Does pineapple have a lot of pectin?

No, pineapple does not have a lot of pectin. This means that pectin must be added to make a jam or jelly with a solid texture.

What are the main ingredients in jam?

The main ingredients in jam are sugar and fruit. You can use fresh or frozen fruit, one type of fruit or several. Most jam recipes use white granulated sugar because it has a neutral flavor and is readily available. Some jam recipes use pectin to help the jam set.

Is it better to use pectin for jam?

It is best to use pectin for jam in recipes that call for pectin. All fruits contain some pectin, it occurs naturally in their peels, seeds, and cores. Some fruits have enough pectin that they set firm when made into jam. Others do not, that's where commercial pectin comes in. It is used as a thickening agent.

Pineapple Jam Recipe (With Video and Step by Step)

Yield:

2 cups

Just three simple ingredients are needed for this quick pineapple jam that makes a delicious topper for toast, a tropical addition to a PB&J, or a savory sauce or glaze for roasted meats. Freshly grated pineapple is cooked with water until softened, then sugar and lime juice are added to the pot for sweetness and zest. It only takes about an hour for the mixture to thicken into a delicious jam that can be jarred and refrigerated for up to three months. It's such an easy recipe that even if you’ve never made jam before, you’ll ace this.

two pieces of toast with pineapple jam on it and glass container of jam — Rachel Marek

What Is Quick Jam?

This pineapple jam is what is known as a quick jam, it’s cooked and transferred to a clean jar, but needs to be stored in the refrigerator. The jar (and the jam) are not canned using the classic water-bath processing to make them shelf stable for storage and give the jam a longer shelf life. You could process the jar for this jam and make the jam last longer, but the recipe only makes one 16-ounce jar, so we like to enjoy this jam soon after we make it and skip the hot water bath process.

Ingredients

1 pineapple
1 cup water
2 cups sugar
Juice of 2 limes

Directions

overhead view of full pineapple, limes ad bowl of sugar — Rachel Marek

Prep the pineapple:

Peel the pineapple and grate the flesh—you should end up with about 2 cups.

Rachel Marek
Cook pineapple:

Put the pineapple and water in a small saucepan and cook over medium-low heat until the pineapple is soft, about 35 minutes.

Rachel Marek
Add sugar and lime and cook:

Add the sugar and lime juice and stir to combine. Cook until the mixture has thickened, about 45 to 60 minutes.

Rachel Marek
Transfer to jar and refrigerate:

Spoon the jam into a 16-ounce jar with a tight-fitting lid. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

Rachel Marek

Storage

As the jam has not been canned, it needs to be refrigerated, even prior to opening the jar. It will last for up to three months—but you'll eat it much faster than that.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does pineapple have a lot of pectin?

No, pineapple does not have a lot of pectin. This means that pectin must be added to make a jam or jelly with a solid texture.
What are the main ingredients in jam?

The main ingredients in jam are sugar and fruit. You can use fresh or frozen fruit, one type of fruit or several. Most jam recipes use white granulated sugar because it has a neutral flavor and is readily available. Some jam recipes use pectin to help the jam set.
Is it better to use pectin for jam?

It is best to use pectin for jam in recipes that call for pectin. All fruits contain some pectin, it occurs naturally in their peels, seeds, and cores. Some fruits have enough pectin that they set firm when made into jam. Others do not, that's where commercial pectin comes in. It is used as a thickening agent.