How to pickle cucumbers in a 5 liter plastic bottle: preparation, preparation and storage
Many housewives often face a situation when cucumbers still remain in the process of canning vegetables for the winter, and glassware has already ended. In this case, vegetables are salted in a plastic container in a cold way. The option is quite easy to prepare, and the cucumbers are not inferior in taste to the usual ones.
The content of the article
Is it possible to pickle cucumbers in a plastic container
There are a number of advantages and disadvantages to this familiar method.
Advantages:
- saving time and money: you don't have to buy jars and lids, wash and sterilize them;
- safety: when preserving in the traditional hot way, it is not difficult to get hurt or burned, gases during fermentation often press on the lid of glassware and undermine it, and this does not threaten plastic;
- a large number of recipes;
- availability of ingredients;
- ease of preparation;
- ease of transportation;
- cucumber tastes like barrel cucumbers.
disadvantages:
- because of the large size, plastic containers are inconvenient to store in the refrigerator;
- it is difficult to get cucumbers from a small hole in the bottle, so the upper edge is cut;
- after cooking, it is important to check the vegetables daily for 5-6 days.
Many people try not to use such bottles, since various reactions occur when plastic interacts with brine. Therefore, vegetables are consumed as soon as possible.
Features of salting
Recommendations and cooking features:
- bottles are taken without damage, cracks and dents;
- use only fresh vegetables of a small size (about 10 cm) - it will be easier to place them in a container;
- pay attention to the quality of cucumbers: the fruits must be free from damage, rot and seeds;
- vegetables are lumpy or with black thorns, salted varieties.
Take a note:
How to salt cucumbers correctly: the best recipes
Preparatory stage
An important stage in salting is the preparation of vegetables and containers.
Container preparation
Five-liter water bottles are used as a container., which are pre-washed with cold water, since under the influence of hot plastic begins to release toxic substances. For cleaning, use baking soda: 2-3 tbsp. l. fall asleep inside the bottle, add a little water and shake well, drain the solution and rinse the container under running water.
Attention! Cucumbers are salted not only in a five-liter bottle, but also in a plastic bucket, barrel or saucepan.
Preparing vegetables
Sort vegetables, remove spoiled partsif present, wash thoroughly and leave in cold water for 2-3 hours. When soaked, the fruits will replenish the moisture level and get rid of the bitterness.
The rind is not cut: Thanks to the saline solution, it will become softer and crisper.
How to pickle cucumbers in a 5 liter plastic bottle
There are many recipes for salting vegetables. The one below is fairly common, simple and does not require significant investment. It will take about 20 minutes to prepare, the cooking time is 5–7 days.
Ingredients
For cooking you will need:
- 2-3 kg of medium-sized cucumbers;
- 3-4 cloves of garlic;
- 2 horseradish leaves;
- 1-2 umbrellas of dill (seeds are suitable);
- 2–4 bay leaves;
- 2 leaves of currants or cherries;
- 4-5 peas of black or allspice.
Depending on taste add fresh bell pepper, a few hot pepper pods, mustard grains... Currant or cherry leaves will replace oak leaves.
For brine take:
- coarse rock salt (30 g per 1 liter of water);
- 4-5 liters of purified water.
Cooking instructions
Cooking lightly salted cucumbers:
- Dill, horseradish, cherry or currant leaves are washed.
- Garlic is peeled, washed, cut into small pieces.
- Put 2 laurel leaves, cherries, chopped garlic, horseradish and dill umbrellas in the bottle.
- Pre-prepared cucumbers are placed in the container at the very top, black or allspice and the remaining bay leaf are added.
- Pour 5 liters of cold water into a large container, add 150 g of salt (10 tbsp. L.) And stir until the salt is completely dissolved.
- The prepared brine is poured into the container to the very top, the bottle is closed.
Cucumbers are stored in a cool dark place for about 5-7 days. The plastic bottle is placed on a tray, as the brine will flow out during fermentation.
Important! It is undesirable to tighten the container tightly with a lid - the risk of explosion increases.
Check for readiness by the formation of foam around the lid... The brine is completely drained, the vegetables are thoroughly washed. This procedure is repeated 2-3 times. Pure water is poured into the container and left for 5-6 days. The workpiece is checked daily.
If fermentation does not stop, excess gases are released... After the specified time has elapsed, the cucumbers are sent to a permanent storage location, the container is tightly tightened with a lid.
Terms and conditions of storage
The shelf life of such pickles depends on whether they have been thoroughly rinsed and all sediment removed.
Read also:
Crispy cucumber recipes without sterilization for the winter
How to save for the winter
To extend the shelf life, the workpiece is kept in a cool (at a temperature of + 1 ... + 5 ° C) dark place... A basement or cellar is suitable for this. In a city apartment, the container is left on the insulated balcony. The shelf life of the product is about 10-12 months.
Conclusion
Cold pickling cucumbers in a five-liter plastic bottle is not the most common cooking option. This does not require special skills, containers are not sterilized or wrapped. Use vegetables as a stand-alone snack or ingredient in salads.