How long should I keep an open jar of jelly, jam, or preserves?
How long will a jar of jelly, jam, or preserves remain safe and appealing once it’s opened? Answers vary from 1 to 12 months. Why so much variation? The shelf life of the product is affected by many factors including these: the type of fruit, the amount of sugar and preservatives, whether it is a homemade or a commercial product, and how the product is handled by the consumer. The Smuckers Consumers Relations phone message gives the following statistics: For unopened jars, consult the “best if used by” date. For opened jars: traditional and low sugar: 12 months; Simply Fruit and Sugar-free: 9 months; apple butter: 15 months. Note that these figures are a bit more generous than those in our chart at http://shelflifeadvice.com/content/jelly-jam-and-preserves. However, the message is that store-bought jelly, jams, and preserves are likely to last several months if properly handled in the home. It’s a good idea to put a label on the product indicating the date it was opened, and, before co
