How to store a 5 gallon bucket of pickle slices?
A family member just gave us a 5 gallon bucket of kosher hamburger dill slices (for frying). I moved the shelves and shifted everything around, and found room for it. The shelves are tempered glass, so I placed it on the bottom shelf, above the vegetable drawers. If the shelf doesn't break, then this will work, for now. The bucket says to keep refrigerated. Any ideas on other options for how to store it?
Best Answer
I'd transfer to pint mason jars and store in the refrigerator -- at least until I figured out what to do next.
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How long does a 5 gallon bucket of pickles last?
Unopened pickles retain quality for about 2 years of pickling (or a year past the date on the label).Do pickle slices need to be refrigerated?
So to slow down the process, the jar needs to be refrigerated. If you stored it at room temperature, the fermentation process would resume, and the veggies turn sourer. Hence you should always store unpasteurized pickles in the fridge.Does a 5 gallon bucket of pickles need to be refrigerated?
If you encountered a great deal on pickles at your grocery store, you might be wondering\u2014do pickles need to be refrigerated? Most unopened pickles don't need refrigeration. However, it's best to refrigerate unpasteurized pickles regardless of whether you opened the jar since it will slow down the fermentation process.How many pickles chips are in a 5 gallon bucket?
This 5- gallon container contains 60-75 pickles. Convenient handle.How to Pack a 5 Gallon Bucket for 5 Year Food Storage - Long Term Bulk Emergency Food DIY
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Answer 2
Given the rectangular shape of a refrigerator, I'd transfer into rectangular, stackable, smaller containers that can lurk at the back of many shelves, rather than one big hulking bucket on the bottom shelf. This also limits contamination as you open the container to get some to eat, makes it easier to decide to get some to eat, and allows the fridge space used to shrink as you use up each container.
I'd also suggest eating (frying? pickles? OK...?) a bunch. Have a fried pickle themed new years eve party.
As far as I know you can't can them for room temperature storage without pretty much ruining their essential difference from pickles that come that way - as I understand it, kosher dills are naturally fermented and thus always kept under refrigeration.
Alternatively, find an additional fridge (perhaps one with wire shelves) and make it the pickle fridge ;-) it could live somewhere out of the way (like the basement) and you'd take your smaller container from the kitchen fridge down when it ran out to refill from the big bucket. But this may be a bit overkill unless this will be a recurring bucket of pickles.
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