Kitchen Garden Forum

I've still got some red tomato chutney dated 2004. It's shrunk a bit in the jars but still looks and smells fine. Question: will we die if we eat it?!

I shouldn't think so, I've cleared a furcoat from the top of a jar before now. . . . I'm still here. Cheers, Tony.

Dear Jude,
if it is a bit thick for use then warm the contents through in a saucepan with a couple of tablespoons of water. Alternatevly use it to make flavouring for stews. You can also resurrect jam in this fashion.
Regards Sally Wright.

Thanks both - have done a taste test and am still here! Will try it out on family on Boxing Day

Dear Jude, it's nice to share......

I've got some rather ancient home made red gooseberry jam in my cupboard rather like this. We don't seem to be able to eat our way through all our home-made preserves quickly enough!.

It's gone pretty solid but I'm using it up by putting a large dessertspoonful of it into my porridge oats before microwaving them. The milk/water loosens it up nicely. Not suggesting that the chutney would have quite the same effect with porridge, but adding some water should work fine. I think the sugar and/or vinegar in these preserves will keep them going for ages.

Made some 'all butter' mince pies using two year old mincemeat of my own manufacture. Pastry was a begger to form but the mincemeat was crackin'.

Definitely making some more to be put away for a couple of years to 'mature'. Didn't have that sharp sugary taste of bought stuff.


Cheers, Tony.

I make a rule of always testing these things on hubby first if he lives by the next day then I will eat it
This from some one who had a 12 year old home made jar of mincemeat in the cupboard and used it to make pies last year ....everyone said they were the nicest they had ever had Think it was because of the brandy in it ....

Thanks for this reassurance; I worried about selling some chutney made for last Christmas...

I once made a surplus of tomato chutney. It took us about eight years to eat our way through it but the last jar was still fine.

Well, 2011 has gone and so has the chutney. All still appear to be alive, though rather difficult to tell this morning. Happy New Year everybody!

happy new year! I am still eating jam from 2000!!!