Can I keep these?

[tkband3]

I'm clearing out my kitchen cupboards ahead of moving house. I've found two jars of home-made chutney and two jars of home-made mincemeat (I didn't host Christmas last year, so nothing got used up!). Can I keep them for Christmas this year? The mincemeat has got brandy in it, which I assume acts as a preservative and the chutney has vinegar in it - does that do the same job? Both are really delicious, so I don't want to throw them away if I don't have to, but equally don't want to keep them if there's no point .

Are they open? If so, look (no mould or slimy stuff?) sniff (smells right?) taste (tastes right - not fizzy or off?). If they pass all three tests, then bung em at the back of the fridge and they should be fine for next year.

If they're still sealed then of course you can keep for next year! I make a job lot of mincemeat every few years, and have never had a jar, open or sealed, go off.

Great, thank you!

oh definitely keep. They should be fine for years! Sainsbury's was selling mincemeat for 5p in Jan and I bought enough jars to keep me going for about a decade (I don't like mince pies very much!)