If you’ve ever had a slice of toast with jam or jelly, you probably weren’t consuming milk or dairy. That’s because jam is typically made of fruit, sugar, and acid – but not all jams are created equal.
Let’s dive into how jam is made and when it might contain milk or other dairy products.
When Does Jam Contain Milk?
Standard jam will not contain any milk; however, a milk jam exists.
Milk jam is a thick, sweet product made by caramelizing milk and mixing it with sugar over heat.
It does not contain fruit like standard jam yet still has the word in its name. You may know it by its Spanish name, dulce de leche, or its French equivalent confiture de lait.
Milk jam is used as a spread, dessert topping, or variegate, just like other jams.
If you're curious about how to make milk jam, here's a recipe from Easy Turkish Recipes.
If you’re interested in milk jam but don’t want to consume animal milk, consider replacing it with a non-dairy milk option from this list.
Related: Is There Milk in Caramel?
Does Jam Contain Dairy?
Regular jam does not contain dairy, especially when it’s homemade. It should only include fruit, sugar, and potentially an acid.
As with any processed product, it’s important to read the nutrition label, especially if you have a lactose allergy. That way, you can ensure no additional dairy products have been added in as preservatives.
When Does Jam Contain Dairy?
Jam should never include dairy, as it should be made of only two or three lactose-free ingredients.
Dairy includes most products made from milk with a high level of lactose. All fruit and vegetables are naturally lactose-free unless combined with another ingredient. Lactose is a type of natural sugar, but it’s not the white or brown sugar you would use to create jam.
Is Jam Vegan?
Most supermarket and homemade jams are vegan; however, certain brands of jams use non-vegan gelling agents.
These agents keep the ingredients sticking together, and most are made with animal products.
Be sure to look out for gelatin ingredients in your jam, as these aren’t vegan. Pectin, on the other hand, is OK to consume for vegans.
What Ingredients Does Jam Have?
Jam is made with mashed fruits, while jelly is made with strained fruit juice, and preserves have chunks of fruit in them.
If you’ve got some ripe fruit in your kitchen, you probably have enough to make jam.
That’s because most basic jams combine fruit, sugar, and sometimes an acid like lemon or lime juice.
Some of the most popular jams are made with:
- Grapes
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
- Apricots
- Blueberries
- Cherries
You can even make jams out of vegetables like pumpkins and caramelized onions.
There are a ton of jam recipes online, but I'm particularly fond of this vegan strawberry chia jam from The Simple Green!
In Summary
Jam is a delicious item to add to toast, bagels, desserts, yogurts, and more.
Typically made with fruit, sugar, and an acid like lemon juice, jam is naturally milk- and dairy-free and acceptable for vegans.
Milk jam is a form of caramelized milk and sugar, so don’t be fooled by its name.
This is not a real jam and does contain lactose.
If you’re vegan, read your jam’s nutrition label to ensure it does have any animal product preservatives like gelatin.
