how long will chutney and jam keep

[sammyd]

I've just made a huge amount of blackberry jam and tomorrow i will make a huge amount of marrow chutney...

I've used old jars which i sterilised....


Im hoping they taste good and last a while so was wondering do they need to be stored somewhere specific.... :-\ :-\


Sam

[sammyd]

[Tulipa]

I store mine in a cool cupboard and am still eating apple chutney made Sept 03 and it's still lovely.  As long as it is kept in a cool dark place it will keep for quite a while.

[Gardenantics]

My sister mentioned to an elderly lady in her village that she was making jam, and the old lady said she had some Kilner jars she was wanting to get rid of, and my sister could have them for free. My sister sent her husband round to the ladies house the next weekend to bring them back. She was very surprised to find boxes of old jars all full of produce, and even more amazed to see them all labelled up and dated 1975. 30 YEARS OLD! I was visiting, and opened a jar of gooseberries, the seal was fine, no evil smells, the colour was a bit 'iffy', pale brown. anyway I had a taste! they were sweet, but very bland, and I am still alive after two weeks. I should say jam will keep quite a while.

Brian

[Tulipa]

Only after my Grandma died did we realise she always made sure she had four jars of each jam she made in her wonderful pantry, so that when she passed away their was equal for each of her boys!  Some of the jam was a couple of years old but was wonderful and such a lovely memory of her.  She had a lovely really old fashioned pantry, I can still smell it sitting here thinking of it and I get my love of jam and chutney making from her I am sure.  Hoping to make plum jam today!

[tim]

Depends upon the proportion of sugar. Our marmalade has, in error, been stored for 3-4 years!

At least the stuff goes mouldy as a warning!

[Beryl]

Provided it is sealed correctly, jars are filled well so there is no shrinkage, chutney should keep well for up to 5 years. Indeed it is better for keeping at least
l year before opening. Store in a cool dark place.

Jam will discolour it kept for more than a year and may turn sugary on top - still eatable  but best used up within 2 years.

Beryl.

[sammyd]

well the chutney went wrong...

It smelt and tasted disgusting so had to thrown it down the drain in the street..

it tasted of vinegar

sam

[Svea]

you do know that chutney has to 'mellow' for a couple of months before eating?
if you followed a tried and tested recipe, it should not have gone wrong.

[jennym]

We are still eating 2002 gooseberry jam. It was a very good year...

[wardy]

tulippa   your gran's pantry sounds fab  :)   

I think there are preserves and there are chutneys. I thought chutneys were considered fresh and to be used up. At least that is what I've gleaned from Indian cookery where chutneys are freshly made and eaten up - not conserved as they don't contain preservatives like vinegar for instance

Hey I love both  ;D