Can chutney be eaten on its own?
Hey, greedy guts! We know you want to sit at home with your jar of chutney and a spoon devouring away! Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that. But traditionally chutney is an accompaniment to food like spicy, aromatic curries, sandwiches, meats, cheese boards and more.
But as we all know, when it comes to food anything is possible. So yes, chutney can be eaten on its own. At the end of the day, chutney is made from vegetables and sometimes contains fruit, (which are foods we eat on a daily anyway!) because of its sweet and savoury elements it lends itself as well as an accompaniment.
How long should I consume chutney after opening the jar?
The precise answer really depends on the extent of storage conditions. To ensure we maximise the shelf life of an opened jar of chutney, we recommend (like many foods) keeping it refrigerated and tightly screwed covered.
The important thing to note is that many people after they open a jar of chutney, the majority of the time place it back in the cupboard. Half sealed where bacteria can easily get to it. Minimising its life on the shelf.
How long does an opened jar of chutney last in the refrigerator?
Whether it’s mango, chilli or any other flavour. Unopened chutney can stay in your cupboard for up to a year. After the jar has been opened, and the chutney has been continuously refrigerated will generally stay at its best quality for about 2 months.
How do you know if chutney has gone bad?
Food jars/containers typically carry a Best By, Best if Used By, Best Before, or Best When Used By date. However, this is not a safety date; it's roughly the manufacturer’s estimate of how long the chutney will remain in good condition.
The best way to indicate that chutney has been spoiled is to smell and look at the chutney. If the chutney gives off an off odour or appearance, or if mould starts to appear. These, like many foods, are clear indications of spoiled chutney. They should be discarded right away.
Can you freeze chutney?
So you have opened a jar of chutney and you find out it's nearly too late to use the rest of the remaining. Probably best not to throw it away because yes, you can freeze chutney for up to 12 months. Freezing chutney will not affect the taste because the ingredients used are already cooked. However, chutney may be a little watery when thawed. To fix this just simply grab a spoon and give it a quick stir.
Here are a few tips to freeze chutney successfully.
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Ensuring the chutney is contained properly
Grab your chutney and spoon it into smaller containers, small glass jars and zip lock bags to ensure the chutney is sealed tightly with as much air removed as possible.
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Remember to label
As we mentioned earlier, chutney lasts up to 12 months in the freezer. Write the date of the freezing on a label and stick it on the container or bag. By doing this you will know when it is good to eat before the 12 months is up. Also, if you are moving chutney to another container it would be worth labelling what flavour the chutney is.
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Preventing spillages
Store in the freezer in a safe area where jars are not likely to fall, be squashed or slip out when you open the freezer door. We don’t want to waste a perfectly good chutney now, do we?
