Jam has become a staple in many households across America. It’s inexpensive, delicious, and versatile. But how long does homemade jam last? Does it last longer than store-bought jam? And what happens to jams that sit around longer than necessary?
In this article, we’ll talk about the shelf life of homemade jams and compare them with store-bought jams. We’ll also look at how to extend the shelf life of your jams.
I’ll also share with you my top tips for making sure your homemade jam lasts as long as possible.
So let’s get started!
How Long Does Jam Last?
The shelf life of jam depends on several factors:
- The type of fruit used. Apple, apricot, and cherry jams have a longer shelf life than grapefruit or orange jams.
- The amount of sugar in the jam. Less sugar means less water content, which makes it easier to preserve.
- How long you let the jam sit before cooking. If you cook your jam right away, it will be more likely to spoil faster. If you let the jam sit overnight, it will keep longer.
Let us now take a look at how long both homemade and store-bought jams can last.
Homemade jam (unopened jar)
- Ambient temperature: 2 years (best quality)
What is the shelf life of an unopened jar of homemade jam?
The precise answer to this question depends to a large extent on the storage conditions. Stored in the right conditions, an unopened jar of homemade jam typically maintains optimum quality for about 2 years at room temperature.
After this time, the texture, color, or flavor of homemade jam may change, but in most cases, it will still be safe to eat if it has been stored in the right conditions, if the jar is not damaged and if it shows no signs of tampering.
How do you know if homemade jam has expired?
The best way is to smell and examine the homemade jam. If homemade jam smells, tastes, or looks abnormal, or if mold appears, it should be discarded.
Homemade jam (open jar)
- Refrigerator: 2 to 3 weeks
What is the shelf life of homemade jam after opening the jar?
The precise answer to this question depends to a large extent on the storage conditions. To maximize the shelf life of homemade jam after opening the jar, store it in the fridge in an airtight container.
How long does homemade jam keep in the fridge after opening the jar?
Homemade jam will usually keep for 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator after opening the jar.
How do you know if homemade jam has expired?
The best way is to smell and examine the homemade jam. If homemade jam smells, tastes, or looks abnormal, or if mold appears, it should be discarded.
Storing homemade jam
If you follow these guidelines, you should be able to make homemade jams last longer.
- To maximize the shelf life of homemade jam, store it in a cool, dry place. This keeps the temperature low enough so that the jam won’t ferment. Fermentation is when yeast grows inside the jam. The result is an unpleasant smell and taste.
- Don’t fill your jars all the way. Leave 1/4 inch headspace. This allows air to circulate inside the jar and prevents mold from growing.
- Always use new lids. Old ones tend to leak.
- When storing your jams, always label them with their date. This way you know exactly when they were made.
- You can store your jams in the refrigerator. Homemade jams are best kept cold. They’ll stay fresh for up to three weeks.
- Keep jars tightly closed. This helps prevent oxygen from entering the jar. Oxygen is needed by microorganisms to grow.
Store-bought jam
Store-bought jam has a longer shelf life because they are made with preservatives and stabilizers. These chemicals help preserve the flavor and texture of the jam. They also prevent mold from growing inside the jars.
Store-bought jam (unopened jar)
- Ambient temperature: 2 years (best quality)
What is the shelf life of an unopened jar of industrial jam?
The precise answer to this question depends to a large extent on the storage conditions. To maximize the shelf life of the jam, store the jar in a cool, dry place.
Stored in good conditions, an unopened jar of store-bought jam generally retains optimum quality for about 2 years at room temperature.
Can an unopened jar of store-bought jam be safely consumed after the “best before” date indicated on the jar?
Yes, provided it is stored in good conditions and the jar is not damaged. Commercial jars of jam are usually marked with a “best before” date, but this is not a best-before date; this is the manufacturer’s estimate of how long the jam will retain optimum quality.
After this date, the texture, color, or flavor of the jam may change, but in most cases, it will still be safe to eat if it has been stored in the right conditions, if the jar is not damaged and if it shows no signs of tampering.
How do you know if the jam has expired?
The best way is to smell and examine the jam. If the jam smells, tastes, or looks abnormal, or if mold appears, it should be discarded.
Store-bought (open jar)
- Refrigerator: 2 to 3 weeks
What is the shelf life of store-bought jam after opening the jar?
The precise answer to this question depends to a large extent on the storage conditions. To maximize the shelf life of industrial jam after opening the jar, store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
How long does store-bought jam keep in the refrigerator after opening the jar?
store-bought jam generally keeps for 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator after opening the jar.
How to know if store-bought jam has expired?
The best way is to smell and examine the jam. If the jam smells, tastes, or looks abnormal, or if mold appears, it should be discarded.
