Many onion lovers have at least once been worried about the matter of how long pickled onions will last. And if you still struggle to find a proper answer, this in-depth post is obviously a must-read.
However, if you are not too keen on onions, I think you can still have a look at the article as your reference in the future. At the end of this article, I will suggest a quick homemade recipe that is suitable for busy people. So, without further ado, let’s get started now.
Pickled Onions – An Indispensable Side Dish In Every Onion Fan’s Kitchen
Pickled onions add an irresistible pop of flavor to the main dish, sharpening the other components. These amazing types of vegetables are not only purchased at the supermarket but can also be made at home.
What Are Pickled Onions?
Pickled onions are fresh onions that are immersed in vinegar, sea salt, sugar syrup, and some water. There are many different kinds of onions, so you can choose to prepare pickled onions based on your preference.
Because these veggies taste delicious and crunchy, they are often eaten as a snack, or people can use them to add flavor to salads, sandwiches, burgers, etc.
Why Do Onion Lovers Choose Pickling Instead Of Other Food Processes?
There are a variety of ways to process food, such as pickling, fermentation, and cooking. But, I suppose that pickling foods, especially vegetables, have numerous benefits.
A Traditional And Easy Way To Store Food
In the olden days, pickling was one of the easiest ways to preserve food. This process means soaking the food in an acidic environment, which can stop the quick growth of bacteria.
But due to acidity’s effects, pickled onions will somehow lose their flavor and texture over time. Therefore, you should have pickled onions eaten within 6 months for the best taste. After that, there will be some signs of spoilage, such as mold or discoloration.
A Convenient And Time-Saving Process
Making pickled onions just takes a few minutes, and 5 easily found ingredients. Basically, all you have to do is thinly slice and pickle onions with other components like salt and vinegar. If you prefer your onions to be soft rather than crunchy, remember to boil them before pickling.
Pickled onions are versatile in their usage. A few slices added to the main course can make an ordinary meal more mouth-watering. You can add pickles to salads or sandwiches to help balance the flavors of all the ingredients and have an extra crunch.
Reasons why people always love to have pickled onions in their kitchens.
How Long Do Pickled Onions Last?
In my opinion, the answer to this question depends upon the storage methods and the types of pickled vegetables you use, whether they are homemade or store-bought. You should be aware that when preserving pickled onions, they need to be kept away from direct heat and sunlight. And should you store pickles in the fridge? The answer will be revealed in this section.
Shelf Life Of Pickled Onions
Here, I have summarized 3 typical places and times to preserve pickled vegetables effectively.
Commercially Produced Pickled Onions
Usually, purchased pickled onions last longer than homemade ones.
Note: With canned onions, always remember to look at the expiry date before buying.
In The Pantry
Quite different from other food products, pickled food can stay safe at room temperature for a long period of time.
Since your store-bought pickled onions have extra preservatives, they will last a couple of months on the kitchen counter so long as you don’t get any food particles or bacteria in there that can cause contamination.
In The Fridge
As mentioned above, food preservatives are added to the mix to prevent spoilage. Therefore, while keeping pickled onions in the refrigerator, you can use them for maximum shelf life.
Unopened bought pickled onions can be preserved in a cold, dark pantry for nearly a year. After being opened, they will be kept in the refrigerator for 3–4 months. But, make sure you put your jar of pickled onions in an airtight place so it can’t absorb any other flavors from the fridge.
In The Freezer
Of course, you can put these pickled veggies in the freezer to prolong their shelf life. You just need to thaw pickled onions for a few minutes before using them. The freezing method can increase the shelf life of pickled onions remarkably.
When freezing pickled onions, you can maintain their freshness and quality for around 1-2 years, which is a pretty long time for onion users.
For Homemade Pickled Onions
As homemade pickled onions don’t have any food preservatives, the pickling liquid can make them less crunchy over time.
After your homemade jar of pickled onions is opened, the first 2 weeks are the right time for you to use it and enjoy its best taste. And if you notice there’s a little change in texture, don’t worry, it’s a normal phenomenon.
Note: While making pickled onions at home, make a note of the date to save your onions from going bad too soon.
In The Pantry
From my perspective, your homemade pickled onions should not be kept at room temperature. Because the temperature in the pantry is not controlled, pickled onions will easily get spoiled due to the development of mold.
Furthermore, onions that haven’t been boiled to be fully vacuum-sealed should be preserved in the refrigerator so as to be safe and fresh.
In The Fridge
As vinegar is definitely a part of pickling onions, it will act as a short-term preservative to keep the veggies fresh wherever you store them. Indeed, vinegar is not enough for the best pickled-onion storage.
Refrigeration, to me, is the best method for long-term homemade pickled onion preservation. Cold temperatures can help ensure the quality of your pickled onions. The vinegar’s acidity can make pickled onions much softer; they will stay crisp and crunchy when kept in the fridge.
Before storing homemade pickled onions in the fridge, soak them in vinegar for 1 hour. They can preserve their best appearance and taste for 2-3 weeks at temperatures ranging from 5°C to 7°C.
In The Freezer
In the case of homemade quick onions, you can store them in a clean jar in the freezer for around 6 months. However, because onions are pickled without any preservatives, you’d better use them for no longer than 2 months at their most favorable taste.
Although the freezer helps these onions not go bad easily, I don’t recommend you use this method. If stored for a long time, pickled onions can lose some of their crunchiness and nutrition.
Guidelines To Freeze Pickled Vegetables
It is fine to freeze your pickled onions if you follow five exact guidelines.
- Divide your pickling onions into small portions.
- Put the portions in air-tight jars or zip-lock bags.
- Totally avoid air entry into the pickled onions by tightening the lid of jars or sealing the plastic bags.
- Write a note clarifying the amount, time, and the beginning date of storage.
- Place your portions in a clean place in the freezer under the adjusted temperature (below -16°C)
How Long Do Fermented Onions Last?
Fermenting and pickling are two popular methods of preserving vegetables that can bring out their best flavors. However, fermented foods achieve their sour taste due to a reaction between sugar/salt and the food bacteria.
When purchasing fermented onions at the store, you should pay attention to the printed dates. Since the real taste of fermented onions is quite different, make sure they haven’t expired before you eat them.
Store-bought fermented veggies will last for about 2 months at room temperature and almost a year in the refrigerator. If there is any mold or changes in color, throw them away.
If you intend to ferment your own jar of onions, you should keep it in a cool, dark place for 10 days before storing it in the fridge. And remember to stir your jar regularly so that all the onions are fermented.
Tips To Know If Pickled Onions Are Spoiled
If you have stored your pickled onions for over a few months, you’d better check the quality before eating them. Any change in the temperature conditions or methods can lead to the spoilage of your pickled veggies.
Obviously, some identifiable signs can help you confirm whether your onions are spoiled or not. Keep an eye on these indications:
Mushy And Soft Onions
If your pickled onions appear mushy and slimy in contrast to their firm and crisp texture, they are probably not fresh anymore.
Discolorization
Inspect the liquid in your pickled onion jar; it should be clear and sediment-free. If your onions have gone bad, the liquid will change color and become rusty.
Unpleasant Smell
An obvious sign of your veggies’ spoilage is the pickled onions’ smell. They should smell good and fresh, not strange or sour.
Mold Growth
Carefully pay attention to mold growing in the onion jars. When mold breeds in the onions, it will destroy the texture of your pickles.
Terrible Taste
The final indication of stale onions is that these pickled vegetables will lose their tangy flavor and become sour or off.
If any of these signs are present, you should throw your pickled onions away at the earliest and start making another jar. Eating moldy onions will have harmful effects on your health, especially on your stomach. So be aware of those signs mentioned above before continuing to use pickled onions.
Are Pickled Onions Good For Your Health?
Yes, to some extent, pickled veggies are considered beneficial for your healthy diet. Pickled onions are fully packed with nutritional elements and are a health-wise replacement for most unhealthy snacks.
Pickled Onions Enhance A Healthy And Balanced Life.
Red pickled onions are regarded as the most nutritious of all onion varieties because they contain a great source of vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C, magnesium, and calcium are some of the dietary supplements a person should have. Adding nutrient-rich pickled onions to your diet can boost your body’s general immunity and digestive system.
They are also rich in vitamin B9 and folate, which can improve your health. These 2 factors help encourage cardiovascular health in many ways, including reducing your blood pressure and heart attack risk.
But Will Pickled Veggies Do Absolutely No Harm To Your Health?
The answer is definitely no. Most pickles contain a large amount of salt, vinegar, oil, and preservatives, specially packaged ones. It’s necessary that these ingredients should be made as a controlling part of a diet, not as a daily component.
The high salt content of pickled onions can raise blood pressure, which is dangerous for people with medical issues. Canned pickled veggies are often high in preservatives that might raise your triglyceride levels; these high levels can lead to some health risks. Some kinds of pickled onions are also sugar-dense, which is not good for diabetic people.
While using pickles to add flavor to your main dish is not a terrible idea, eating too many pickled onions can be harmful to your health. So, to avoid severe effects, you should consume pickled onions in moderation and limit your intake of hot and salty meals.
A Simple Pickled Onion Recipe For Long-term Usage
After reading the whole post, you may understand some ways to preserve pickled onions, so why don’t you learn how to make your own quick ones? Here, I will suggest a basic recipe, suitable for those who are not very good cooks.
Step 1: Prepare Your Ingredients.
- Small red onions
- White vinegar
- Some water
- Cane sugar
- Sea salt
- Garlic (optional)
- Mixed pepper (optional)
Step 2: Onion Preparation
You can boil onions over a large heat for 5 minutes, and then discard the onion water. Next, slice the onions thinly and put them into separate jars with an equal amount per jar. If you use garlic or peppercorns, place them above the onions in each jar.
Step 3: Make the Liquid
Place the vinegar, water, salt, and sugar in a medium-heated bowl and stir until all ingredients dissolve, about 1-2 minutes. After that, you wait to let this liquid cool and pour it over the onions in every jar.
It would help if you warmed the lids in a bowl of boiled water for a few minutes before filling the jars. Then, you remove the lids and let them dry a little; you’re ready to seal the jar with lids now.
Step 4: Ready To Use
You should check your pickled onions once they’re bright pink, usually after 12–24 hours. They will be at their best flavor for 3–4 weeks and can be kept in the refrigerator for 1-2 months.
Find out the recipe for crunchy homemade pickled onions here.
Small Tips For Pickling Process
Let’s spare a few minutes for some useful tips that can be of great help when pickling onions:
- Choose the appropriate size jar before pickling onions. The best way is to slice the onions thinly so that they are completely immersed in the brining liquid.
- Clean your lids and jars to avoid introducing bacteria to the onions.
- Choose fresh, free-of-mold, or blemished onions for the best flavor and lifespan.
- Recheck your vinegar’s acidity level. The suitable acidity level is above 5 percent.
FAQs
The following section is to enlighten your mind with some of the most frequently asked questions.
These Amazing Veggies Can Last For Quite A Long Time.
Pickled onions can add a sweet explosion of taste and extra flavor to your dish. And to me, the best method for preserving any kind of pickle is refrigeration. However, the time range for storing pickled onions is different and depends on the onion types, the preparation, and the best-before date.
All of the above is my opinion, so what is yours? Please share your experience on storing pickled onions with other readers and me via the comments. Thank you, and I’ll appreciate every single thought.
References
- clemson.edu. 2022. Preserving Onions And Garlic?
- Foodpreserving.org. 2022. Pickled Onions.
