Do I need to refrigerate my homemade chutney?

[breadsauceandhoneyroastham]

I made it about 3-4 weeks ago and have just been storing it at the back of my cupboard. Will it be ok? Don't want to be handing out poisonous christmas gifts!

No need to refrigerate until its been opened.

What chutney did you do? I did Lorraine Pascale's apple, blackberry and cinnamon, and I'm hoping it will be ok as I plan on giving it as gifts too!

Thank you Happy

I made this one. It's the first time I've ever made anything like this so I just want it to be good.

I didn't seal the jars with wax discs or anything. I just sterilised these jars in the dishwasher, put the chutney in and closed them. Does that sound about right?

I don't put wax discs in my jars ever, and none of my chutney or jam has had mould growth issues.

Sounds like you do what I do, only I sterilise my already-washed jars in the oven - either way is fine :)

I made Christmas jam this morning for presents, smells so nice that I'm going to make a second batch tonight to keep!

mmm, lovely. I would love to try jam, but I fear it might be a bit technical for me Sugar thermometers are for people who know that they are doing!

Looks a lovely recipe breadsauce. This is my first year of doing chutney too - I have also done some compotes (easier than chutney, tbh) - I did sarah raven's cranberry, orange, port and red wine compote and her apricot, almond and brandy one too. Fingers crossed that everyone else likes them!

I re-used some jars that i'd saved throughout the year, and put them through the dishwasher on a very hot wash to terilise them. That's it.

If you want some othe easy recipes, then you could try Christmas pudding and mincemeat. They're the easiest things I've ever made, and I'm no cook, believe me.

Jam is a step too far for me. If a recipe involves a thermometer, I won't bother. My mum tries to do jam (without a thermometer) every sumer when she picks too much at PYO, and it hasn't ever set. Not once!

I don't own a sugar thermometer.

I've never had a jam not set. It's VERY easy. I find chutney harder to make!

Equal amounts of fruit and sugar, some lemon juice or a sachet of pectin.

Bring to the boil and boil for 5-10 minutes. Put a splodge of jam on a plate, push it with your finger. If it wrinkles, it's done. If it doesn't wrinkle, leave it on for another 5 minutes.

I don't bother with skimming scum off the top, or any faffing about, and even my FIL (who is very VERY suspicious about anything homemade) has requested that I make more jam for him and MIL!

Should be OK but do refrigerate after opening. I kept some chutney made end of season green tomatoes from the garden in the fridge for a whole year. It was just fine.

I made jam for the first time this year, no thermometer and no setting issues.

My chutney is just in the cupboard, should be fine in there.