Last year's mincemeat

[purplecat27]

I've been making my own mincemeat for a few years and usually use it all up, but I've still got 2/3 of a jar left from last year. It's in a clip lock Kilner jar and has been in the fridge since it was opened. I don't think I can see any mould and it still smells great, but would you use it? If it was unopened with no air gap at the top I wouldn't hesitate, but just not sure with it being open and a bit used. If it makes a difference it was an adaptation of Mary Berry's recipe which uses butter rather than suet, and it's got a good glug of whiskey in it.

I would.
As long as it smells ok I'm going to use up the half a jar of shop bought mince meat that's been in my fridge for a year.

Me too. Bought a jar of mincemeat, thought I'd left it in the shop, so bought another then found the first one tucked away at the back if the cupboard. Appretbkt its fine so long as it has been kept in cool dark conditions.

The booze will act as a preservative, as long as it's still moist it should be fine

Definitely!

Glad you asked that question as I cleaned out my cupboards and found a jar of homemade in Kilner unopened. Not going to open until making mince pies and see what it is like. Found half a jar too not in fridge. Binned it. Not nice. I usually make apple and mince meat plait during January.

I don't keep mine in the fridge, and always use the year before's or the one before that if there are leftovers - thirty odd years and no illness yet. The booze and lemon juice works wonders as a preservative in homemade mincemeat.

Thanks everyone, looks like it's a unanimous decision!