Jam vs. Puree — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 9, 2024
Jam is a thick spread made from fruit cooked with sugar and pectin, preserving the fruit pieces within a gel-like consistency; puree is a smooth paste or thick liquid created by blending raw or cooked fruits or vegetables without added thickeners.
Difference Between Jam and Puree
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Jam is cooked with sugar and often pectin, which helps in gelling and preserving the fruit’s flavor and texture. Whereas puree is simply blended to a smooth consistency and does not typically involve added sugars or pectin.
While jam retains chunks of fruit within a thick, spreadable gel, providing a texture that is ideal for toppings and fillings, puree is completely smooth, emphasizing the original flavor of the fruit or vegetable without textural distractions.
Jam is commonly used as a condiment or spread on breads, pastries, and desserts. On the other hand, puree can serve as a base in cooking, for sauces, soups, and baby food, offering versatility beyond a condiment.
The preparation of jam involves heating, which alters the natural flavors and colors of the fruit, often intensifying them. Conversely, purees can be made from raw ingredients, retaining more of the natural taste and nutritional content.
In terms of shelf life, jam, due to its sugar content and cooking process, typically lasts much longer than puree, which may require refrigeration or freezing to maintain freshness over a shorter period.
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Comparison Chart
Composition
Fruit, sugar, pectin
Blended fruits or vegetables
Texture
Thick, chunky
Smooth, liquid
Common Uses
Spreads, toppings
Cooking bases, baby food
Preparation Process
Cooked
Blended, raw or cooked
Flavor
Sweetened, intensified
Natural, unaltered
Compare with Definitions
Jam
Fruit-based spread.
She spread raspberry jam on her toast.
Puree
No added sugar.
Vegetable puree is simply blended steamed carrots without sugar.
Jam
Contains fruit pieces.
The best part of strawberry jam are the chunks of fruit.
Puree
Suitable for baby food.
Pear puree is a popular first food for infants.
Jam
Used as a dessert topping.
He added a dollop of blueberry jam to his ice cream.
Puree
Requires refrigeration.
To keep it fresh, store the avocado puree in the fridge.
Jam
Preserved with sugar.
Jam is made by cooking fruit with sugar to preserve it.
Puree
Cooking ingredient.
Tomato puree is often used as a base for pasta sauces.
Jam
Shelf-stable product.
Jam can last for months in the pantry because of the sugar and cooking process.
Puree
Smooth fruit or vegetable paste.
She made a smooth apple puree for the baby.
Jam
To drive or wedge forcibly into a tight position
Jammed the cork in the bottle.
Puree
To rub through a strainer or process (food) in a blender.
Jam
To activate or apply (a brake) suddenly. Often used with on
Jammed the brakes on.
Puree
Food prepared by straining or blending.
Jam
To cause to become unworkable because a part is stuck
The wrinkled paper jammed the copying machine.
Puree
A food that has been ground or crushed into a thick liquid or paste.
Tomato sauce is generally a puree.
Jam
To cause (moving parts, for example) to lock into an unworkable position
Jammed the typewriter keys.
Puree
A type of unleavened bread from South Asia.
Jam
To pack (items, for example) to excess; cram
Jammed my clothes into the suitcase.
Puree
To crush or grind food into a puree.
Jam
To fill (a container or space) to overflowing
I jammed the suitcase with clothes. Fans jammed the hallway after the concert.
Puree
A dish made by boiling any article of food to a pulp and rubbing it through a sieve; as, a purée of fish, or of potatoes; especially, a soup the thickening of which is so treated.
Jam
To block, congest, or clog
A drain that was jammed by debris.
Puree
Food prepared by cooking and straining or processed in a blender
Jam
To crush or bruise
Jam a finger.
Puree
Rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender;
Puree the vegetables for the baby
Jam
(Electronics) To interfere with or prevent the clear reception of (broadcast signals) by electronic means.
Jam
(Baseball) To throw an inside pitch to (a batter), especially to prevent the batter from hitting the ball with the thicker part of the bat.
Jam
To become wedged or stuck
The coin jammed in the slot.
Jam
To become locked or stuck in an unworkable position
The computer keyboard jammed.
Jam
To force one's way into or through a limited space
We all jammed into the elevator.
Jam
(Music) To participate in a jam session.
Jam
(Basketball) To make a dunk shot.
Jam
The act of jamming or the condition of being jammed.
Jam
A crush or congestion of people or things in a limited space
A traffic jam.
Jam
A trying situation.
Jam
See jam session.
Jam
A preserve made from whole fruit boiled to a pulp with sugar.
Jam
A sweet mixture of fruit boiled with sugar and allowed to congeal. Often spread on bread or toast or used in jam tarts.
Jam
(countable) A difficult situation.
Jam
(countable) A blockage, congestion, or immobilization.
A traffic jam caused us to miss the game's first period.
A jam of logs in a river
Jam
An informal, impromptu performance or rehearsal.
Jam
A song; a track.
Jam
An informal event where people brainstorm and collaborate on projects.
We came up with some new ideas at the game jam.
Jam
That which one particularly prefers, desires, enjoys, or cares about.
Teaching is my jam.
Jam
A difficult situation for a pitcher or defending team.
The pitcher's in a jam now, having walked the bases loaded with the cleanup hitter coming to bat.
Jam
A forceful dunk.
Jam
A play during which points can be scored.
Toughie scored four points in that jam.
Jam
Any of several maneuvers requiring wedging of an extremity into a tight space.
I used a whole series of fist and foot jams in that crack.
Jam
(AU) The tree Acacia acuminata, with fruity-smelling hard timber.
Jam
Luck.
He's got more jam than Waitrose.
Jam
Balls, bollocks, courage, machismo
I don't think he has the jam.
Jam
(dated) A kind of frock for children.
Jam
To get something stuck, often (though not necessarily) in a confined space.
My foot got jammed in a gap between the rocks.
Her poor little baby toe got jammed in the door.
I jammed the top knuckle of my ring finger.
Jam
To brusquely force something into a space; to cram, to squeeze.
They temporarily stopped the gas tank leak by jamming a piece of taffy into the hole.
The rush-hour train was jammed with commuters.
Jam
To render something unable to move.
Jam
To cause congestion or blockage. Often used with "up".
A single accident can jam the roads for hours.
Jam
To block or confuse a radio or radar signal by transmitting a more-powerful signal on the same frequency.
The government jams foreign propaganda broadcasts.
The airstrike suffered minimal casualties because electronic-warfare aircraft were jamming the enemy air-defense radars.
Jam
(baseball) To throw a pitch at or near the batter's hands.
Jones was jammed by the pitch.
Jam
(basketball) To dunk.
Jam
(music) To play music (especially improvisation as a group, or an informal unrehearsed session).
Jam
To injure a finger or toe by sudden compression of the digit's tip.
When he tripped on the step he jammed his toe.
Jam
(roller derby) To attempt to score points.
Toughie jammed four times in the second period.
Jam
To bring (a vessel) so close to the wind that half her upper sails are laid aback.
Jam
To give up on a date or some other joint endeavour; to stand up, chicken out, jam out.
Jam
A kind of frock for children.
Jam
See Jamb.
Jam
A mass of people or objects crowded together; also, the pressure from a crowd; a crush; as, a jam in a street; a jam of logs in a river.
Jam
An injury caused by jamming.
Jam
A difficult situation; as, he got himself into a jam.
Jam
A preserve of fruit boiled with sugar and water; also called jelly; as, raspberry jam; currant jam; grape jam.
Jam
To press into a close or tight position; to crowd; to squeeze; to wedge in; to cram; as, rock fans jammed the theater for the concert.
The ship . . . jammed in between two rocks.
Jam
To crush or bruise; as, to jam a finger in the crack of a door.
Jam
To bring (a vessel) so close to the wind that half her upper sails are laid aback.
Jam
To block or obstruct by packing too much (people or objects) into; as, shoppers jammed the aisles during the fire sale.
Jam
To interfere with (a radio signal) by sending other signals of the same or nearby frequency; as, the Soviets jammed Radio Free Europe broadcasts for years during the cold war.
Jam
To cause to become nonfunctional by putting something in that blocks the movement of a part or parts; as, he jammed the drawer by putting in too many loose papers; he jammed the lock by trying to pick it.
Jam
To become stuck so as not to function; as, the copier jammed again.
Jam
To play an instrument in a jam session.
Jam
To crowd together; - usually used with together or in; as, fifty people jammed into a conference room designed for twenty.
Jam
Preserve of crushed fruit
Jam
Informal terms for a difficult situation;
He got into a terrible fix
He made a muddle of his marriage
Jam
A dense crowd of people
Jam
Deliberate radiation or reflection of electromagnetic energy for the purpose of disrupting enemy use of electronic devices or systems
Jam
Press tightly together or cram;
The crowd packed the auditorium
Jam
Push down forcibly;
The driver jammed the brake pedal to the floor
Jam
Crush or bruise;
Jam a toe
Jam
Interfere with or prevent the reception of signals;
Jam the Voice of America
Block the signals emitted by this station
Jam
Get stuck and immobilized;
The mechanism jammed
Jam
Crowd or pack to capacity;
The theater was jampacked
Jam
Block passage through;
Obstruct the path
Common Curiosities
Can puree be used as a spread like jam?
While puree can technically be spread, it is not as common or suitable as jam due to its thinner consistency and less sweet flavor.
Is jam considered healthier than puree?
Puree tends to be healthier as it usually contains no added sugars and retains more natural nutrients compared to cooked jam.
How long can you store jam compared to puree?
Jam can be stored much longer than puree, often for years if unopened and properly canned, whereas puree usually lasts a few days to a few months refrigerated.
Are there any cooking methods where puree is preferred over jam?
Puree is preferred in savory dishes, soups, and as a base for sauces where a smooth texture and natural flavor are desired, whereas jam is better for sweet applications.
What is a popular dish that uses puree?
A popular dish using puree is mashed potatoes, which involves blending cooked potatoes into a smooth consistency.
Can jam be made from vegetables?
Yes, jam can be made from vegetables, often called vegetable jam or preserves.
Can puree be frozen for longer storage?
Yes, puree can be frozen to extend its shelf life, making it a convenient option for future use.
What tools are essential for making puree at home?
A blender or food processor is essential for making smooth purees at home.
What is the key difference between jam and puree?
Jam is cooked with sugar and often pectin for preservation and gelling, while puree is simply blended fruits or vegetables, typically without additives.
Is it possible to make jam without sugar?
It is possible to make sugar-free jam using alternative sweeteners or relying on the natural sugars of the fruit, though the texture and preservation qualities might differ.
Is pectin necessary for making jam?
Pectin is not strictly necessary but helps in setting the jam and achieving the desired gel-like consistency.
Why is puree a common choice for baby food?
Puree is smooth and easy to digest, making it an ideal choice for babies transitioning to solid food.
What fruits are best for making jam?
Fruits high in pectin like apples, citrus fruits, and berries are best for making jam.
How does the taste of a fruit change when made into jam vs. puree?
In jam, the fruit's flavor becomes more concentrated and sweetened, while in puree, the taste remains closer to the original fruit but is more muted.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
