Does Mint Jelly Go Bad?

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Mint jelly is mainly made from mint leaves and natural pectin originally. It has a beautiful golden color, but after adding few synthetic green food colors, its color changes to fresh green. It has a sweet taste which is more like tart and with a strong flavor of mint.

It is widely used with roasted Lamb, and it is a perfect match with roasted flesh, but it can also be used with iced teas, over ice-creams and chocolates, etc. Mint jelly can be edible throughout the year, especially if it is stored properly like in a refrigerator, but obviously, it can go bad if it is not stored carefully.

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How to Store Mint Jelly

Mint jelly adds a delicate minty flavor to foods, and it has a light green appearance, which also plays a great role in the cuisine’s décor. If you have prepared mint jelly at home and have a regular amount of sugars added, you can use it for half of the year. But if you bought canned mint jelly and have low or no sugars, you can use it for 2-3 months.

Mint jelly should be kept carefully, and some ways with the help of which you can store them are listed below:

Keep it Away from Direct Sunlight.

If you made mint jelly at home or bought a canned one, always keep it away from direct sunlight source because its heat can cause early spoilage in your mint jelly, which can be retained if stored properly.

Place it in an Airtight Jar.

You might have noticed that when you buy canned mint jelly, it is placed in an airtight jar with a perfectly closed seal; it is placed to prevent it moisture and microbial contamination that it can get from the environment when exposed.

You should also keep the mint jelly in an airtight jar with a perfectly closed lid to prevent it from early spoilage.

Keep it in Refrigerator

Mint jelly or any other jelly should always be kept in the Refrigerator no matter what because it needs a cool place having a temperature of around 40⁰F.

When you want to use it in your cooking, then take it out from Refrigerator, use a dry and clean spoon, and after using immediately put it back into the fridge as it can cause less exposure of mint jelly towards the environment and make it less vulnerable to get spoiled early.

Can You Freeze Mint Jelly

Mint jelly can be freeze, and it can extend its shelf life up to a year. If you made it at home, then before putting it into the freezer, make sure to let it cool down completely. After it cooled down, put it into an airtight container that is freezer safe or put it into freezer bags.

If you bought canned mint jelly from the grocery store, you could put it into the freezer as it is; this can be useable and remains fresh for over a year, there may be some decline in its visual appeal, taste, and flavor will be good.

How Long Does Mint Jelly Last

Mint jelly, which is made at home, can remain stable for six months in Refrigerator and one year in the freezer, while in the case of canned mint jelly, usually its expiration date is mentioned at the backside of its jar. Still, you can check for indications of spoilage before using; it can remain stable for 2-3 months in Refrigerator and 12 months in the freezer.

How long it lasts depends on how properly you store it; always keep it away from humidity and heat, use a dry spoon to take it out of a jar, keep it tightly closed, keep it refrigerated always, and constantly check for signs of spoilage. This way, your mint lasts for a long period, and you can experience the same flavor and freshness in your cuisines as you expect it to be.

How to Tell If Mint Jelly Is Bad

Mint jelly has a delicate flavor, which you can feel in foods it is added in, but if it has gone bad, then the first noticeable thing that changes is its flavor. Its delicacy lost potency and became bland in taste.

Off Odor: To check whether it is good to use or has gone bad, take a sniff, and notice an unpleasant odor coming out of it, then it can no longer be used.
Dark Coloration: If the light green color changes to dark color and has an offensive smell, it indicates spoilage in mint jelly.
Sticky Texture: Texture is another important factor that can tell you the health of mint jelly; if it has a sticky texture, it means it has gone bad, and you need to toss over it and buy a new one.
The appearance of Mold/Yeast: If you notice any fluffy white appearance of mold or yeast over its surface, then immediately discard it because it means that it has gone bad.