Which Foods Contain Pectin?

Pectin is a natural form of sugar that is found with in the primary cell wall of plant cells. It is a common component of many fruits and vegetables that people consume on a daily basis. When fruits that contain pectin are cooked and then cooled, the pectin allows the cooled fruit to solidify into a gel-like substance. For this reason, pectin is a very useful component when preparing jams and jellies. According to DietaryFiberFood.com, consumption of pectin rich foods also yields some health benefits such as lowering cholesterol and regulating the digestive tract.

Fruits

According to PracticallyEdible.com, several common fruits are very rich in pectin content. Among these fruits are apples, blackberries, gooseberries, grapes, and plums. Citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits and lemons also contain a high content of pectin. It should be noted that any fruit will have its highest pectin level before it fully ripens. Pectin levels in fruit begin to decrease after the fruit has ripened. The flavor of the fruit won't fully develop, however, until the fruit has ripened which is the reason for many recipes combining ripened and unripened fruits.

Vegetables

According to the "Handbook of Dietary Fiber" by Sungsoo Cho, many vegetables also contain high levels of pectin. Among the vegetables rich in pectin are carrots, beans, sugar beets and sweet potatoes. According to Science Daily, a diet rich in pectin containing vegetables may have anti cancer properties due to the carbohydrate and protein interaction provided by consumption of pectin-rich products.

Grains

According to the "Journal of Nutrition," foods that are made of grain are rich in pectin content. Foods such as cornflakes and many bread varieties contain a high content of pectin. Consumption of foods of this variety may have health benefits such a lower blood cholesterol levels.

Jams and Jellies

According to the University of Missouri, all jams, jellies and fruit butters are all made from the same products. Jams, jellies and fruit butters are all made with fruit, sugar and then thickened or gelled. The high pectin content of apples, grapes and gooseberries allow these products to naturally gel once they are cooked which makes these products popular in the creation of jams, jellies and fruit butters.