be added and the fruit or the vegetable proportion used can differ based on the kind of fruit or the vegetable used and most significantly depending on the ripeness and the natural sweetness of the selected fruit or the vegetable.
In making jam, manufacturers allow the fruit pulp mixed in the sugar solution to rise up to a temperature of 104 °C. At this temperature, the fruit acid and the fruit pectin start to react with sugar. This process allows the jam to set while cooling.
Although the juice strained from fruits is used in making jelly, the jam has a fruit pulp. The consistency of jam is quite different from the consistency of jelly; jam usually does not hold on to its shape and place. In brief, jam is almost a soft pulp that does not sparkle. It carries the dark shade of the fruit pulp. Strawberry, mango, orange, and mixed fruit are some of the most common jam flavors.
What is Marmalade
Marmalade is a popular fruit preserve manufacturers make with the extract and the peel of citrus fruits. They boil these ingredients in a sugar solution. The most popular marmalade varieties available in the local store include bitter orange, limes, mandarins, lemons, sweet oranges, grapefruits, and bergamots.
Marmalade is a popular topping for your breakfast toast, just like jellies and jams. Furthermore, the strong orange flavor profile has made marmalade a frequently used ingredient in some baked items as well. Though there are many modern varieties of fruit marmalades in the market, the traditional marmalade use bitter oranges as they share a relatively high pectin profile than other citrus fruits. This high pectin content permits this fruit preserve to be set firmly.
Similarities Between Jelly Jam and Marmalade
- Jelly, jam, and marmalade are all popular fruit spreads we use with a variety of food such as bread and other bakery items.
- Jellies, jams, and marmalades all share a sticky consistency.
- They are all sweet fruit spreads that include similar ingredients: fruits, water, sugar, pectin, and fruit acids .
Difference Between Jelly Jam and Marmalade
Definition
Jam is a fruit spread that includes crushed fruits cut into pieces, while jelly is a clear fruit spread made out of firmed fruit or vegetable juice. Marmalade, on the other hand, is usually made out of citrus fruits and their peel, which are boiled with water and sugar.
Preparation
Jam is prepared with fruit pulp, while jelly is made with fruit or vegetable extract, and marmalade is made with the extract and the peel of the citrus fruits.
Texture
Texture-wise, jelly is thicker in its consistency than the texture of both jam and marmalade.
Conclusion
In brief, the main difference between jelly jam and marmalade lies in the ingredients; jam includes a mashed or a chopped fruit or vegetable pulp while jelly contains strained fruit or vegetable juice, and marmalade includes the juice and the peel of citrus fruits.
Reference:
1. “Jam.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
2. “Jelly Recipes.” BBC Good Food.
3. “What Is Marmalade?” Baking Bites.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Green fruit jelly with kiwi slices” (CC BY 2.0) By Marco Verch Professional Photographer
2. “Raspberry Jam in the jar and bread with jam” (CC BY 2.0) By Marco Verch Professional Photographer
3. “Orange marmalade-3” By jules – (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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