Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Eating and Drinking => Cooking, Storing and Preserving => Topic started by: evie P on December 23, 2009, 05:35
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I am hoping someone will be able to help with my chutney emergency.
I have made 2 large batches of chutney (different chutney, separate occasions) and bottled them in Kilner - style jars (with the removable rubber seals) that I sterilised before use (hot soapy water and drying the jar in the oven). Now, around a month after making them a few have developed a dry, crumbly white residue around part of the seal. :unsure:
It is not mould.
Please can someone tell me what this might be?
Thanks v much. :)
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Welcome to the site Evie :D
Is the residue on the rubber seals? Were they new?
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Is it salt?
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Hi. Thanks for your replies. :)
Yes, the residue is around the rubber seals and they are new. Is that significant?
I'm not sure whether it's salt. Maybe I should taste it! ???
My plan was to gift the chutney but I'm a bit put off now. :(
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If the "deposit" is inside the jar I am nearly positive that you will find the white (slightly crystaline) material is sugar. ;)
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i would open one (and then keep for yourself, what a shame you cant gift that one ;) :lol:) and taste it...........at least you will know then and can pop a note in with the gifted jars letting people know what it is
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i would open one (and then keep for yourself, what a shame you cant gift that one ;) :lol:) and taste it...........at least you will know then and can pop a note in with the gifted jars letting people know what it is
Good advice - open one - take a closer look - taste a very small amount and see.
If it is a very white floury substance then it might be something other than sugar. :ohmy:
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Hi
It's c bit chalky looking. I just tasted it and it's not suger, quite bitter. :unsure:
I wonder what it is.
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If it is not sugar I think I'd try an internet search - it might be a fungus that has remained on the seals.. :(.
Did you boil or sterilise these? Miltons fluid is one way of doing it!
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Thanks for all advice.
Happy Christmas.
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Hi. Hope you all had a lovely Christmas. :D
As for updates.... the mystery of the white "deposits" on my kilner jars of beetroot and Christmas chutney remais unsolved. It is very white and very dry and crumbly.
I have eaten some of the chutney and it tastes delicious. The colour is also great.
My mum has insisted there's nothing wrong but I still feel a need to find ou what this substance is.
Internet search revealed nothing of use whatsover.
I am now guessing (upon closer inspection) that the pressure in the jars has caused a small amount of chutney to force its way out of the jar, so it looks as though this has possibly dried follwoing exposure to the air.
My worry is this could be something to do with bacteria, my hope is that it's some dessicated chutney ingredient.
So, if you are a chemist or experienced chutney bottler with nothing better to do than waste your time on my little problem I'd be v. grateful.
Is it possible that this is beconing an obsession? :dry:
PS. Nigella's Christmas chutney and beetroot chutney are both very yum.
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If the white mystery is on theoutside of the jars and the inside is free - stop worrying!!
It could be any number of different 'salts'....... You say you have tried the contents and are still around to tell us?
Go for it - eat them and enjoy!! :)
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I agree Learner.................there is only a problem if it is inside the jars!!!
:D
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OK. Will stop worrying. Thanks for all your hel;p.