What is the best jam / preserves, according to chefs?

MyTastr’s top pick is Bonne Maman Preserves, chosen by Alex Guarnaschelli. “I love to eat Bonne Maman preserves throughout the year according to the season” — wild blueberry, four-fruits, marmalade, cherry, fig.

What are the other top picks for jam / preserves?

No. 2 is Sqirl Boysenberry (or Youngberry) Jam, chosen by Maggie Hoffman (Serious Eats). No. 3 is Eli Zabar Raspberry Jam, chosen by Ina Garten.

How does MyTastr choose these picks?

Every pick is tied to a named chef, cookbook author or food expert and links to the public interview, panel or article it came from. We survey dozens, often hundreds, of top chefs, food writers and critics, and order reflects how often and how strongly a brand is recommended. Only organic recommendations count — paid endorsements don’t — and brands can’t buy a spot.

Best jam / preserves, according to chefs

Three picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from Alex Guarnaschelli, Alison Roman, Caroline Schiff, Camilla Wynne and 2 more. Recommendations come from mashed.com, tastecooking.com, seriouseats.com and foodrepublic.com.

Pantry Staples · The ranking

1
Top pick
Bonne Maman Preserves
Chosen by
- Alex GuarnaschelliChef, Butter · Iron Chefalexguarnaschelli.com ↗
Also chosen by
- Caroline Schiff · Pastry chef, Gage & Tollner source ↗
- Camilla Wynne · Jam maker, cookbook author · Montreal source ↗
- Alison Roman · Cookbook author, Dining In & Nothing Fancy source ↗
“I love to eat Bonne Maman preserves throughout the year according to the season” — wild blueberry, four-fruits, marmalade, cherry, fig.
Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: mashed.com ↗
2
Sqirl Boysenberry (or Youngberry) Jam
Chosen by
- Maggie HoffmanSenior editor, Epicurious
From Serious Eats’ tasting of 88 jams: Jessica Koslow’s boysenberry, from a one-acre plot in Redlands, was “our all-time favorite… perhaps our favorite berry jam ever,” until they tasted the rare Youngberry, “like a dream where blackberries and blueberries merge into one incredible fruit.” Sqirl was the one jar Serious Eats bought rather than received as a sample.
Where to buy · sqirlla.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: seriouseats.com ↗
3
Eli Zabar Raspberry Jam
Chosen by
- Ina GartenBarefoot Contessa · cookbook author, TV hostbarefootcontessa.com ↗
The only jam for her toasted PB&J (Instagram, 2021); made for Zabar by Les Confitures de la Création in France.
Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: foodrepublic.com ↗Disclosure: Ina’s longtime friend & mentor

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Questions, answered

What is the best jam / preserves, according to chefs?: MyTastr’s top pick is Bonne Maman Preserves, chosen by Alex Guarnaschelli. “I love to eat Bonne Maman preserves throughout the year according to the season” — wild blueberry, four-fruits, marmalade, cherry, fig. Source: mashed.com ↗
What are the other top picks for jam / preserves?: No. 2 is Sqirl Boysenberry (or Youngberry) Jam, chosen by Maggie Hoffman (Serious Eats). No. 3 is Eli Zabar Raspberry Jam, chosen by Ina Garten. Each card above links to the original source.
How does MyTastr choose these picks?: Every pick is tied to a named chef, cookbook author or food expert and links to the public interview, panel or article it came from. We survey dozens, often hundreds, of top chefs, food writers and critics, and order reflects how often and how strongly a brand is recommended. Only organic recommendations count — paid endorsements don’t — and brands can’t buy a spot. Read how we pick.

The tasters behind this ranking

More pantry staples

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