Making chutney - how long will it keep?

caringa

I' m new to this thread but am sure someone can help? May DD has been made redundant from her job and wants to keep busy. She has suggested that she makes everyone in the family some chutney for Christmas presents as money will be in very short supply.

Firstly, any good recipes and secondly, how long will chutney keep in the fridge?


Thanks!

[Deleted User]

I'm currently using some jars of H/M rhubarb chutney that had migrated to the back of the shelf and are dated 2008!!! and they're if anything nicer than the newer ones I've made since then.

Seakay

Sealed chutney will keep for years (unrefrigerated). Many require up to 6 months to mature before eating. Once opened chutney should keep for a couple of months in a reasonably cool room or up to a year in the fridge.

RAS

Most chutney needs a bit of time to mature so make sure people know it is to be kept before eating (say Easter). Keeps fine for years in a cupboard if unopened.

Your biggest issue is getting jars for it (do you have mates who can save them and the lids for you)? Alternatively you can buy new lids for one pound jars.

Fortunately boring old malt vinegar is often better than the expensive ones.

Think also about things like HM pickled onions, cranberry and orange sauce (make that just before Christmas) and other pickles (from root veggies if you can get them cheap).

If you can get cheap cloves (try the local Asian stores) you might make pomanders?
Other cheapies - bath bombs etc

JulieGeorgiana

I make caramarlised onion chutney. Matures in 6 weeks and I made some in January and it's still good now