With the holidays only a pleasant memory are you left with a lot of leftover and
opened jars of jams and jellies? It happens. I am one of those cooks who finds every so often that there are five to ten different varieties of fruit jam, jellies or preserves open all at once. After a season of entertaining family and guests, you might have the same “problem” – what to do with it all before it goes bad.
How Long Does Un-Opened Jelly Last?
The best estimate of how long jelly will last, uneaten, is anywhere from one to twelve months. Bear in mind that sugar is a preservative, so sugar-free preserves don’t last as long before going bad.
Refrigerated jars of jam, jelly or preserves will last much longer than those left out with no refrigeration, of course, so – usually way over six months. This is common sense, I guess, but if it lasts over six months then either your family doesn’t care for it or you are buying and opening way too much. For those of us who don’t refrigerate just buy smaller containers.
What Makes Jam Go Bad?
It’s fairly easy to see when jelly, jam or preserves go bad. Look for mold – or anything else – growing on the surface, sides of the container or on the lid, an “off” smell or a color change. Any of these show up… toss it, there’s no saving it.
There are several things that factor into how long you can safely keep and use jelly, jam or preserves. Was it made commercially or was it homemade? You can’t assume commercial preparation is more sanitary than homemade, I once found a bird’s feather in a spoonful of a popular brand of strawberry preserves I bought at a store – yuck! Home prepared can be as long lasting as commercial if proper care is taken to keep everything sterile.
Opened Jars: What To Do With All That Jelly Before it Goes Bad?
Okay, say you do have to do something with all that jelly in all those opened jars, what can you do? Of course there are the jelly-topped cookies and tarts we all know and love, but there’s a better way for the frugal mom! Recanning jams and preserves is simple and quick, and you can use the smaller jars as gifts as well!
Sterilize small canning jars and lids while you reheat the jam or preserves to boiling. Then, pack the hot fruity goodness into the sterile jars and place a lid securely on it. Then, let the jar cool to room temperature and store it in a cool, dark place until you’re ready for more preserved jam. (Check to make sure there’s a seal, just like you were preserving it from scratch!)
Preserve Your Preserves!
There are lots of ways to enjoy preserves, jams and jellies and having a variety open all at once just increases the wonderful ways you can enjoy it. But if you happen to open a few too many jars at once, remember the many ways to use it or just re-can it for later.
How long does homemade,uunopened,jars of jelly keep?
I have just eaten a jar of redcurrant jelly , I made 7 years ago. Tastes fine.
My mother grew up on a farm in the 30’s and 40’s. They kept unopened jelly for years and none of them died from food poisoning. I made jelly and currently opened up a jar of wild muscadine jelly from 2017 and it is good. As long as the seal is good when you open it and there is no mold, strange smell or anything else funky, and it is homemade, I would test it and eat a bit first. Been eating old canned sealed jelly for years and no problem. Jelly will get darker but as long as the above is good, I would try it. Now I would not do the same with jam because you have bits of fruit in it. Never like making jam. So go with caution on jam.
bernadyne and I just made 13 jars of chokecherry jelly, two of which did not seal so will be the first eaten. Good advice on your site.
Like your testimony I am a fellow believer in Jesus
Jesus and jelly – first combo I thought of!
Due to Hurricane Irma, I have 1 jar of Smuckers Blackberry Jam that was without refrigeration for 4 days before the power went back on .
Is it safe to eat?
Thanks
You should never eat Smuckers, what’s wrong with you… gross
Thank you so much for mentioning recanning, I hadn’t thought of that or would have worried if there was some wrinkle, but you’re so right that it would be no problem to recan and that way I could share a favorite specialty jam with friends and family! I love it so much, so excited to bust open all the jars I’ve been keeping closed because I worried about using them up before going bad!
I had blueberry jam that I home canned.
The jar was almost empty, it had a off odor, but I stil ate some.
My stomach has been tight all day, but no vomiting
Can jelly or jam go bad overnight if left uncovered & without the lid on yes or no?? Eileen
Jam at least cover it with something
I made some homemade blueberry jelly last night. I left it out to cool in the jar and forgot to come out later and put it away. This morning I came down and there it sat. Lidless. Is it still ok? Thank you for any advice!
I made mostly sugar free jam and put some in the freezer and some on the shelf. Some have labels on them that say 2006. Do you think they are still eatable?
Thank you
If there’s a little mold on top of the peach jam in a ‘ sealed’ jar I canned 2 years ago, can I just scoop out the moldy part and eat the rest?
I used Smuckers Apricot preserves in a recipe and have some left How long can I keep it in the fridge also Red Raspberry I am one who LOVES TO BAKES BUT HATES TO WASTE
TY