Is it possible to re-use pickling liquid?
I have previously pickled some cucumber in a pickling liquid of mostly vinegar, which was kept in the fridge. I have now finished the pickled cucumbers, but would like to pickle some more. Can I re-use this liquid to pickle the cucumbers?
Note: I made the original pickling liquid about 3-4 weeks ago, it is kept in the fridge, in a sealed jar.
Best Answer
I would say you could use it once, and probably just to make refrigerator-type, quick pickles. The problem is that you have no way to determine acidity or salt levels once you remove the previously pickled items. Of course it should look clean and clear. If you were previously doing a lactic acid fermented pickle, some of the liquid could be used to jump start your next ferment.
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Quick Answer about "Is it possible to re-use pickling liquid?"
You might think reusing pickle juice is on the extreme end of reducing food waste, but here's the thing: you're not just saving the juice! Pickling is a good way to use up veggies that are starting to wilt, giving them a second (and delicious) life instead of tossing them.Can you reuse pickling solution?
You're only using it to make refrigerator pickles. Once a brine has been used to can something, that's it. You can't do it again because you can't guarantee the acidity level once it has been heated up, hot water processed, absorbed by vegetables and refrigerated for an unknown amount of time.Can I use pickling vinegar more than once?
So it is not a good idea to re-use the vinegar as you may bring about fermentation in the ensuing batch. Once you've eaten all the pickles, you could use the remaining vinegar to start a mayonnaise, brine a chicken, flavour a potato salad or liven up a dip.What can I do with leftover pickling liquid?
A Gazillion Ways to Use Leftover Pickle JuiceCan you use left over pickle juice?
Just re-use it! You can brine hard-boiled eggs, onions, garlic, or any other soft veggies (soft canned vegetables work well too, like canned artichokes). Pickle juice is a great meat tenderizer. Use it as a marinade for pork chops or steak.HOW TO | Reuse Pickle Brine (Easy!)
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