Pectin

Okay kiddo, have you ever helped mommy make some yummy strawberry jam or jelly? Well, pectin is a special ingredient that helps turn the fruit mixture into a thick and spreadable jam or jelly.

You see, when we cook fruits with sugar, the sugar melts and mixes with the fruit juice. But if we just let the mixture cool, it would still remain as a liquid and not turn into a jammy consistency. That's where pectin comes in!

Pectin is a natural substance found in most fruits, especially in citrus fruits like oranges and lemons. When we add pectin to the fruit-sugar mixture and then cook it again, it helps the mixture thicken and become a spreadable jam or jelly. Overall, pectin makes our fruit preserves delicious and easy to spread on toast, biscuits, or other yummy treats.