Does jam go bad?

@thinkingoutloud Mold and other organisms feed on sugar, you're thinking of salt and vinegar being natural preservatives, sugar isn't.

@NativePortlander1970 Sugar is a natural preservative. It is a humectant.
The only time that mold and other organisms can grow on a product like jam is when it gets adulterated by water or something else that can grow these, like butter. Say someone uses the same butter knife in jam straight after butter.

@thinkingoutloud Sugar is hygroscopic, which means it attracts and absorbs water like a sponge, which microbes love, enabling them to multiply and grow.

@NativePortlander1970 I'll let you read up on this. I just tried googling 'is sugar a natural preservative?'

@thinkingoutloud Let's see what rots first, a pound of sugar pork, or a pound of salt pork.

@NativePortlander1970 Oh wait, there is no such thing as sugar pork for preserving.

@NativePortlander1970 lol I can't believe you're bringing me attitude and sarcasm over something like this.

@thinkingoutloud I despise pseudoscience, specially when it comes to food, too many people die feom food poisoning each and every year from bad information. Sugar should never be used as a preservative, it's a sweetner.

@NativePortlander1970 I am not a fan of people behaving with attitude and sarcasm. There is no point engaging in this matter.

If you have never seen sugar itself grow mold ...then you need to check your 'science'.

Besides that...I am not invested in what anyone believes. X

@thinkingoutloud When properly stored in air and moisture tight containers sugar can last a fairly decent time, but unlike salt, if left on the counter, it will absorb moisture, the air containing microbes will infiltrate, and it will grow fuzzy over time.