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Sometimes the pickle oil dries up. Especially if pickles from one season are left to ripen, the oil content can diminish. This can lead to mold. Let’s learn how to restore pickles to their original state.
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New Delhi: Pickles have always been a staple in Indian households. They're a great way to preserve vegetables and fruits, and if you want to add a tempting flavor to your meal, what better way than pickles? Different types of pickles are made in each season; for example, in summer, pickles are made with raw mangoes, and in winter, pickles are made with carrots, amla, raw turmeric, ginger, and garlic. However, sometimes the pickle oil dries up.
Especially if pickles from one season are left to ripen, the oil content can diminish. This can lead to mold. Let's learn how to restore pickles to their original state.
To preserve pickles for a long time, it's important to take certain precautions; otherwise, they can spoil, and it's said that the older a pickle gets, the more delicious it becomes. If you have pickles stored in your home and the oil has dried up by winter, learn how to add oil to them.
Why Pickle Oil Dries Up in Winter
Actually, when the temperature is low, the oil thickens, and in warm weather, it expands rapidly. This is why pickles tend to become dry in winter. Vegetables produce natural fluids in summer, but this process slows down in winter, making pickles appear quite dry.
How to Make Pickles Look Like Before
If the oil in your pickles has dried up, don't make the mistake of adding raw mustard oil directly to it. Heat the oil thoroughly until it smokes, then add it to the pickle after it cools completely. Then, mix the oil thoroughly with a dry spoon. It will return to its original texture. When you add oil after cooking, it reduces the raw smell and bitterness, and also increases the shelf life of the pickle.
These things keep pickles fresh
To prevent mold from forming in pickles, add ingredients like alum, citric acid, and white vinegar. If mold starts to form in your pickle, remove that amount immediately. Add a teaspoon of white vinegar or lemon juice. Citric acid prevents spoilage.
Expose pickles to sunlight
Dampness can spoil pickles in winter, so store them in a place away from moisture. In winter, you can expose pickles to sunlight for a day or two at a time, but during this time, remove the lid from the container and cover it with a cloth.
Keep these things in mind
To keep pickles fresh for a long time, always store them in an airtight glass or ceramic jar. Plastic is also harmful and moldy.
When storing pickles, the jar should be thoroughly checked to ensure there is no moisture in it. Similarly, always scoop the pickle with a completely dry spoon. A wet or dirty spoon will spoil the pickle very quickly.
The best way to prepare the jar for storing pickles is to wash it, wipe it with a cloth, expose it to sunlight, and then place a piece of hot coal in a bowl, sprinkle two pinches of asafoetida on it, and then turn the jar upside down for a while. This way, your pickle jar will be ready.
