5 Best Jams and Preserves, According to Taste Tests

Looking for the best jam in the jams and jellies aisle can be daunting. There’s so much. It all looks the same, with their picnic blanket-esque labels. But don’t be fooled—some are much, much better than others. Trust us, we’ve tried many, many, many jams in search of the best jam brands on the market. 

Here are the categories we’ve covered so far in our tastings: the best strawberry jam, the best grape jelly, the best orange marmalade, the best apple butter (yes, it’s essentially a preserve, not actual butter), and the best jams for charcuterie board making. And while we do recommend reading through each and every one of those rankings to learn about all the delicious offerings out there, we realize that a TL;DR version of the very best jams and preserves from each ranking is most useful when you’re facing a wall of jars in the grocery store. So, without further ado, here are all the number ones from our best fruit jam rankings.

Best Strawberry Jam

This strawberry jam is one of the best jams and jellies to always have on hand for PB&Js (along with the best peanut butter). It’s sweet and tart and tastes super fresh—like something an actual person made. It’s definitely more like strawberry preserves than strawberry jelly. This is high quality strawberry jam and some of the best fruit jam you’ll ever taste.  

Read the full ranking of the best strawberry jam

Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Amazon

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Best Fig Jam

While we loved the classic Dalmatia fig spread, Stonewall Kitchen’s fig and ginger jam was just that much better. And not only was it the best fig jam we tried, it also took the top spot as the best jam for charcuterie boards. It packs big ol’ chunks of candied ginger and fig. It’s super tart and sweet and tangy. It has it all. And it comes in a very stylish jar. 

Read the full ranking of the best charcuterie board jams

Credit: Merc / Stonewall Kitchen

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Best Grape Jelly

If you’re looking for the best jelly of the grape variety, look no further. Yes, it says it’s a “spread” on the label but believe us, this is the best jelly. And it comes in a squeeze bottle to boot! It sings with real concord grape flavor and it’s made with real, actual ingredients like grapes, sugar, lemon juice concentrate, and fruit pectin—no high fructose corn syrup in sight. If you’re building up a selection of the best jams and jellies, don’t leave this one out. 

Read the full ranking of the best grape jelly

Credit: Merc / Target

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best Apple Butter

Apple butter is often treated as a seasonal spread, but why? We eat apples all year round! And you don’t have to visit an orchard to buy this apple butter. It’s spiced just enough and is texturally perfect—not too thick, not too thin. Braswell’s apple butter is some of the best fruit jam you’ll ever have outside of your grandma’s kitchen (if your grandma makes really good jam, that is).

Read the full ranking of the best apple butter

Credit: Merc / Amazon

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Best Orange Marmalade

It wouldn’t be a ranking of the best jam brands without Smucker’s. Their orange marmalade was the best we tasted. It’s pretty much unimpeachable. It’s thick but spreadable, sweet but tangy. Smear some of this on toast ASAP and you’ll get why Paddington is such a fan. 

Read the full ranking of the best orange marmalade

Credit: Merc / Walmart

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

ncG1vNJzZmiroKS%2FrLHDZ5qopV%2BWv7W1wqWcaJqVqMFutsCmZg%3D%3D