Before my daughter comes to visit, I throw away any food in the refrigerator that has passed its best by date.
However, I missed a jar of raspberry jam with a best by date of Dec. 20, 2025. When she pointed it out, I thought maybe it would be O.K. to eat because it has a lot of sugar, which, like honey, is a preservative, and I thought it might last longer.
In addition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in recent information on how not to waste less food, indicated some foods can be eaten after their best by dates.
Store-bought jam
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that unopened jams and jellies have a shelf life of up to a year if stored in a cool pantry.
After the jam is opened, it should be refrigerated and stored for up to six months.
You can tell if the jam is spoiled if:
- Mold is present.
- It has an odd odor.
- It has changed color.
- Liquid is forming around the top and/or sides of the jar.
Home-canned jam
Most homemade jams and jellies that use a tested recipe, and have been processed in a canner for the recommended time, should keep their best quality and flavor for up to one year, according to the National Center for Home Food Preservation at the University of Georgia.
Like store-bought jam, home-canned jam should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place, between 50-70°F.
Over extended periods of time, however, changes in color, flavor, texture and nutrient content of home-canned jams and jellies is inevitable, the center said. A typical full-sugar fruit jam or jelly should be safe to eat if the jar seal remains intact and the product shows no visible signs of spoilage from molds or yeasts.
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 one month in the refrigerator after opening. They may last longer depending on the specific product and how it’s used.
Final thoughts
So my daughter’s right. Out with the raspberry jam.
