Mango pickles, lemon pickles, garlic pickles – The list goes on and on. India has a long and rich tradition of making pickles. The country has had homemakers making pickles for centuries now. However, pickle making is more of an art. However, making pickles is not as easy as it may sound. And making pickles is only one part of the equation – storing them may be a more significant challenge. Worry not! This article brings five excellent tips for better keeping Indian pickles.
How to store Indian Pickles?
After making the Pickles, it is essential to store them such that they may have a long-lasting life. For doing so, the following tips will come in handy:
1. The correct use of the right ingredients.
As mentioned above, making pickles is an art – however, it is not an art free of all kinds of restrictions. One of the essential restrictions while making pickles is the need to use the right type of ingredients. While the range and variety of available species and items are enormous, it is essential to note that not everything goes. And even with the things that One can add, it is necessary to remember that some items must be thoroughly dried, while others should be fresh. Neither species nor oil used should be very old. As for oils, it is essential to use only the right kind of oil, like mustard oil. The correct use of the right type of ingredients is necessary from a storage point of view because the wrong kind of ingredient can severely reduce the life of pickles or even spoil it.
2. The importance of oil in storage
One may believe that one is storing pickles in a container, and, of course, in a way, that’s true. However, one is holding it in oil. Oil is what shields the pickles from oxygen in the air and thus keeps the same from being spoilt. It will also let pickles absorb the spices even as the pickles are resting. One should therefore use a lot of oil. Oil should be enough to reach above the levels of pickles as any pickles that may float above it will be spoilt.
3. Store them away from light and heat
Much like oxygen in the air, light and heat can reduce the life of the pickles, and that’s why one should always store them away from direct sunlight and other heat and light sources. The room temperature is okay, though, and pickles can even handle a bit of sunlight but not too much.
4. Keep it dry
When it comes to pickles, dryness is crucial to increase the life of ingredients. As mentioned above, one must adequately dry several food items before adding them to the pickles. Moreover, one should make sure the container used to contain them is completely dry (may be left in sunlight to be completely dry. One should store the pickles away from all sorts of humidity. The spoons used to take the pickles out should also be completely dry
5. Use the right kind of containers
One cannot use any container for storing Indian pickles. The container for storing pickles is just as important as the ingredients. It should be as dry as possible, and it should also be preferably airtight. One should avoid using metallic containers like those made of iron, zinc, aluminum, etc. The same can corrode due to the acidic nature of pickles and mix with and spoil the pickle. The container should also be airtight.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When one is talking about storing Indian pickles properly, there are several frequently asked questions (FAQs). The following are some of the most important of these:
Question: When is the best time to consume pickles?
Answer: While there is no fixed date, it is always advisable to only consume pickles after letting them sit for a few days – say 7 to 15 days so that the pickled fruit or vegetable may more fully absorb the species’ taste.
Question: How long can pickles be stored before they are spoilt?
Answer: It will depend upon how well they are made – and there are times they are kept for years. However, if one notices a change in smell or an undesirable change in taste, then one should avoid consuming the pickles in question.
Question: Are there some other tricks relating to pickles?
Answer: The following additional tricks may come in handy for the reader:
- One should stir the stored pickles every few days to let them better absorb the species.
- It will also help to change the oils once in a while if pickles are stored for really long periods.
- The best way to mix the ingredients to ensure even mixing is by using gloved hands for mixing them (both gloves and hands should be completely dry. That will ensure that pickles get an even taste throughout the batch.
Question: Who can eat pickles?
Answer: Most people can eat pickles in moderation. However, it is essential to note the following in this regard:
- Those with blood pressure problems or with a heart condition should avoid pickles on account of the species.
- If one has sensitive health, one should first consult a physician before making any changes in their diet.
- One should avoid consuming too much of them.
- If one is buying pickles from the market, it is essential to check the expiry dates and go through the various ingredients to ensure that one is not allergic to them.
If the reader has any other queries, they should feel free to ask them here.
The Bottom Line
One can quickly wrap up the above discussion by concluding that Indian pickles are delicious food items that can make valuable health and mouth-watering taste additions to most Indian meals. However, the reader mustn’t consume them only in moderation. As long as one can exercise desired precautions, one is likely to enjoy them for a long, long time to come.
