Prep

How long does jam last?

FoodKeeper gives jam 6 to 18 months unopened, as a US guide to quality. Once opened, that's 6 to 12 months in the fridge.

These are US figures, for quality. They come from USDA FoodKeeper. The date on a UK pack comes first, and Food Standards Agency rules take priority: never eat food after its use-by date. Best before is about quality.

How to store it

Keep unopened jars in a cool, dark place, and put an open jar in the fridge. Use a clean spoon each time, so crumbs and butter don't go in.

USDA says temperatures below 85°F (about 29°C) are best, and to avoid anywhere above or beside the cooker, under the sink, or in a damp garage or cellar. Once it's open, follow the storage instruction on the label.

What to look for

USDA says to discard jam and jelly with mould on it, even a small patch. Don't scoop it off and use the rest, because the mould could be producing a toxin.

Don't use food from a cracked jar, or a jar with a loose or bulging lid. Don't taste it to check.

Worth knowing

The fridge gives it a long life, at 6 to 12 months. FoodKeeper gives no figure for an open jar in the cupboard.

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From preppantry.app. Checked 2 November 2026. Independent tool, not official advice.

How it works

FoodKeeper is USDA's food storage database. Its figures are guides to quality for food stored at cool room temperature, not safety cut-offs, and we show them as USDA gives them. FoodKeeper counts this from the date of purchase. Opened times start when you open the pack.

There's no UK shelf-life dataset, so these figures are from the US. The date on your pack comes first. On a UK pack, use by is about safety and best before is about quality, so never rely on this page to go past a use-by date.

Common questions

How long does jam last unopened?

6 to 18 months, according to USDA FoodKeeper, as a guide to best quality. FoodKeeper counts this from the date of purchase.

How long does jam keep once opened?

FoodKeeper gives no figure for an opened pack in the cupboard. 6 to 12 months in the fridge.

Can I eat jam after the best before date?

Best before is about quality, so jam past that date is usually safe, but may not be as good. A use-by date is different: never eat food after it.

What should I look for before using jam?

USDA says to discard jam and jelly with mould on it, even a small patch. Don't scoop it off and use the rest, because the mould could be producing a toxin.

Sources

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Checked on 2 November 2026. This is an independent tool and not official advice. See sources and method.

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