Discounted exotic fruits may surprise you in a jam jar

Exotic fruits like nectarines, apricots, bananas and pineapples bought at discount prices work surprisingly well alongside homemade berries, according to experienced preservers. Small-scale experimentation can bring interesting flavour surprises to your jam jars.

Discounted exotic fruits that might otherwise age on supermarket shelves find new life in jam jars, and the results often surprise even experienced preservers.

Nectarines, apricots, bananas and pineapples are just a few examples of fruits that can be successfully combined with homemade berries, such as currants, blueberries or strawberries. Experienced preservers encourage experimentation with small batches to find flavour combinations to your taste.

Using exotic fruits in preserves is also a sensible way to reduce food waste. Discounted fruit is often slightly overripe, but this actually makes it better suited for jam-the riper the fruit, the more intense the flavour and the sweeter the result.

Small test batches of jam are a good way to discover new favourites and enrich your winter preserve pantry with interesting flavours that ordinary home gardens or local markets cannot offer.