Thanks to their sweet-tart flavor and satisfying texture, jams and jellies are staples in the kitchen. It also doesn't hurt that they pair well with a wide range of foods, from plain toast to vanilla ice cream. But like many essential ingredients and condiments, these fruity spreads aren't something you finish right away—which means you need how to store them correctly to ensure they stay fresh in between uses. Here, food scientists explain whether or not you need to refrigerate jams and jellies—and share how long you can expect them to last before and after you've opened them.
Your Section-by-Section Guide to Storing Foods in the Fridge, From the Upper Shelves to the Crisper Drawers
To protect the shelf-life and quality of your jams and jellies, it's best to store them in the refrigerator. The cold temperature will significantly slow down the growth of microorganisms, according to Alvin Lee, Ph.D., associate professor of food and nutrition at Illinois Institute of Technology.
Storing Jams and Jellies at Room Temperature
You can technically store opened jams and jellies at room temperature—but only in a cool, dark place and for about a week after opening, says Lee. Here's why: Jams and jellies have high sugar and acid levels, which protect against spoilage. But there are still certain microorganisms, called osmophiles, that are resistant to these conditions and can cause spoilage over time, he explains. So, jam and jelly will deteriorate quicker when stored outside the fridge. This is especially true if the ambient (air) temperature is high, which can cause rancidity or separation of ingredients.
It's worth noting that different products will degrade at different rates at room temperature. Those with more sugar (which, again, acts as a preservative) will deteriorate slower than low-sugar versions, says Lee. Jams or jellies made with high-acid fruits (think lemon or lime) will also last longer than low-acid iterations, as the acidity provides another barrier to stop microorganisms from growing.
According to the USDA, an unopened jar of jam or jelly can be stored in the pantry for up to 12 months. This long shelf-life is due to the sugar content in the product, which acts like a preservative, says Lee. Essentially, bacteria need water to grow—but during the manufacturing process, sugar binds with most (if not all) of the water, making it unavailable to the bacteria. Plus, the production of jams and jellies usually involves heat, which also kills some microorganisms, says Lee.
After about 12 months in the pantry, the quality of unopened jams and jellies will likely degrade, says Bryan Quoc Le, Ph.D., a food consultant and the author of 150 Food Science Questions Answered. That's because the sugar-resistant yeasts and bacteria will start fermenting the sugars into alcohol and other flavors, he explains. However, the jar of jam or jelly will still be safe to eat, so long as it wasn't opened.
Homemade Jams and Jellies
The exception is homemade jams, which can vary greatly in terms of preparation and ingredients. A product that was correctly canned can last for about 12 months, but if another method was used, it will have a shorter shelf-life.
How Long Jams and Jellies Last After You Open Them
An opened jar of jam or jelly will last for about six months in the refrigerator, per the USDA. But it's still a good idea to eat it as soon as possible, says Lee. "Once opened, jams and jellies will be exposed to air, which contain mold and bacterial spores. These will grow over the six-month time period in the jam [or] jelly," says Le. And while most of these microorganisms are harmless and only degrade the quality of the product, some can cause illness or produce toxic compounds, he says. What's more, potentially harmful microorganisms can enter the jam or jelly from non-sterile utensils.
Signs Jams and Jellies Have Gone Bad
Regardless of the type of jam or jelly you have on hand, it's important to know the signs of spoilage. According to Lee, this may include yeasty off-odors, fermented alcohol-like flavors, and mold growth, which may appear as white fuzzy patches inside the jar or on the product itself. Another tell-tale sign is the separation of ingredients, which means the sugar and water in the product have broken apart, says Lee. If you notice any of these signs, toss the spread to be safe.
Note: For safe eating practices, store your opened jar of jam or jelly in the refrigerator until consumed, and examine it frequently for signs of spoilage (like mold or yeast growth, or off-odors, including “fermented,” “alcohol” or “yeasty” odors). Discard the product immediately if any signs of spoilage are detected.
Most of our jellies, jams and fruit spreads do not contain preservatives. As long as the containers are refrigerated after opening, they should maintain their freshness for several months.
If it's too loose, you can always cook it more or simply refrigerate it, which will firm it too. If it's too firm-set, you can loosen it with a spoonful of hot water until it's the consistency you like.
Your jelly should set in the fridge in around 4 hours. Note: you can add fruit or juice, but avoid fresh pineapple, kiwi or papaya as these fruits will stop your jelly from setting.
Foodsafety.gov agrees that most commercial peanut butters that contain stabilizers will last two to three months at room temperature after opening (for natural peanut butters, they recommend refrigerating to preserve the quality).
Do I have to refrigerate Smucker's peanut butter? The food items we produce are classified as non-perishable. Refrigeration is not necessary, although it does slow down the oil-separation process.
Unless you're a busy diner going through and refilling ketchup bottles every day or two, you should store your ketchup in the fridge. This is because, just like pickles, the flavor and texture declines after you open the bottle or jar and the ketchup is exposed to air.
An unopened jar of natural peanut butter should be stored in the refrigerator immediately after purchase, where it can last for up to 12 months. "Once opened, refrigerated natural peanut butter is best consumed within three to four months of opening," says Cooper.
Is it necessary to refrigerate jam after opening it? What happens if you don't? It will get moldy if you don't refrigerate it. Even then it will only last a couple of weeks before it gets moldy if it isn't used.
If you've made jam and waited for it to cool, but it is still runny, pour the jam back into a saucepan and bring it back to a boil.Boil until the jam starts to reduce and therefore thickens.
You can just store the finished jam in the refrigerator (in jars or even in Tupperware), where it will keep for many months. But if you're anything like me, there's no room in your refrigerator. Besides which, my method is nearly as easy and doesn't take much in the way of special equipment.
Home-made jam should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct light and used within 12 months of making. Once opened the jar should be stored in the refrigerator and used within one month. We would suggest discarding any jars of jam that have mould growing on top.
Jellies and jams do not need to go in the fridge because they have a water activity of around 0.80, and their pH is usually around 3. So they don't have enough moisture to support bacteria and are too acidic for them as well. Conclusion: Keep your jams and jellies wherever you want to.
sometimes if it doesn't set within 12–24 hours but has at least a partial set, if you give it a week or two, it will firm up some. if it is syrupy but not solidifying at all after a few days, it is probably not going to set. then you have two options, either use as a syrup or you can reprocess it.
Nowadays, sugar substitute and jelly are used before your condiment will set. So, refrigeration is advised but check content for preservatives. With these, a short time without refrigeration is OK. But put them back into the fridge as soon as you can.
While, in general, an unopened industrial jam can be preserved for about 2 years at room temperature and away from light, not all jams are made up of the same ingredients.
Shelf-stable condiments, like stone ground mustard, red wine vinegar, strawberry preserves, and wing sauce, don't need to be as cold as other perishable foods like milk, eggs, and meat, so they can hang out on your refrigerator door.
This "sitting" time allows the pectin to fully set. Sometimes freezer jam will thicken right away and at other times it will be runny at first and then will thicken over 24 hours. Because freezer jam does not go through a water bath procedure, it is not shelf stable and should be stored in the refrigerator or freezer.
Hobby: Web surfing, Rafting, Dowsing, Stand-up comedy, Ghost hunting, Swimming, Amateur radio
Introduction: My name is Virgilio Hermann JD, I am a fine, gifted, beautiful, encouraging, kind, talented, zealous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/should-you-refrigerate-jams-jellies-0522-d101989facb1427eb9190286b5ef8f81.jpg "Should You Refrigerate Jams and Jellies? (1)")
