What is Chutney?

How long might chutney be safe if left out in the open?

No proper info given about chutney. I am an Indian and I know about chutney. Chutney does not have vinegar.

Brilliant description! It mostly refers to Western style chutneys i.e., fruit based savory jams (jam with vinegar and savory elements like onions or mustard seed).

The only thing I would add is that these Western chutneys tend to be cooked, as opposed to the South Asian chutneys which tend to be freshly prepared.

So fruit salsas don't fit the definition of chutney because they aren't cooked and are not fruit based (though tomatoes are technically fruit, but whatever.)

Do you mix chutney with the Indian dishes, or eat it separately? If you mix it, with which ones?

fruit? sugar? I'm south indian and I've never had chutney that tastes sweet with fruit and sugar, unless it's tomatoes but tomatoes aren't sweet anyway. Chutney is usually made out of onions, tomatoes, garlic, coconuts, ginger, herbs, or peanuts with spices and oil.

Western chutneys are cooked, and include sugar and vinegar. The shelf life (best buy) date for most cooked chutneys is two years but if unopened jarred chutney can last for literally decades like a fine wine! Chutney is sugar vinegar and fruit whereas Relish is sugar vinegar and vegetables. Salsa generally does not include sugar or too much vinegar.

You got it all wrong. Chutney does not have vinegar.

Authentic Chutneys in South India are made with fresh ingredients usually (coconut, peanuts, tomato, ginger etc) and are tempered with a little hot oil containing dahls, mustard seeds and curry leaves.

Chutneys (the western versions) can include pickled and non-pickled versions, but in India, chutneys usually refer to a freshly ground mixture of herbs/fruits/fish/nuts that do not have a very long shelf life. In the West, it refers to what in India is "achar" (or pickled fruits/vegetables/herbs).

The pickling process requires salts, vinegar, or other sour agents as preservatives. However, they are only supposed to be used sparingly on the side for flavor, so the sodium content should not be a big worry.

high sodium content is so that it wouldn't go bad!

Why does chutney contain so much sodium?

the ingredients in chutney are cranberries, sugar, apples, grapes, oranges and raisins. I made it back in december and it has been refrigerated since. Is it still good?

The vinegar in chutney lets it be stored indefinitely if canned, and the cooking process releases pectin giving it a jelly-like texture which makes it different from fruit salsa.

What is the typical "Shelf Life" of Chutney?

from this description, it sounds like some fruit salsas can be called chutney. what's the difference?