How to store pickled cucumbers in an apartment: terms and conditions, useful tips

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 workpieces 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. Considering this, 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? Some rules are followed during heat treatment:

1. For pickling, choose the freshest fruits, preferably taken from the garden on the same day. They should have a uniform green color and a firm skin. Vegetables that are too light with yellow markings or that are already overripe are not suitable.
2. Cucumbers are soaked in cold water (2-12 hours depending on the intensity of bitterness in the fruit).
3. They prefer distilled or spring water, do not use running water with a high chlorine content.
4. Vegetables of the same size are placed in the jar to distribute the brine evenly.
5. The containers themselves must be sterilized.
6. Opened cans are kept in the refrigerator for no more than 72 hours.

To have time to eat all the cucumbers and prevent them from fermentation, for salting use cans of no more than 1-2 liters.

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 for all pickles comply with certain conditions and storage periods:

1. At a temperature of -1 ... + 4 ° C and a relative humidity of 80-90% vegetables are stored for no more than 8-9 months.
2. In polyethylene or plastic bags, the maximum possible period is 1–3 days.
3. Opened jars with pickled cucumbers are not subject to long-term storage. Leftover vegetables are best cut and stored in the freezer.
4. In the room itself, they maintain a constant temperature and humidity, prevent direct sunlight, otherwise the snack will quickly ferment.

Optimal conditions for such cucumbers - from -1 ° С to + 5 ° С in a dark, well-ventilated room. At temperatures above + 10 ° C, vegetables are not kept.

It can be useful:

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Features of storing pickles at home

The heat treatment method significantly affects the timing and storage conditions for pickles.

In banks

The optimum temperature for such containers is -1 ... + 1 ° С... It is undesirable to place pickles on the balcony, otherwise, during frosts, the vegetables will quickly freeze and deteriorate. It is better to place cans near a window or on a 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.

In barrels

Since storing vegetables in barrels is difficult due to the large container sizes, they are transferred to a plastic bucket and placed in the refrigerator on the lower shelf. The optimum temperature is 0 ... + 1 ° С. Constantly monitor the condition of the brine so that it does not quickly deteriorate.

Attention! Bar cucumbers must be covered with a lid to prevent winding. Before eating vegetables are washed with running water.

When transferring salted vegetables from a barrel to a bucket mustard and other spices are evenly spread over the bottom and added on top of each layer. This not only improves the taste of the fruit, but also prevents the appearance of mold on the surface of the brine. If the fungi are removed in time, the shelf life of barrel cucumbers reaches 1 year.

Frozen

Fresh cucumbers are not specially processed before freezing. This method is suitable if open pickles have stood in the refrigerator for too long. and you want to extend their shelf life. The step-by-step algorithm is as follows:

1. Chop the pickles.
2. Put them on a towel and dry.
3. Fold into a sturdy food bag and place in the freezer.

In frozen form, snacks are stored for 1-1.5 years.

Reference. After defrosting, vegetables are not eaten in their pure form. They are pre-fried and added to any dish - pizza, pickle, etc.

Lightly salted

Such cucumbers undergo accelerated salting, therefore are kept also not for long. To increase the shelf life, it is important:

1. Pick up large fruits - they will not deteriorate within 1-1.5 weeks (compared to gherkins, which become unusable after 2 days).
2. Make the brine from cold water, not hot water, which will reduce the time of pickling.
3. For most of the day, keep the cucumbers in the refrigerator, or better in the cellar.
4. Leave the ends of vegetables, do not cut them.
5. Choose recipes with less or no liquid. For example, there is an option for preparing lightly salted cucumbers in a bag, when vegetables and salt are placed in a strong plastic bag and placed on the top shelf of the refrigerator for 1-3 days.

To increase the shelf life, a special marinade is prepared in addition to the brine.:

1. In 1 st. hot water is poured 1 tbsp. l. salt and mix.
2. Add 1 tsp. ketchup or tomato paste, 0.5 tsp. paprika and 5 minced garlic cloves.
3. Bring the consistency to a homogeneous mass and pour it along with the brine.

Pickled

Pickled cucumbers differ from ordinary pickled cucumbers in that vinegar is added to the brine or another preservative, and the preparation itself involves the observance of two stages — with boiling water and vinegar. This guarantees the preservation for more than 1 year.

Pickled cucumbers are kept at room temperature, but in dark places far from heat sources (on the mezzanine, in the closet, etc.). Do not place cans on the balcony, where they can burst from frost.

Reference.Before serving, the salting is cooled in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.

How long can cucumbers be stored before pickling

Shelf life of vegetables before heat treatment - no more than 1 week at a room temperature not higher than + 17 ° С and in the absence of direct sunlight.

Fresh cucumbers are not washed before picklingso as not to spoil the harvest.

Take a note:

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The best recipes for blanks of sweet and sour cucumbers

Tips & Tricks

So that the cooked snack retains its taste throughout the fall and winter, adhere to the following recommendations:

1. For processing, select only the best fruits with firm pulp and a fairly thin skin, uniform ripe green color and no mechanical damage.
2. Even before preparing the blanks, they are determined with the place of their storage.
3. Vegetables are not kept in plastic bags.
4. Cucumbers are not placed in direct sunlight or in severe frost. The temperature should not fall below + 10 ... + 15 ° С.
5. For the longest possible shelf life of fruits, preference is given to hot salting methods.
6. They always monitor the condition of the blanks, remove mold and plaque in a timely manner.
7. 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 activities. 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 of the air and follow the nuances of storage for a specific method of heat treatment.