Helpful hints
Most often, defrosted pickles are used in the preparation of pickle or pizza. Cucumbers, unused immediately after opening the jar, can be left in the brine in a glass container for a few more days by sending them to the shelf in the refrigerator. If pickles were purchased individually in a supermarket or on the market, for better storage at home, you can prepare fresh brine and, placing purchased pickles in a glass container, pour them with freshly prepared liquid.
Care should be taken with pickles, which have become noticeable the appearance of such signs:
- clouding of brine;
- the appearance of foam and bubbles inside the can with conservation;
- spots of indeterminate origin became visible;
- the appearance of mold is noted.
It is better to throw away cans with such preservation and not endanger health. Pickles are a very popular dish, especially in the autumn-winter period.
The storage of this type of conservation should be approached with attention, since compliance with the necessary conditions will allow you to get a healthy and tasty product.
Where and how to store pickled cucumbers in an apartment (in jars and other containers): terms and conditions, how long can be stored before salting, how to salt
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 blanks until the onset of severe January cold weather. What are the reasons for this and how to fix them, we will consider in the article.
How to store pickles in an apartment
For a large number of snacks, there is not enough space with the optimal temperature and humidity. Taking this into account, even at the stage of salting vegetables, fruits are chosen that are the least whimsical to storage conditions. The cooking technology is also adjusted if the pickles cannot be placed in the cellar or basement.
Salting nuances
How to salt cucumbers so that they can be stored for a long time? During heat treatment, some rules are followed:
- For pickling, choose the freshest fruits, preferably taken from the garden on the same day. They should have a uniform green color and firm skin. Vegetables that are too light with yellow markings or that are already overripe are not suitable.
- Cucumbers are soaked in cold water (2–12 hours, depending on the intensity of bitterness in the fruit).
- They prefer distilled or spring water, do not use running water with a high chlorine content.
- Vegetables of the same size are placed in the jar to distribute the brine evenly.
- The containers themselves must be sterilized.
- Opened cans are kept in the refrigerator for no more than 72 hours.
In order to have time to eat all the cucumbers and prevent them from fermenting, jars with a volume of no more than 1-2 liters are used for salting.
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 the processing method, certain conditions and storage periods are observed for all pickles:
- 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.
- In polyethylene or plastic bags, the maximum possible period is 1-3 days.
- Opened jars with pickled cucumbers are not subject to long-term storage. Leftover vegetables are best cut and stored in the freezer.
- In the room itself, they maintain a constant temperature and humidity, prevent direct sunlight, otherwise the snack will quickly ferment.
The optimal conditions for such cucumbers are from -1 ° C to + 5 ° C in a dark, well-ventilated room. At temperatures above + 10 ° C, vegetables are not kept.
It can be useful:
What to do if cucumbers in the jar are cloudy
Why cucumber jars explode
How to remove bitterness from cucumbers
In banks
The optimum temperature for such containers is -1 ... + 1 ° С. It is undesirable to place pickles on the balcony, otherwise, during frosts, vegetables will quickly freeze and deteriorate. It is better to place the jars near the window or on the windowsill: due to the draft, the temperature will be less 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.
How long can cucumbers be stored before pickling
The shelf life of vegetables before heat treatment is no more than 1 week at a room temperature of no higher than + 17 ° C and in the absence of direct sunlight.
Fresh cucumbers are not washed before pickling, so as not to spoil the harvest.
Take a note:
Crispy Lemon Pickled Cucumbers Recipes
The best recipes for blanks of sweet and sour cucumbers
Tips & Tricks
In order for the prepared appetizer to retain its taste throughout the fall and winter, adhere to the following recommendations:
- For processing, select only the best fruits with firm pulp and a fairly thin skin, uniform ripe green color and no mechanical damage.
- Even before the preparation of the blanks, they are determined with the place of their storage.
- Vegetables are not kept in plastic bags.
- Cucumbers are not placed in direct sunlight or in severe frost. The temperature should not fall below + 10 ... + 15 ° С.
- For the longest shelf life of the fruit, preference is given to hot salting methods.
- They always monitor the condition of the blanks, remove mold and plaque in a timely manner.
- To prevent fermentation, add more spices: grape leaves, horseradish, dill, garlic.
Conclusion
The key to the successful storage of pickled cucumbers is a whole range of measures. To increase the shelf life of the blanks, even fruits are selected without damage, the container itself is sterilized, the condition of the brine is monitored, pathogenic fungi are removed in time.
It is important to find in advance a suitable place for vegetables with the optimal temperature and humidity and follow the nuances of storage for a specific method of heat treatment.
Pickles for the winter with mustard
The process of preparing cucumbers for the winter for storage in an apartment is only one, but the marinade for these cucumbers can be very diverse. Pickled cucumbers with mustard are crisp and lightly pungent, which is perfect for this dish.
Ingredients:
- Fresh cucumbers - 2 kg.
- Salt - 100 gr.
- Garlic - 1/2 head
- Powdered mustard - 4 tablespoons
- Allspice - 3-5 pcs.
- Oak bark - 1/2 tsp
Cooking process:
- Collect fresh cucumbers from the garden, always ground and pimpled. Cucumbers should be of moderate size. Thoroughly wash the fruits of sand and dirt, and then, if you have time, soak them in ice water.
- In any case, cut off the butts from the cucumbers, place the clean fruits in a thoroughly washed three-liter jar. Peel the garlic, rinse and send to the cucumbers. Tamp the cucumbers tightly and pour cold clean water into the container with them.
- Cover the jar of cucumbers with a plate and set the weight, then place the jar of cucumbers in a dark, but warm enough place. This is necessary in order to ferment the cucumbers. The fermentation process can take up to seven days.
- Check the container with cucumbers every day, removing the growing whitish film on the surface of the jar. The day the foam stops building up, the cucumbers will be ready to roll. To do this, you will need to prepare a brine.
- Pour the liquid from the cucumbers into a saucepan and add mustard powder with allspice. Turn on the heat and bring the brine to a boil, while washing and sterilizing the jar and seaming lid.
- The pickle with mustard for cucumbers needs to be boiled for about five minutes, after which it is necessary to tamp the cucumbers with garlic in a sterile jar and pour them with boiling brine. Cover the jar of cucumbers with a sterile lid and proceed to pasteurization.
- Place a jar of cucumbers at the bottom of a large saucepan and pour warm water into it so that it reaches the shoulders of the jar. Bring the water to a boil and pasteurize the piece for about 30-40 minutes, then quickly roll the piece.
- Turn the jar of cucumbers upside down, wrap it with a blanket or blanket and cool for about a day. After that, you can put the jar of cucumbers into the pantry or an inconspicuous corner. The cucumbers will be ready to eat in about a month and a half. Bon Appetit!
How to store pickles in an apartment, optimal conditions and terms
Pickled cucumbers are considered a traditional snack that almost all housewives prepare. Preserves cannot be stored indoors, as they will quickly deteriorate. Therefore, it is recommended to figure out in advance how to store pickles in an apartment.
What is needed for long-term preservation
To prevent canned cucumbers from spoiling for a long time, you need to figure out what is needed for their long-term storage.
Humidity and temperature indicators
It is recommended that you decide in advance at what temperature you want to store canned cucumbers. Some believe that pickles will last a long time at temperatures of 20-25 degrees, but this is far from the case. In such conditions, canned vegetables quickly deteriorate, which is why the cans begin to explode.
It is necessary to use cellars for storing canned vegetables, where the temperature readings are at the level of five degrees Celsius. In this case, the air humidity should be 85-95 percent.
Room illumination
Some people think that lighting has no effect on the shelf life of canned vegetables, but in fact, this is not the case. Experienced housewives recommend making sure that the room with twists is not too light.
It is recommended to protect canned vegetables from direct sunlight, as they negatively affect the shelf life and taste of the workpieces. Therefore, the premises where the jars of cucumbers will stand should be without windows.
Marinating
Most often, housewives pickle freshly picked cucumbers and close them for the winter. It is recommended to sort out the storage of pickled vegetables in advance so that there will be no problems in the future. In the cellars, such snacks are stored for two years. However, in room conditions, the storage time is reduced to 3-4 months. So that they do not deteriorate longer, you must carefully sterilize the container before twisting.
Conservation
Canned lightly salted cucumbers, which are often closed for the winter, are kept the least. It is recommended to store them only under suitable conditions. In an apartment where the temperature indicators are at the level of 18-25 degrees Celsius, it is contraindicated to keep preservation. Due to the high temperature, the workpieces will quickly deteriorate.
Save barrel cucumbers
People often preserve cucumber fruits not in glass containers, but in wooden barrels.
In this case, they are filled with a special brine liquid, which should be stored at a temperature of 2-3 degrees.
It is impossible to find such a cool place in an apartment, and therefore they are not stored for long. However, if the barrel is taken to the balcony in winter, the shelf life will increase by several months.
The storage duration of the blanks is influenced by whether the jar of pickles was opened or not.
Before opening the can
Most often, people store canned food in a closed form. However, even hermetically sealed products have their own shelf life.
Experts recommend eating all rolled up vegetable snacks within a year of creating a piece.However, it is not always possible to do this and you have to leave the closed jars for the second year.
In this case, before using the blanks, they are checked for the presence of infections with fungi.
After uncorking
Preserves in an open jar are stored much less, since fungi quickly develop in them. Therefore, open pickles cannot be stored for a long time, even if they are refrigerated at low temperatures. Under these conditions, the snack will go bad within fifteen days. At room temperature, the shelf life will be half the time.
Terms and conditions of storage
How long are salted cucumbers stored? The timing depends not only on the storage conditions, but also on the method of cooking:
- lightly salted cucumbers, cooked in a quick way, retain their taste for no longer than two days;
- chopped ones are cooked in a few hours, but also quickly lose their taste - the next day;
- the addition of pepper (hot and allspice) prolongs the shelf life;
- in a hermetically sealed container in the refrigerator, cucumbers without brine can be stored for a week;
- salting without water, dry method, increases the storage period, and hot filling - shortens.
Shelf life of lightly salted cucumbers under different conditions and with different cooking methods:
- cold salting is stored for 4-6 days at a temperature of + 10 ° C, but every day the taste will become saltier or sour;
- at temperatures from 0 to + 3 ° C, cucumbers in brine stand up to ten days;
- in a sealed container at 0 ° C, the fermentation processes stop, but salting continues, the taste of vegetables will change, they will lie for two weeks;
- lightly salted cucumbers cooked in a bag without water will last 6-8 days, subject to the temperature regime from -1 to + 1 ° C, but wrinkle.
How to extend the term
Several simple ways will help to extend the short storage of lightly salted cucumbers:
- place the cucumbers in a cool place after cooking;
- use cold water to pour the product;
- do not cut off the tips of the cucumbers so that they are preserved longer, but bringing them to readiness in this case will take more time;
- use clean containers for salting;
- do not take out the product with your hands, but with a fork - this will help to avoid the introduction of excess bacteria;
- divide cucumbers by size - larger fruits need more time to absorb salt, which means they will retain their qualities longer.
When salting, in the first days, lactic acid fermentation occurs, then it turns into butyric acid. To keep the cucumber lightly salted, you need to prevent the products from going to the second stage of fermentation.
If you track the moment, immediately close the cans tightly and send them to a cold place, then the processes will stop, and the fruits will remain slightly salted for several months.
Useful Tips
The recommendations of experienced housewives will help to prepare delicious lightly salted cucumbers:
- Choose the right vegetables. There are varieties that are suitable only for fresh salads. Fruits that are covered with black spines and thin skin are suitable. After salting, they will remain strong and tasty.
- Before salting, taste the selected cucumbers - they should not taste bitter.
- The fruit should be medium in size. If the cucumbers are large and thick, then cut them into circles. Choose the same, then they will cook at the same time.
- If the vegetables are withered, then they are still suitable for salted salted, but it is better to pre-soak for a couple of hours in cold water. This will help restore moisture and make them crispy, firm and firm.
- Do not use vinegar on lightly salted foods. It will deprive the cucumbers of the classic taste.
- Experiment with spices. When salting, not only salt is added, but also sugar, garlic, dill, currant leaves, cherries, horseradish. But keep in mind that the time to absorb the flavor of such cucumbers is limited.
- Proper styling is important. Arrange vegetables in layers, alternating with spices. Never tamp or crush.
- If you use a saucepan or a keg as a container when salting, then cover the surface with a plate and place a small load.
- Sprinkle horseradish or mustard powder on top to avoid mold.
Storage methods
You can store fresh cucumbers at home either in the refrigerator or without it. There are several ways to preserve green fruits without a refrigerator, but the shelf life of vegetables will then be short.
At room temperature
A popular storage method suitable for those who want to preserve large quantities of fruits, for example, before salting, is in a specially selected container. This can be a wooden box, cardboard box, or plastic container. Cucumbers must be carefully folded into containers and left in a room where the air temperature does not exceed +15 ℃, and the humidity is at least 90%. If the temperature is reduced to +6 ℃, then the vegetables will remain fresh for 8-10 days.
You can store cucumbers in ordinary cardboard boxes.
To keep the fruit fresh for about a week, you can place it in a damp cloth. Soak a piece of natural fabric and wrap the crop in it. Store the fruits in a cool room (at a temperature of + 6… 7 ℃), constantly moisturizing the material.
In fridge
Cucumbers can be kept in the refrigerator for much longer. The simplest and most straightforward method is to put them in the vegetable compartment. There, the crop can lie unchanged for about 3-5 days. A plastic bag will help extend the savings period to 1-2 weeks. Fold the cucumbers in cellophane, cover them with gauze dipped in water on top. In this form, place the vegetables in the refrigerator, without covering the top with anything.
Cucumbers can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-5 days without additional packaging.
Fresh fruits are stored in the refrigerator, wrapped in paper. To do this, each copy must be wrapped in a paper towel, napkin or baking paper, then put all the cucumbers in a plastic bag. Vegetables packed in this way can stay fresh for up to 3 weeks.
An unusual storage method for many is in egg white. Cucumbers must be gently washed and patted dry with a towel. Then lightly beat the required amount of protein and coat each fruit with it. The effectiveness of the method lies in the fact that the protein forms a protective film on the peel, which slows down the evaporation of moisture and wilting. The processed fruit is stored in the refrigerator in a vegetable container.
Ordinary water will allow you to extend the shelf life of cucumbers in the refrigerator to 3-4 weeks. Take a shallow bowl or tray, fill the container 1 to 2 cm with water, and dip the cucumbers with their tails down on the bottom. When the container is full, place it in the vegetable compartment. The water must be changed at least once a day. The essence of this method is that as moisture is lost, cucumbers will be able to replenish it and stay fresh longer. For storage in water, it is best to choose fruits with a dense dark green skin.
Cucumbers should be kept separate from tomatoes and other vegetables and fruits.
It is not recommended to store cucumbers together with other ripe fruits (tomatoes, apples, pears, etc.). At what temperature can the fruits not be stored? If it is below 0 ℃, the greens will quickly soften and become covered with mucus, so you should not place them in the refrigerator close to the freezer.
Features and shelf life of various types at home
It is permissible to keep blanks in different forms. This allows each person to choose the best option.
Canned in jars
Pickles that were preserved in the summer can only be stored closed. When the cans are opened, the shelf life of the product is significantly reduced. Therefore, cucumbers are canned in small volumes. This will make it possible to quickly eat the product.
The storage temperature should be -1 to +1 degrees. The higher the indicator, the faster the product will become unusable.If the banks are warm, pathogenic microorganisms rapidly multiply in them, which provoke souring of the liquid. As a result, it may begin to bloom.
In an open jar, gherkins will become unusable in 2 weeks. Moreover, this will happen even in the refrigerator. Such a product will become too sour and soft.
Frozen
If the can has been opened, and the pickles have not been eaten, it is permissible to put them in the freezer. This will help extend the storage period. To dry out the fruits, they should be laid out on a paper towel. Then put the product in a bag and put it in the freezer.
In barrels
It is recommended to keep barrel cucumbers in brine. It comes from fermentation. Air parameters should be 0… + 1 degrees. It is quite difficult to create such conditions in an ordinary apartment. At room temperature, barrel cucumbers can only be kept for a short time.
Further fermentation continues. As a result, bacteria lead to a change in the composition of the brine, which entails spoilage of the cucumbers. At the same time, they change the taste, acquire a softer consistency. The product has a pungent and unpleasant aroma, a slimy coating appears. In the case of industrial storage, barrels are placed in special refrigerated compartments. They are folded horizontally or vertically. In this case, the tongue-and-groove hole is certainly directed upward.
Lightly salted
This type of salting is mainly used in summer. Salting fresh vegetables is carried out at a fast pace. Depending on the timing, lightly salted cucumbers differ from ordinary pickles. The shelf life depends on the recipe. Usually, lightly salted cucumbers are recommended to be kept in jars.
To avoid this, you can follow these recommendations:
To stop salting, the product is moved to a cool place. It is recommended to keep the workpiece in the cellar.
If this is not possible, it is permissible to use the refrigerator.
The temperature of the water used for salting is also important. Salting is accelerated when hot liquid is used
These vegetables cannot be stored for a long time. Better to use cold water. This helps to increase the shelf life of the product.
For long-term storage of cucumbers, cutting off their ends is not recommended. Otherwise, salting is faster, which reduces the storage period.
For uniform pickling of cucumbers, it is recommended to choose them by variety and size. Gherkins are salted faster and become salty in a short time. It is better to use the same vegetables.
Salting cucumbers is permissible without pickle. To do this, put fruits of the same size in the bag, and then add salt. The resulting bundle is placed on the top shelf of the refrigerator.
Pickled
During the preservation process, vinegar and other preservatives are added to the marinade. This helps to increase the shelf life of the product and eliminates the need to strictly adhere to the temperature regime. Such a workpiece is allowed to be kept in an apartment or in a cool cellar. In any case, it is worth observing the following conditions:
- do not store the product near heat sources;
- do not put glass jars out in the cold;
- avoid exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the product.
In an apartment for conservation, it is worth choosing dark places. This could be a kitchen cabinet or pantry.
How to store pickles in an apartment
For a large number of snacks, there is not enough space with the optimal temperature and humidity. Taking this into account, even at the stage of salting vegetables, fruits are chosen that are the least whimsical to storage conditions. The cooking technology is also adjusted if the pickles cannot be placed in the cellar or basement.
Salting nuances
How to salt cucumbers so that they can be stored for a long time? During heat treatment, some rules are followed:
- For pickling, choose the freshest fruits, preferably taken from the garden on the same day. They should have a uniform green color and firm skin.Vegetables that are too light with yellow markings or that are already overripe are not suitable.
- Cucumbers are soaked in cold water (2–12 hours, depending on the intensity of bitterness in the fruit).
- They prefer distilled or spring water, do not use running water with a high chlorine content.
- Vegetables of the same size are placed in the jar to distribute the brine evenly.
- The containers themselves must be sterilized.
- Opened cans are kept in the refrigerator for no more than 72 hours.
In order to have time to eat all the cucumbers and prevent them from fermenting, jars with a volume of no more than 1-2 liters are used for salting.
Storage in barrels
You can store pickled cucumbers in brine, which was formed as a result of fermentation, for a very short time. Bacteria, getting on fertile soil, completely change the chemical composition of the liquid. As a result, the salinity becomes soft, and also acquire an unpleasant smell and taste.
In the conditions of an apartment building, it is quite difficult to find a place where barrel cucumbers would feel great. This is due to the fact that the optimal temperature regime, which allows vegetables to maintain an elastic consistency and familiar taste, should be within the range of 0 ° С - + 1 ° С.
Storage options
There are many proven long-term storage methods. Let's consider in detail some of them.
In fridge
The easiest storage option is to put cucumbers in the refrigerator:
- In the storage compartment for vegetables. No additional preparation is required to store cucumbers in this compartment. Fruits plucked from the garden or bought on the market, without rinsing with water, put in the refrigerator. In this state, they will remain for 3-5 days.
- In a plastic bag. You can increase the shelf life to 1-2 weeks using a plastic bag. Fold dry vegetables in a bag, put wet cheesecloth on top and store in the refrigerator.
- In an egg shell. Brush each fruit separately with egg white and leave to dry. Then put everything in glass jars or plastic containers and place in the refrigerator. Do not use metal containers for storage. Egg white forms a protective layer on the fruit that does not allow oxygen to pass through, thereby preventing cucumbers from rotting. With this method, you will save them for up to 2 months.
- In water. Cucumber is 95% water, so it deteriorates when moisture is lost. In a non-metal container, fold the prepared cucumbers with their tails down and fill with cold water. Do not pour a lot of water, it needs to be changed every day. As moisture is lost, cucumbers will replenish it with water at the bottom of the container. The shelf life of cucumbers in this form is 3-4 weeks.
In the apartment
You can also store vegetables at room temperature. With this storage method, the cucumbers remain fresh for 2-3 days. Place vegetables in a wooden box, cardboard box, or plastic tray.
The air temperature in the room should not exceed 15 ° С, humidity - 90-95%. At temperatures below 10 ° C, vegetables will last up to 10 days.
In the cellar
The basement provides the longest storage time. In it, the air temperature does not drop below 0 ° C, so the vegetables do not freeze and lie until spring, retaining the maximum amount of nutrients. It is recommended to store the product in the basement in earthenware.
In sand
Put the prepared cucumbers in a bowl and cover with dry sand, cover with a lid and lower into the basement. It is better to dry the sand for such purposes in the oven. After drying, be sure to let it cool down. Cucumbers prepared in this way are stored for up to 7 months.
In a vacuum
Modern technologies allow you to easily keep vegetables fresh and crispy for up to 3 months in an airless space, that is, in a vacuum.
Soak the cucumbers for 6 hours in cold water to deprive them of air. Then put in a jar and close with a special lid with a pump.Such a fixture can be purchased from the kitchen appliances and household appliances departments. It is allowed to open the can and close it again, creating a vacuum to continue storage.
In paper
Another storage method is in the basement in paper. Wrap each fruit separately in paper or paper napkin and fold into an open container. In this state, the cucumbers will remain until the new year.
In vapors of vinegar essence
This method requires a non-metallic saucepan. Pour vinegar essence into the bottom of the pot about one finger. Place the wire rack on top, put the cucumbers on it in several layers and cover with a lid. The freshness of the fruit will last due to the evaporation of the vinegar essence.
In the bank
You can save cucumbers in a jar without resorting to the preservation process. To do this, rinse the vegetables with boiling water and dry them. Put chopped horseradish on the bottom of a clean, dry jar and fill with cucumbers. Close the lid tightly and drain into the basement. Such cucumbers should be stored for no more than 2 months.
Methods and options for storing different blanks
There are a large number of options for storing cucumbers for the winter, most of them are presented below.
Pickles
Pickled cucumbers can be kept in the cellar for no more than 2 years, but in the apartment the period is reduced. The main thing is to carefully sterilize the jars, lids and hermetically close the workpiece for the winter.
Canned in a jar
Store such a twist in an apartment for no more than 3 years, if all standards are observed. A cool, dry pantry is perfect for this.
Pickles
When using this method of storing cucumbers, monitor the temperature and humidity in the room so that the brine does not sour.
Important! So that pickles do not spoil quickly after opening, it is more convenient to roll them in liter jars
Lightly salted
The workpiece is not stored for a long time and does not require strict adherence to all conditions. In an apartment where the temperature is high, the cucumbers will pickle quickly, and then move them to the refrigerator.
Barrel cucumbers
In a barrel, cucumbers are stored in a special fermented brine at a temperature of 0 to 1 degrees. It is impossible to achieve such indicators in apartment conditions. The shelf life of the barrel product is short, since the long process of bacterial development leads to a change in the composition of the brine, as a result of which the vegetables deteriorate, losing their taste and appearance.