How to store pickles in an apartment: terms and conditions, useful tips

Pickled or pickled cucumbers are one of the favorite dishes of Russians, especially popular in winter. But it is not always possible to preserve the preparations before the onset of severe January cold. We will look at the reasons for this and how to fix them in the article.

How to store pickles in an apartment

For a large number of snacks, there may not be enough space with optimal temperature and humidity. Taking this into account, even at the stage of pickling vegetables, fruits that are least demanding of storage conditions are selected. The preparation technology is also adjusted if the pickles cannot be placed in the cellar or basement.

Salting nuances

How to pickle cucumbers so that you can store them for a long time? When heat treatment, certain rules are followed:

1. For pickling, choose the freshest fruits, preferably picked from the garden on the same day. They should have a uniform green color and thick skin. Vegetables that are too light, have yellow marks, or are already overripe are not suitable.
2. Cucumbers are soaked in cold water (2–12 hours depending on the intensity of bitterness in the fruit).
3. They prefer distilled or spring water; do not use running water with a high chlorine content.
4. Vegetables of the same size are placed in the jar to distribute the brine evenly.
5. The containers themselves must be sterilized.
6. Opened jars are kept in the refrigerator for no more than 72 hours.

To have time to eat all the cucumbers and prevent them from fermenting, for pickling use jars with a volume of no more than 1-2 liters.

By the way! The most suitable hybrids and varieties of cucumbers for long-term storage are Rodnichok and Nezhensky.

Terms and conditions of storage

Regardless of processing method for all pickles comply with certain storage conditions and periods:

1. At a temperature of -1...+4°C and a relative humidity of 80–90%, vegetables can be stored for no more than 8-9 months.
2. In plastic or plastic bags, the maximum possible period is 1–3 days.
3. Opened jars of pickled cucumbers cannot be stored for long periods of time. It is better to chop the remaining vegetables and store them in the freezer.
4. In the room itself, maintain a constant temperature and humidity, prevent direct sunlight, otherwise the snack will quickly ferment.

Optimal conditions for such cucumbers - from -1°C to +5°C in a dark, well-ventilated room. Vegetables cannot be stored at temperatures above +10°C.

It can be useful:

What to do if the cucumbers in the jar become cloudy

Why do jars of cucumbers explode?

How to remove bitterness from cucumbers

Features of storing pickles at home

The heat treatment method significantly affects the timing and storage conditions for pickles.

In banks

The optimal temperature for such containers is -1…+1°С. It is not advisable to place pickles on the balcony, otherwise during frosts the vegetables will quickly freeze and spoil. It is better to place the jars near a window or on a windowsill: due to a draft, the temperature will be lower than room temperature, which will increase the shelf life.

When salting, use containers with a volume of 1-2 liters and gherkins of the same size. After opening the jar, the cucumbers are consumed within 3 days so that the brine does not bloom and the fruits themselves do not swell.

In barrels

Since storing vegetables in barrels is difficult due to the large size of the container, they are transferred to a plastic bucket and placed in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf. The optimal temperature is 0…+1°C. Constantly monitor the condition of the brine so that it does not quickly deteriorate.

Attention! Barrel cucumbers must be covered with a lid to prevent weathering. Before use, vegetables are washed with running water.

When transferring pickled vegetables from a barrel to a bucket mustard and other spices are evenly distributed over the bottom and added on top of each layer. This not only improves the taste of the fruit, but also prevents mold from forming on the surface of the brine. If fungi are removed in time, the shelf life of barrel cucumbers reaches 1 year.

Frozen

Fresh cucumbers are not specially processed before freezing. This method is suitable if open pickles have been left in the refrigerator for too long and it is necessary to extend their shelf life. The step-by-step algorithm is as follows:

1. Slice the pickles.
2. Place them on a towel and dry.
3. Place in a strong food bag and place in the freezer.

Frozen snacks can be stored for 1–1.5 years.

Reference. After defrosting, vegetables are not eaten in their pure form. They are pre-fried and added to any dish - pizza, pickle soup, etc.

Lightly salted

Such cucumbers undergo accelerated pickling, which is why are stored not for long either. To increase shelf life, it is important:

1. Select large fruits - they will not spoil within 1–1.5 weeks (compared to gherkins, which become unusable after 2 days).
2. Make the brine from cold water rather than hot water, which reduces the pickling time.
3. Keep cucumbers in the refrigerator most of the day, or better yet, in the cellar.
4. Leave the ends of the vegetables, do not trim them.
5. Choose recipes with less liquid or no liquid at all. For example, there is an option for preparing lightly salted cucumbers in a bag, when the vegetables and salt are placed in a durable plastic bag and placed on the top shelf of the refrigerator for 1-3 days.

To increase shelf life, a special marinade is prepared in addition to the brine.:

1. In 1 tbsp. add 1 tbsp of hot water. l. salt and stir.
2. Add 1 tsp. ketchup or tomato paste, 0.5 tsp. paprika and 5 chopped garlic cloves.
3. Bring the consistency to a homogeneous mass and pour it in along with the brine.

Pickled

Pickled cucumbers differ from regular pickled cucumbers in that vinegar is added to the brine. or another preservative, and the preparation itself involves following two stages - with boiling water and vinegar. This guarantees safety for more than 1 year.

Pickled cucumbers are also kept at room temperature., but in dark places far from heat sources (on mezzanines, in a closet, etc.). Do not place jars on the balcony, where they can burst from frost.

Reference. Before serving, the pickling is cooled in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.

How long can cucumbers be stored before pickling?

Shelf life of vegetables before heat treatment - no more than 1 week at a room temperature no higher than +17°C and no direct sunlight.

Fresh cucumbers are not washed before pickling.so as not to spoil the harvest.

Take note:

Recipes for crispy pickled cucumbers with lemon

The best recipes for preparing sweet and sour cucumbers

Tips and tricks

So that the prepared snack retains its taste throughout the fall and winter, adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Only the best fruits with firm pulp and fairly thin skin, uniform ripe green color and without mechanical damage are selected for processing.
2. Even before preparing the preparations, the place of their storage is determined.
3. Vegetables are not kept in plastic bags.
4. Cucumbers should not be placed in direct sunlight or in severe frost. The temperature should not fall below +10…+15°C.
5. For the longest shelf life of fruits, preference is given to hot pickling methods.
6. They always monitor the condition of the workpieces and remove mold and plaque in a timely manner.
7. To prevent fermentation, more spices are added: grape leaves, horseradish, dill, garlic.

Conclusion

The key to successful storage of pickled cucumbers is a whole range of measures. To increase the shelf life of the preparations, select smooth fruits without damage, sterilize the container itself, monitor the condition of the brine, and remove pathogenic fungi in a timely manner.

It is important to find in advance a suitable place for vegetables with optimal temperature and humidity and follow the storage nuances for a specific heat treatment method.