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.
A: Opened home-canned jams and jellies should be kept in the refrigerator at 40°F or lower. “Regular” – or pectin-added, full-sugar – cooked jams and jellies are best stored for 1 month in the refrigerator after opening. They may last longer depending on the specific product and how it is used.
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.
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.
Do I need to refrigerate your jams, jellies, preserves and fruit spreads? We recommend refrigerating our fruit spreads, jams, jellies and preserves after opening, per the instructions on the back label of our products.
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).
If you don't plan on finishing your jar of natural peanut butter within a month or so, or if you live in a hot climate, consider refrigerating it. The oils in the peanuts can go rancid if it's not kept cool. Likewise, if the label recommends refrigerating after opening, follow the instructions.
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.
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.
Keep unopened mayo in a cool, dry place, such as the pantry or cabinet. Refrigerate after opening. After opening, always refrigerate mayonnaise in order to maintain freshness, flavor, and texture, and food safety measures or protocol.
If the jam is still liquid then we don't particularly recommend reboiling. It can be tried but there is a risk that the jam becomes over boiled, which also means that it will not set. The jam can also burn much more easily when reboiled. The thin jam can be repurposed as a sweet chilli sauce.
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.
You don't need to store jams and preserves in the fridge. If they've been boiled and preserved in the right way, bacteria is unlikely to grow in the jar, so there's no need to keep it chilled. Instead, store it in your kitchen cupboard.
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.
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.
Can jelly set at room temperature? Yes it will set it will just take longer! In this weather I'd be very surprised if it sets and it won't keep out of the fridge before melting either.
Please keep them in the fridge and use first. They have only sealed at fridge temperature (cold air contracts), if you put them in the pantry they'll warm up and may allow air in carrying microorganisms. However, the high sugar content is a natural preservative, so it maybe safe for months.
Once it sets we always suggest keeping it in the fridge to keep it nice and cold as well as fresh. If it is an environment that is hot it might re-melt again to become liquid. It should not spoil if left out for a long period of time as long as it is in a cool environment.
Introduction: My name is Kelle Weber, I am a magnificent, enchanting, fair, joyous, light, determined, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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