Homemade Apple Chutney Recipe | Gardener's Supply (2024)

FAQs

How do you store homemade chutney for long time? ›

Warm jams and chutneys should always be put into warm jars as if the glass is cold the sudden change in heat could cause them to crack. Once the jars are cool they should be clearly labelled and stored in a cool, dry and dark place. Jams and chutneys should last for up to 1 year if unopened.

6. Allow to Mature. Chutneys are best eaten after a long maturing period so we recommend storing them in a cool, dry dark place and leaving them for no less than 8 weeks before opening them.

Our answer. When you make chutney its consistency is determined by the evaporation of liquid as the chutney cooks. So if possible you should use a wide pan as this has a larger surface area which means that liquid will evaporate more quickly and should help to prevent the fruit in the chutney from becoming too soft.

If your chutney is too runny or your recipe calls for a thickening agent, always use cornflour mixed with a little of the vinegar. Cornflour is gluten free. Always to this at the very end because thickening your chutney like this will make catch and burn easily.

It will keep for up to 6 months if store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

Over this period the flavour of the chutney mellows and becomes less acidic or "vinegary". The Christmas Chutney should be ready to eat after a month and once opened the jar should be kept in the fridge and used within one month.

Vinegar used in making chutney must be good quality and have at least 5% acetic acid content. Any good brand white, malt, wine or cider vinegar should possess the correct qualities. Brown sugar is used for darker coloured chutney but where a lighter colour is required granulated sugar is recommended.

Fill the hot dry jars right to the top – preserves shrink slightly on cooling and a full jar means less trapped condensation. Seal the jars while still hot. This rule applies to all jams, jellies, pickles and chutneys.

Once made, chutney can be eaten immediately but the flavours improve and develop if it is left to mature for a couple of weeks or even months. Store your unopened jars in a dry and dark cupboard for best results. Once opened, keep your chutney in the fridge and eat within four weeks.

Our answer

If you made a double quantity it may take longer for the acid in the vinegar to mellow, unless you used a particularly wide pan that would help the vinegar to evaporate more easily. So it is worth tasting the chutney before you transfer it to jars, to make sure that the mixture is not too acidic.

What is a thickening agent for chutney? ›

Relish. Chutney and relish are two popular condiments, and the names are often interchanged. The confusion is understandable because chutneys can be savory, and relishes can be sweet. In general, chutneys have a chunky spreadable consistency much like a preserve and are usually made with fruit.

Chutneys are made by slow-cooking fruit or vegetables with peeled ginger, garlic, Korintje cinnamon, and chilies. Spices and vinegar are added to preserve the chutney and give it a tangy flavor.

Preserving chutneys is accomplished by using the hot water bath technique of canning. Factors that help in its preservation include: Acidity – The acidity (low pH) of the chutney prevents growth of several spoilage and pathogenic bacteria, molds and yeasts.

When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, homemade green chutney can typically last for about 1 to 2 weeks. The freshness and taste may gradually diminish over time, but it should remain safe to eat within that period.

What makes canned chutney safe? The acidity from the added vinegar and the natural acids of the fruit prevents growth of several spoilage and pathogenic bacteria, molds, and yeasts. Cooking the mixture to concentrate it lowers available moisture that is needed for microbial growth.

Chutney that has been properly made will have excellent preservative qualities of its own, even after opening. However, to be certain, it's probably better to keep them refrigerated once opened.