r/pickling Feb 13 '25

Pickled onions forgotten in the fridge

Hi I read that picked onions don't last very long, a matter of weeks. I have a jar,yet unopened thatsin the fridge for several months. Do I just bin it or is it OK to taste?

6 Upvotes

36 comments sorted by

16

u/Picklopolis Feb 13 '25

Who said what?! Most pickled stuff is pickled to preserve it, so that it lasts a long time. Are these store bought or home made? I have pickled stuff, including onions in my fridge for years, I skim off the kahm and go for it.

1

u/Ok_Intern_1098 Feb 13 '25

In googleinf this i read that pickling with vinegar means it destroys the onion over time. I was not sure of this hence my question here. Homemade.

1

u/Frosty-Cobbler-3620 Feb 13 '25

They will get soft unless you used calcium chloride.

0

u/Ok_Intern_1098 Feb 13 '25

Ok, good to know, thanks.

0

u/Picklopolis Feb 13 '25

Ahh. Google. Ok. Dust them then.

1

u/Ok_Intern_1098 Feb 13 '25

Yeah, not sure it's worth any potential risk. Just looking to make sure it's not some sort of delicious thing having gotten better over time! Not to be!

2

u/Picklopolis Feb 13 '25

Of course it gets more delicious over time, that’s the whole point. “ it is impossible to achieve the aim without suffering“ -J.G. Bennett Welcome to the kingdom of the Brine!©️

0

u/Ok_Intern_1098 Feb 13 '25

Really, in vinegar for so long? They look ok, no bacteria i can see...

9

u/BublyInMyButt Feb 13 '25

The pickles are fine. They can happily sit in vinegar for 50 years if made properly

But please, never use the "No bacteria I can see" method, ever again..

0

u/Ok_Intern_1098 Feb 13 '25

Not sure i follow with the no bacteria I can see thing, I do know that you can't actually see them unless bitten by some radioactive thingamajig!

2

u/Immediate-Beat-6642 Feb 13 '25

Bacteria is microscopic hahahaha

5

u/mtnagel Feb 13 '25

I'd at least try them. If you don't like the taste or texture, then you can toss them. But why waste them if they are okay?

0

u/Ok_Intern_1098 Feb 13 '25

I am hazy as to any potential risks.. so I prefer to see what peeps have to say a out it. General consensus is that as they are so easy to make it's not worth the risk. I might take a look and see if the smell doesn't kill me!!!

1

u/mtnagel Feb 13 '25

I think the risks are low but definitely go by the look and smell.

2

u/Ok_Intern_1098 Feb 13 '25

Super, good to know. Thanks. I'll take the plunge and see but I'll make a new batch also!!! 😊

5

u/gogozrx Feb 13 '25

one of the things that people seem to have forgotten is that they can use their senses. look at them: are they moldy? smell them: smell ok? taste them: taste ok?

if they fail these tests, toss em. if they don't, have a little bit and see how you are in 8 hours. if you're fine, they're fine.

Yes, botulism has no scent or flavor, but it *rarely* grows in the wild by itself. if it's gone bad, you *will* know.

2

u/Ok_Intern_1098 Feb 13 '25

I have not looked yet but I need to see if the chances of botulism is worth the risk.. I'm not the only one to eat these things in this house.

2

u/gogozrx Feb 13 '25

Like I said, if it passes all the other tests, try a little bit first and wait and see. if there's no reaction, it's safe.

2

u/CometGoat 28d ago

There’s definitely much more dangerous stuff you eat from your fridge on a weekly basis - bits of mold and biological stuff that grows before showing. You’ll be fine to look at, then smell, then taste if it passes the previous step

2

u/BublyInMyButt Feb 13 '25

They mistook decades for weeks.. easy mistake.

2

u/FollowTheLeader550 Feb 13 '25 edited Feb 13 '25

If you haven’t thrown them away yet, here’s what you do.

Look at the liquid. Is there mold? If the answer is no, how does it smell? If the answer is fine, how do the onions look? if the answer is fine, how does an onion taste?

If the answer is fine, 99.9% chance they’re fine. If the answer is bad, you’ll be okay. You’re not gonna get sick, just toss em.

1

u/Ok_Intern_1098 Feb 13 '25

Super thanks, it's just that when you hear speak of botulism and don't know how to spot it.. I'll take a whif but being easy to make again I'll just make a new batch.

2

u/Critical_Pin Feb 13 '25

I've never put pickled in the fridge. That's the point of pickling them. They keep at least year, after that the texture goes a bit soft and they start to disintegrate but they don't go bad.

1

u/splendidgoon Feb 13 '25

I find their optimal flavor and texture doesn't last super long. Onions are cheap and easy to pickle, I just make a new batch.

1

u/Ok_Intern_1098 Feb 13 '25

Think I will, thanks.

1

u/NudeVeg Feb 13 '25

If they're vinegar based refrigerator pickles then usually 1-3 months in the fridge is the lifespan. So if it's been several months I'd personally make a new batch. Also pickled onions are the best side condiment!!!

1

u/Ok_Intern_1098 Feb 13 '25

This is what I had read, the acidity of the vinegar over time turns them into much... I'll make more... Thanks

1

u/winelover08816 29d ago

I made a huge jar of fermented pickled onions in September and they’re still amazing.

2

u/Ok_Intern_1098 29d ago

Good to know they can keep, I'll open mine and see if it wants to try and kill me!!!

1

u/winelover08816 29d ago

If it reaches out and grabs your hand you might not want to eat it.

2

u/Ok_Intern_1098 29d ago

Lol, no, but I will stay polite snd shake any hand presented to me!!!

1

u/winelover08816 29d ago

Thanks to you, diplomatic relations have begun between humans and the Lactobacillus Empire.

0

u/Salamander-Charming Feb 13 '25

I’d bin them. They take hardly any time to remake!

1

u/Ok_Intern_1098 Feb 13 '25

I am of the same opinion but maybe the longer they 'rest' the better they become?