Jellies and Jams - How to Know When They Have Gone Bad

I just had to research this because my grandmother gives us sooo much homemade jelly it's a little crazy. Homemade jellies and jams generally have a one year shelf life if they are unopened. Opened jellies generally last 6-8 months if they are refrigerated. If they go bad it's usually because of mold. It's not something you can scrape off, as it will penetrate into the jar of jelly or jam. If it smells "yeasty" or "alcoholic" don't eat it. If it's really off color beware. I

They go bad refridgerated? LOL

Jams and jellies last nearly forever. The high-level of sugar is a natural preservative. The white stuff on top is sugar chrystallization.

I'm sure they are fine. If they don't smell funny, eat it. The white stuff is likely crystalized sugar as you mentioned. I would just scoop out some and taste it.

The sugar crystalization could be mold as you usually will see white mold on these items. You can usually tell the difference though. Get out a spoon ful from the top and inspect it closely with a magnifying glass this should tell you whether it's mold or crystals. If it's mold you have to throw it away because it's seeped into the whole jar.