Buried Treasure - what would you do? [Moved from Home Cooking board]

[JessNZ]

Hi all,

We moved in about 6 months ago and are still putting some things away :-)

In a storage cupboard which is under the house, we discovered some jars of fruit preserves from 1999. They look fine and still sealed, and one we popped open (plums) smells divine!

Anyone know what risk we might be taking by trying these? If they smell and look OK,
what could be lurking?

Cheers,
Jess

[Tay]

Jess
I'd have to say, toss. You don't know anything about the mind set of the people who preserved them nor do you know what methods were used or what may or may have not been addded. The potential reward is just not worth the potential punishment.

[im_nomad]

botulism has no smell, does it not?

if i had bottled them myself....maybe....but i don't trust other people's method's sometimes with stuff. They may have never even washed the jars.

[millygirl]

exactly!

[spellweaver16]

As long as you're sure that the seal is intact and there aren't any strange smells or floaties, I'd say it's safe. If the seal popped, I'm pretty sure you'd have some mold in there. Botulism is your main concern with canned goods and if air has been getting in there, the live bacteria is dead, since oxygen is toxic to botulism. I wouldn't advise giving it to young children, though, just in case and if you really want to, you can heat a portion before eating it.

[JessNZ]

Yes, I am 8 months pregnant so it's definitely up to the husband to decide whether he wants to be guinea pig.

[Sam Fujisaka]

I'd eat them if the fruit are fairly acidic, there is NO released pressure upon opening, and the jars are completely airtight. But that is just what I do for anything I've canned quite a long time ago.

[millygirl]

Not me sorry, I'd toss it for sure!!! I know I have a real sense of imagination but who knows, it could have been some crazy person's science project. 3 words - Not Worth It!

[millygirl]

Okay what the heck do I know...just told the hubby about this post to which he promptly replied (as he is in the kitchen making us his special veal piccata for dinner) "he would definitely try it .....might be something wonderful inside". So there you go.