Michigan State University Extension
Preserving Food Safely - 01600958
10/13/97
Sweet spreads are a class of foods with many textures,
flavors and colors. They all consist of fruits preserved
mostly by means of sugar and they are thickened or jellied
to some extent. Fruit jelly is a semi-solid mixture of
fruit juice and sugar that is clear and firm enough to hold
its shape. Other spreads are made from crushed or ground
fruit.
Jam also will hold its shape, but it is less firm than
jelly. Jam is made from crushed or chopped fruits and
sugar. Jams made from a mixture of fruits are usually
called conserves, especially when they include citrus
fruits, nuts, raisins, or coconut. Preserves are made of
small, whole fruits or uniform-size pieces of fruits in a
clear, thick, slightly jellied syrup. Marmalades are soft
fruit jellies with small pieces of fruit or citrus peel
evenly suspended in a transparent jelly. Fruit butters are
made from fruit pulp cooked with sugar until thickened to a
spreadable consistency.