You’re probably quite familiar with pectin if you’re an avid canner. It’s used as a thickener in recipes such as jams and jellies. It also helps cut down on cooking time.
But if you’re just getting into making your spreads, you might be wondering where you can find pectin in the supermarket. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place.
Where is pectin in the supermarket? You will find pectin in the baking aisle, bread aisle, or supplement aisle of stores like Kroger, Walmart and Whole foods. However, since it has a few different uses, you might have to check each area. The location of pectin may vary depending on the store you go to.
Baking Aisle
Since pectin is often used for baking, you’ll most likely find it in the baking aisle along with sugars, flours, and puddings. So if you’re in a standard grocery store, the baking aisle is your best bet.
Bread or Condiment Aisle
Another spot you could check is the bread or condiment aisles. Specifically, you’ll want to look near the jellies and jams. It’s possible pectin might be stocked in one of those areas.
Supplement Aisle
Pectin is also used as a dietary supplement. If your grocery store has a vitamin or supplement section, you might be able to find pectin there.
Where to buy pectin near me
You can find pectin at most major grocery stores in the US, including the following:
- Shop-Rite
- Aldi
- Sprout’sCostco
- Kroger
- Walmart
- Whole Foods
- Publix
- Wegmans
- Trader Joe’s
In addition, you can check your area for specialty shops, including those that sell canning and baking supplies.
How to buy pectin online
If you can’t get to a grocery store or your local shop doesn’t have any pectin in stock, don’t worry. You can easily find pectin online at many retailers.
Amazon
One of the biggest online retailers is Amazon. It has pretty much anything you could ask for, including groceries and baking supplies. Fortunately, they have a large selection of pectin, so you won’t have any trouble finding what you need.
Pacific Pectin
Pacific Pectin is an online purveyor of fruit pectin. It’s a California-based company that delivers products worldwide. They have a wide selection of pectin, as well as recipes for all types of jams and jellies.
Nuts.com
Nuts.com is an online specialty grocery that offers a variety of groceries in bulk. You can purchase pectin by the pound from Nuts.com, which is great if you’re planning on making a big batch of jam. Not only can you save a little money, but you’ll also be able to order all you need without having a dozen store-bought packages to open.
What can i get instead of pectin
If your local stores are fresh out of pectin, or you simply need another thickener for your jam, there are a few pectin alternatives you can try.
Cornstarch
Cornstarch is a common thickener for all types of recipes. It’s most popular in soups and sauces, but you can easily substitute it for pectin in your jam and jelly recipes.
The main concern you’ll have with cornstarch is clumping. Cornstarch clumps quite easily when added to liquid, so add it in small amounts, fully incorporating it before adding more.
Cornstarch also burns quickly, so make sure you’re stirring your jam or jelly constantly to prevent burning.
Gelatin
You can use plain or flavored gelatin as a substitute for pectin in your recipe. It’ll provide a similar thickening effect, which will help give your jam a good consistency. However, there are two things to note.
First, gelatin melts at room temperature. You’ll need to keep your jam refrigerated to prevent it from becoming runny.
Second, the gelatin will give your jam a texture that more closely resembles jelly than jam or preserves. It’ll still be perfectly spreadable and have the right flavor, but if you’re looking for a jam-like consistency, gelatin might not be the right choice.
Another thing to consider is using flavored gelatin. Of course, it’ll change the taste of your jam, but if you want to experiment with flavors, you could try flavored gelatin to give your jam a bit of a twist.
Agar-Agar Sugar
Derived from a fiber-rich type of seaweed, agar-agar sugar offers a thickening effect that doesn’t require as much sugar to thicken as pectin.
Although agar-agar sugar is a good substitute, there are a couple of things to be aware of.
First, it has a higher melting point. That means it might not soften up in your mouth as quickly as pectin, giving it a more gelatinous feel.
Second, agar-agar sugar will set much faster than pectin, so you should prepare for your jam or jelly to solidify sooner.
Natural Pectin
Many fruits are naturally high in Pectin, making them a good source of the thickener in jams and jellies.
To add pectin from fruit, you could do one of two things.
First, you can add pectin-rich fruits, such as peaches, dates, or even a lemon wedge, to your jam. The natural pectin in those will thicken your recipes up nicely while also providing a bit of extra flavor.
Your second option is to make it from the pith of a citrus rind. Simply remove the zest and boil the piths. Then, strain the fruit and use the remaining liquid as your thickener.
However, remember that certain fruits don’t necessarily need added pectin. So be sure to research whether your chosen fruits have high levels of pectin. Apples, peaches, and citrus fruits are all examples of fruits that are high in pectin.
Read Next: Liquid Pectin vs Powdered Pectin: How Do They Compare?
