The pectin I ordered last week arrived yesterday. I can’t even remember if I posted it on here or just on Facebook but last week, I happened to think about needing pectin for making jams and jellies from our fruit. Optimistic, aren’t I? I’m not trusting our food supply and would not be happy if I didn’t have pectin to make jelly. Yes, I know I can make my own but I’m not. So, I started looking for it online and everywhere I looked was either out or the price was outrageous. I ordered some . . it arrived yesterday and the “use by” date is 3/22. I’m fairly certain it will be fine through about July, 2022 and that’s about the last of the jelly I’ll probably be making.
I repackaged it into pint jars and vacuum sealed those so hopefully that will extend the life a bit.
Ruth says
Judy, I have a dvd made by a woman who was presenting food storage how-tos at a women’s conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She said specifically that she asked friends for the oldest pectin they had so she could make jams and jellies with it and see if it worked. One person brought her pectin 17 years out of date. She used it, and it worked just fine!!
I have bicarbonate of soda that is out of date 9/15/06- it still works great. I made cookies and biscuits with it this past week. No problems. My other container’s date is 10/22/99. It works too. I use whichever one is handiest. Some things don’t really need an expiration date. I’ll bet jello never tastes out of date.
Judy Laquidara says
I know! I find it weird that some people have trouble with things (pectin, cornstarch) and I’ve used things that are 4 or more years out of date and not had a problem. The cornstarch I’m using now is 2 years out of date and it’s working fine but a friend said hers is out of date and not working.
I have more trouble with flour (but not whole grain) and things that have oil – crackers, nuts, etc.
Teri says
If only yeast would keep! Or does it somehow that I don’t know about?
Katherine says
It keeps just fine in the freezer for me.
Teri says
Really? I didn’t know that! Thank You!
Susan Nixon says
I normally use Pomona’s Universal Pectin, because it doesn’t require the tons of sugar, as it uses calcium to jell. I usually just order it from Amazon (and use it well past the date on the box if it happens to expire, no issues), but hadn’t even thought about it yet. I hope the price comes down again before I need it. Even though most of the stuff I can only uses half a package. I don’t want to pay the price it is now!
Judy Laquidara says
Several years ago I was able to get a bunch of Pomona’s (like 20 packages) that was close to expiring. Of course, I used it well past the expiration date but I’m out now and since the bulk price of the pectin was way less than Pomona’s, I went ahead and ordered that. I was afraid if I waited, I wouldn’t be able to get it for any price.