pickling

shopaholicz

Anybody pickle?

I've just pickled 2 large jars of chillies, from my greenhouse, and 2 jars of sliced lemons and limes.

My question is when I pickle, can I add to the jars as and when, ie could I do half a jar of chillies now and then add veggies to that same jar in the next 2-4 weeks as they are available or does it all have to be on the same day? If it all has to be on the same day, that would mean buying veggies just to pickle, but adding to jars gradually means I could use up left over fresh veggies as I had them.

Also, can you reuse the pickling liquid? say to pickle lemons and limes now and then other veggies when you've eaten all the lemons and limes? I'm just thinking that the lemons and limes would give a different taste to the liquid?

firefox1956

We pickle loads of stuff, eggs, onions, red cabbage, beetroot.
I don't think it would work pickling stuff & then adding other stuff to the jar after a week or so.
I think you might get stuff going off/mouldy.
We always use very hot vinegar to pickle so that we get a good vacuum seal to the jars.
As for re using pickling liquid....great idea but again I would heat it up.
What are the pickled lemons & limes like ??
What do you eat them with ??
HTH

shopaholicz

I've only had them in a restaurant myself, with sea bass and rice. Hope mine taste as good as theirs did.

meritaten

I am not so sure you couldn't do it. Vinegar is a very powerful preservative and foods packed in vinegar have a very long shelf life even when opened. could I suggest that you use some smaller jars so they can be filled right up and use a larger jar as the 'experiment jar'? fill the large jar with vinegar first. that way at least you will have some stock of home pickles.
and as for re-using the vinegar - it wont be strong enough to pickle a second time, but is fine to use as an ingredient or condiment (I keep one vinegar shaker full of pickled onion vinegar to use on chips).
I would imagine it would make a wonderful salad dressing in place of red/white/cider vinegar.

shopaholicz

That's a good idea meritaten. I have one larger jar and will pickle some okra and carrot strips in it tomorrow and then add to it as I go. If it doesn't work I haven't lost much and you're right, I can use my smaller jars to fill now. I also like your idea of using the pickling vinegar to put on chips and salad. Thanks