How long do refrigerator pickles keep?
I pickled zucchini slices last summer with plenty of vinegar, sugar and spices and still have some jars in my refrigerator. They look fine but I wonder about bacteria etc. Thanks
Best Answer
It is impossible to answer this. Normally, food is quite clearly divided into the categories of "perishable" and "shelf stable", with perishable food being safe for 3-5 days in the refrigerator and shelf stable food being safe indefinitely prior to opening.
Refrigerator pickles are one of the very rare cases in the middle. They are not shelf stable (else they would be suitable for canning), but they are still not very pathogen friendly. Just how much slower is bacterial growth in them? It will differ from recipe to recipe. And just saying "plenty of vinegar" is not at all sufficient to predict a real use-by date. Not even the exact recipe in gram of each ingredient would be sufficient for this, since bacterial growth is a complex system, which makes it practically impossible to calculate such a prediction.
Your only information source is your original recipe. If it gives you a time period, you should use that (and hope it is trustworthy). If it doesn't, then there is no way for somebody to just say how long it is safe.
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Quick Answer about "How long do refrigerator pickles keep?"
Refrigerator pickles are good for 4-6 weeks, when kept refrigerated and the lids are sealed after each use. What is this? I like to take a permanent marker and write down the date I made the pickles on the lid, so I'll know when it's been 4-6 weeks. Honestly, our pickles never last that long before we devour them!Do pickles go bad in the fridge?
How to Store Pickles. An unopened jar of pickles can be stored at room temperature (i.e., the pantry) or in the fridge for up to two years past the expiration date. Once opened, pickles will stay fresh for roughly the same length of time as long as they are stored in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container.How do you know if refrigerator pickles have gone bad?
6 Signs that Indicate Pickles are BadHow long is a jar of pickles good for in the fridge?
Unopened pickles can be stored in your pantry or cabinets, and will usually last for 2 years. Once opened, pickles should be stored in the fridge, where they will stay good for 3 months.Can refrigerator pickles get botulism?
Making sure enough vinegar is added to the cucumbers is important to make safe pickles; Clostridium botulinum can grow in improperly canned, pickled foods with a pH higher than 4.6.Easy Overnight Refrigerator Pickles
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