Preserve

Technically, a preserve can be any food product that has been treated to extend its shelf life—the period during which it is fresh and edible. Jams, jellies, marmalades, and conserves all fall under this heading if they are canned, which is usually the case, and the term preserves is sometimes used generically to refer to any and all of these fruit spreads. While there are many similarities—they are all made from boiled fruit and sugar—and some products or recipes are really hybrids of two or more categories, the basic distinctions are as follows. Definitions for each are listed below to allow for comparison and contrast. Figure A-3 shows the natural pectin content in fruit typically used for preserves.