[flowerpower]

I submitted one of my (supposed) finest jars of rasberry jam to the local hort and prod show today and it had mould on it... I feel so stupid. I just forgot to take off the lid and check that it was ok. I make so many jams and chutneys, but it was a new recipe using less sugar. I've got home and realised that all 11 jars left have the beginnings of mould on the wax discs too.

I am soooo cross with myself.

Help. Do I have to bin the lot or can I rescue it by re cooking it with more sugar?

[Yorkie]

The official answer is that the jam should be thrown away.

I certainly wouldn't try to re-cook it.

However, I've not died from simply scraping the mould away before eating the jam (but I didn't advise that  )

[Spana]

It sounds as if the the lids didn't seal properly. What a shame We have to have cellophane lids for our show.

If it were mine i would use it up quickly and just spoon off the mould when i opened each jar.

[flowerpower]

I was wondering if I could scrape the mould off and then freeze the stuff.

I am of the opinion that a bit of mould didn't hurt anyone, but this jam is only a week or two old. By Christmas it would be seriously off!

(I had put on the wax discs, then done the cellophane and elastic band, then a lid - the full works!)

[Spana]

I've never frozen jam, but what have you got to lose.  Sounds a good idea to me   You could keep a few jars out to use up and try freezing the rest.  Mind you, could you freeze it in the jar and if you freeze a cake with jam in it does go a bit wet.  Try it and tell us what happens

[tode]

Don't freeze anthing in glass jars: I'm sure you'll end up with broken glass everywhere.

[flowerpower]

Maybe decant (minus mould) into plastic bags then freeze?

[johnfh]

Probably you all know this already but I only discovered recently that once opened jam or marmalade keeps for ages in the fridge without going mouldy.

[mumofstig]

Standard recipe (ie high sugar) home made jam keeps for ages without going in the fridge..it had too in 'the old days'...........
and my fridge is too full up with other stuff to take jams, marmalades and chutney

[Poolfield2]

If you are going to freeze it you could put it in icecube tray and then only get out as much as you need for a couple of days cos it will go mouldy very quickly. The proper answer is to throw it away for your own good health

[tode]

If you've got the time (and the inclination) Flowerpower,
Remove mould carefully,
Tip it all into pan and reboil
Repot.
Should be OK   Shame to waste it.
ESPECIALLY raspberry jam.

[hamstergbert]

The last couple of jars of last years crabble and elderberry jelly had hairy hats on come April this year.  We scooped off the mould and then nuked the jars (sans lids of course) for 90 seconds at full chat before relidding after re-sterilising the lids.  The final jar as opened a couple of weeks ago had certainly stayed mould free and the taste didnt seem to be particularly affected.

[tode]

I like that, "Hairy hats".     Very good.

[flowerpower]

Oh WOW! Thank you all so much for your suggestions. I was so angry with myself that I could hardly think straight. 24 hours later, I can see that most of your ideas are worthy of trying out.... I just can't decide which one(s) to go for.

I am inclined to reboil some of it with a bit more sugar and see what happens. I also like the idea of ice cube trays - you could melt a block on your toast for breakfast!

Keep them coming...!

[SMD66]

The guru Delia says that you can scrape off the top inch and still eat the jam.  If it were me, (and it may well be as I've made loads this yr)  I would scrape off the mould plus an inch, wipe around in the top of the jar then tip the rest into another container and keep it in the fridge.