Bitter mincemeat! (2024)

FAQs

Why does my mincemeat taste bitter? ›

Mincemeat over time does deepen in colour but the bitter taste may be that you pressed too hard when the citrus zests were grated!

Unfortunately the company who bought it has decided to discontinue! Get it while you can-the cookie recipe is on the box and they're awesome. Sadly you cannot replicate the cookies properly using the jarred minced meat/they do NOT come out well. Pricey but worth it!

Mincemeat isn't difficult to make, but it has a lot of ingredients, which can make it expensive to produce in small batches, and it requires at least a day's advance planning to let the ingredients sit.

None Such Mincemeat has seasonal distribution throughout the United States. If you cannot find None Such Mincemeat in your grocery store, please notify the store manager.

Tip: If you want to jazz up your jar of shop bought mincemeat, why not try adding the zest of a lemon & orange!

The high sugar content of mincemeat, enhanced by fat and perhaps alcohol, means mincemeat can be stored at a cool ambient temperature for many months. Once opened it will keep for even longer refrigerated.

By the 18th century it was more likely to be tongue or even tripe, and in the 19th century it was minced beef. It was not until the late Victorian period and early 20th Century that mince pies dropped the meat and had all fruit fillings (albeit with suet). Even today there are traditions associated with mince pies.

You can also freeze both commercial and homemade mincemeat to extend its shelf life up to 6 to 12 months.

Traditions, folklore and superstitions

Stirring the mincemeat was quite an event, and English tradition dictates that it should only be stirred clockwise. Stirring the mincemeat anti-clockwise would lead to bad luck and poor fortune in the coming 12 months.

How do you make shop bought mincemeat taste better? ›

Start by tasting it, then add extra flavours that suit: nearly always add a little freshly grated lemon or orange zest, extra spice, extra brandy or rum and some cherries or nuts.

Mincemeat is traditionally cooked then cooled whilst stirring so it should be fine to eat "raw".

Mincemeat Products

Our condensed mincemeat is returning. We appreciate your patience while we focus on production. Please click here to enter your email to be alerted as soon as our boxed condensed version is available for order online or in a store near you for the 2024 season.

The Kirkland signature mince pies from Costco.

Some speculation has it that mince pies were illegal to eat on the day of Christmas. However, the only Christmas Day where eating mince pies was illegal was 1644 due to December falling on a day of fasting. Eat all of the mince pies to your heart's desires!

The scent changes due to the increased growth of spoilage bacteria, such as Lactobacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp., which may also affect the flavor. If you don't notice a funny scent but still see signs of spoilage in color or texture, it's still safest to throw it away, as pathogenic bacteria cannot be smelled.

A bitter aftertaste in meat could indicate a few different things. Overcooking meat, especially poultry, can produce compounds that leave an unpleasant taste. Certain cuts like organ meats may have a natural underlying flavor some find bitter.

Acid reflux, also called GERD, occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter weakens and allows food and stomach acid to move from your stomach upward into the esophagus and mouth. This is likely the most common cause of a bitter taste in the mouth.