compote vs jam

[SpaceOP]

I've been making a b it of compote just with frozen berries, a bit of water, some honey and some chia seeds. comes out great. The last batch was a bit thicker as I left it to simmer for a while and frankly, it's the consistency of jam. I had it on my toast this morning in fact. Made me wonder - what is the actual difference? Is jame cooked in a certain way that makes it last longer?

Compote is made using whole or chunks of fruit cooked in a light syrup. It is usually eaten on it's own. Jam is chopped or shredded fruits, cooked for longer in heavy syrup or lots of sugar and is an accompaniment rather than the main item.

It will be the simmering that produced the jam like finish.

It's also the high sugar content of jam that preserves it, a compote would not have the same shelf life, could freeze some though.

Interesting . I had assumed it was something yomdo.with longevity. Compote is half finished and I made it less than a week ago but I assume it won't last in fridge much longer.

It’s the chia that’s giving it the consistency

It is! A jam will last for a zillion years because the sugar content is a preservative. Jam is a way of storing fruit for out of season.

What you’ve made can also be called a fridge jam or quick jam - it won’t keep long but is still delicious.

How long will it last? Can I assume it's fine in the absence of mould?! 🤣