I Asked 4 Experts To Name the Best Strawberry Jam—They All Said the Same Thing

My great-grandmother lived until I was ten, and until she passed, she made strawberry jam from the berries she grew in her backyard. Cracking open one of her carefully dated and labeled jars, I’d smear the ruby-red preserves onto my peanut butter sandwiches without realizing just how special those jams were, and how different they tasted from anything store-bought. I never found another jam quite like hers—until I came across Bonne Maman Strawberry Jam, a jam named grandmothers and great-grandmothers like mine.

Bonne Maman seemed old-fashioned (in the best way) yet also fresh-tasting. I was curious to see if my instincts were right, so I reached out to some jam and jelly experts. Was this new favorite of mine the same jam the pros go for when stuffing cookies, glazing cakes, or making a classic PB&J? According to all four experts, it was!

The Jam-Loving Experts I Spoke With

What Experts Look for in the Best Strawberry Jam

“Bonne Maman jam is known for its undeniable quality,” says Smith. “It’s quintessential in kitchens, from fine dining to home cooking. And it all comes back to their incredible commitment to consistency. Plus, they are not afraid to play with flavors.”

While Bonne Maman has recently gone viral for its creative, limited-edition flavors, its classic strawberry continues to win hearts—and kitchen shelf space.

“The ingredient list is short and legible (strawberries, sugar, brown cane sugar, concentrated lemon juice, fruit pectin), and it’s full of strawberry flavor with just the right amount of sweetness and a nice texture, thanks to some strawberry pieces mixed throughout,” notes Grimsrud.

Middlebrook also appreciates the jam’s consistency. “It has chunks of real strawberry, but it’s totally spreadable. The ratio of gelatin to water is a master art with this jam, meaning it’s not too thick,” she explains. Her clients and family also like that it’s not too sweet.

How the Experts Use Bonne Maman’s Strawberry Jam

While you can’t go wrong with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, the pros offer more ideas for using up your pot of strawberry jam. Middlebrook, for instance, fills Italian Christmas cookies and homemade pop tarts with it.

Awada likes it as a sweetener at breakfast time. “I dollop it over my oatmeal when I don’t have any fresh or frozen fruit. I also add it over pancakes or crepes,” she says.

And for a morning combo that checks off the salty, sweet, crunchy, and creamy boxes, Grimsrud suggests Greek yogurt, peanut butter or hazelnut butter, some granola, frozen raspberries, cacao nibs—and, of course, a spoonful of strawberry jam. She emphasizes that the brand, of course, is always Bonne Maman.