Cloudy sediment in home canned pickles
I've home-canned some pickled vegetables recently and there is a cloudy sediment in the brine. I'd like to know what causes it and how to prevent it.
It is not spoilage. It only seems to affect the visual aesthetic of the pickles.
Here is an image that shows the sediment near the bottom of the jar 
The recipe I'm using is "End of Garden Pickles" on page 323 of Ball's Complete Book of Home Preserving. The ingredients are zucchini, green beans, carrots, pearl onions, bell pepper, vinegar, sugar, dry mustard, mustard seeds, pickling salt, ground cinnamon, ground ginger. I've seen it with other recipes too though.
It seems like the cause is probably hard water or starch in the vegetables from this document's mention of "white sediment". Also, this document on judging pickles acknowledges the occurrence of sediment and suggests it's preventable. Unfortunately, neither document shows a picture to compare against and neither gives a tip to prevent it if the problem is starch.
Does anyone recognize this sediment and know how to prevent or reduce it?
Best Answer
"Fresh, whole spices are best to use for pickles. Powdered spices may cause the product to darken and the brine to become cloudy."
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Quick Answer about "Cloudy sediment in home canned pickles"
A cloudy appearance or a white sediment may indicate the use of table salt rather than canning or pickling salt. Yeast develops and settles to the bottom of the jar. It may be a normal reaction during fermentation caused by bacteria. If the pickles are soft, they are spoiled from the yeast fermentation.Why did my homemade dill pickles go cloudy?
While fermenting pickles, the brine might become cloudy due to lactic acid bacteria growth during the fermentation period. If a noncloudy appearance is desired, a fresh brine can be used to pack the pickles when they are ready for processing. In nonfermented pickles (fresh pack), cloudiness might indicate spoilage.Can I eat cloudy pickles?
Over time the cloudiness can settle out of the brine to the bottom of the jar and on the tops of the Pickles or Tomatoes. Some batches are naturally cloudier than others, but all are safe to consume and taste delicious. Shake Until Cloudy and Enjoy!How can you tell if home canned pickles are bad?
the container is leaking, bulging, or swollen; the container looks damaged, cracked, or abnormal; the container spurts liquid or foam when opened; or. the food is discolored, moldy, or smells bad.How will you know if the pickle is already spoiled?
Sight is usually the best way to tell if your pickles have gone bad. If the top of the lid on the jar is rounded and dome shaped instead of flat across, the pickles have most likely gone bad probably because the jar was not sealed properly.How to Can Pickles in a Water Bath Canner...so Easy!
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Answer 2
It could also be the anti-caking agent found in many times of commercial salt.
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