Wondering how to use pickling vinegar for eggs and other types of food? Learn about pickling eggs in vinegar and more in this comprehensive guide. Simply put, pickling is the act of preserving foods in an acid solution like vinegar or brine. While it might seem straightforward, it can actually get a little tricky with certain types of food.
If you overdo it, you might end up significantly altering your meal’s taste in a way that you would hardly enjoy. If you “underdo” it, your intention to properly preserve the vegetable might not be fulfilled in the first place.
We’ve put this guide together specifically to help you learn how to use pickling vinegar with different foods. We’ll also go through the differences between pickling with vinegar and brine as well as storage options. Let’s dive right in!
Differences Between Vinegar and Brine Pickling
Vinegar pickling is the process in which water, salt, sugar, and vinegar are combined and then heated. After heating, fruits, vegetables, or other edibles are immersed in the produced liquid for preservation.
On the other hand, brine picking is the process whereby foods like fruits and vegetables are preserved using salt. In this process, food is immersed in brine solution and left for some hours for the brine to draw moisture out.
A vinegar-based pickle will have a sour taste after pickling, whereas a salt-based pickle will have a salty taste after pickling. We have gone into a deep dive in our dill vs pickle: differences and varieties explained article to assist you on your pickle tasting journey.. Additionally, the lactic acid fermentation in brine pickling generates the preservation characteristic, whereas the acetic acid in vinegar pickling raises the acidic properties of the food preserved. When the acid increases, microorganisms like E. coli and Salmonella are destroyed, thus preserving the food.
When to Use Pickling Vinegar
Pickling vinegar is one of the most common methods of pickling and is used in many ways. First, you can use pickling vinegar when you want to preserve your edibles. As an illustration, most perishable foods, such as fruits and vegetables, spoil when temperatures are high. Therefore, one can decide to use vinegar-based pickles to preserve food for a long time without them going bad.
In addition, pickling vinegar adds flavor to the food. There are different types of vinegar, and each has its flavor. Thus, most people find it good to pickle using vinegar to improve the taste. Apart from enhancing flavor and preserving food, vinegar pickling also kills any existing microorganisms that may be present in your food. For instance, white vinegar and apple cider vinegar kill microorganisms and bacteria like Salmonella and E.coli.
Additionally, the acidity added by vinegar pickling makes the food you are preserving taste even better. Vinegar with a higher acetic acid content is better for preserving foods. For instance, the 7% acidity of Allen pickling vinegar gives food a mild tang. Most people like to eat foods with little acid because acid breaks down fiber, which is good for the body.
How to Use Pickling Vinegar for Different Types of Food
Pickling with vinegar is relatively easy, unlike fermentation pickling. All you have to do is to add your boiled vinegar solution to your desired pickling food. After that, you cool it and put it in the fridge.
Also, you need not worry, as the components of pickling vinegar are easy to obtain. So, if you want to freshen or enrich your food, you can use pickling vinegar.
That said, how exactly do you pickle different types of food with vinegar? We’ve outlined a few methods for you below.
Egg Pickling
Pickling eggs in vinegar is the most common method of getting delicious eggs. When pickling eggs, you need ingredients like white vinegar, boiled and peeled boiled eggs, granulated sugar, pickling spice, and salt. After arranging your ingredients, combine vinegar, sugar, water, salt, and pickling spices in a saucepan, boil them and leave to cool down completely. This will create your pickling vinegar for eggs.
Afterwards, place your boiled eggs in a jar with a lid, and then add your boiled ingredients. Lastly, refrigerate them for two days before using them.
When pickling vinegar eggs, you should not remove your eggs from the refrigerator before the two days are over.
Cucumber Pickling
Cucumber is a delicate vegetable that can quickly go bad if stored poorly. Therefore, pickling cucumbers is good for keeping them healthy. The first thing to do when pickling this vegetable is to slice and then combine it with three cups of vinegar, water, salt, and coriander seeds. Boil them for at least 10 minutes, and pack them alongside garlic and onions. Lastly, just like the pickling vinegar for eggs, add cool brine, seal the jars and refrigerate them for two days.
Cucumber pickling is sometimes known as dill pickles because dill herbs are very commonly used to flavor the brine. This causes many to wonder is pickle a fruit or vegetable?
Watermelon Pickling
Watermelon is one of the pickling edibles that most people think about. When pickling this vegetable, you start by cutting it into pieces and adding it to the pickling solution. Then, refrigerate after mixing.
Pears Pickling
Pickled pears are a thing to love because they are delicious, and you can eat them as an appetizer. All you have to do when pickling them is to add them to a salad. After that, cut them into two pieces, and add sugar, cinnamon, and all spices into the vinegar. Lastly, refrigerate them for some hours before eating.
What You Should Know About Vinegar Pickle Storage and Food Safety
While the pickling process itself is relatively simple, it’s important to know as much as you can about vinegar pickle storage and food safety. The USDA has extensive guidelines on home canning as well as storage and safety recommendations for vinegar pickling. Intimating yourself with these details is incredibly useful.
However, in a nutshell, the most crucial safety measure to take is proper storage, especially when refrigerating your vinegar pickles after preparing them. Invariably, when storing your vinegar pickles, you require two essential tools: a container and a good cover. Here you can use a nonreactive container and a lid like those made of glass, food-grade plastic, or stainless steel. These materials will help keep your pickled food, such as pickling vinegar eggs, clean and fresh.
On the other hand, you can use plated canning lids or rings and metal mayonnaise lids to cover the containers. Apart from keeping your pickles in unreactive containers, it is also advisable to store your pickling vinegar in good condition. Proper vinegar storage helps in maximizing its quality. Fortunately, pickling vinegar does not quickly expire, unlike other food seasonings. It does not require refrigeration because it has an acidic nature. However, if not properly kept, its quality will decline, affecting the flavor although it’s harmless.
Moreover, keeping your unopened vinegar bottle away from direct sunlight is advisable if you want to preserve your vinegar. Also, keeping it in a cool, dark place like your kitchen cabinet or pantry is good. You should cover it with the lid immediately after using it.
Lastly, you should keep your refrigerator and storing bottles clean. This will help keep your preserved food clean and avoid health hazards associated with food reservations and canning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
1. What is Pickling Vinegar Used For?
From pickling eggs in vinegar to preserving food and vegetables, this ingredient has various uses in the common household.
Pickling vinegar is used to kill microorganisms in food. It prevents bacteria growth like Salmonella, which may be present in your food. Lastly, the product adds flavor to food. There are different types of pickling vinegar, each with a unique taste. So, you can choose the flavor that you like.
Want to know if you can extend these uses to the garden as well? Read our article on will pickling vinegar kill weeds to find out!
2. Can You Use Pickling Vinegar Twice?
Yes, you can reuse your pickling vinegar only if it is used to prepare refrigerator pickles. This means you can’t reuse it when you have already used it in canning something else. Further, you can reuse pickling vinegar if its appearance is not murky or cloudy. If it looks murky, it means it has a low brine volume. But remember, adding undiluted vinegar or fresh lemon juice is advisable to boost brine acidity when reusing.
3. Why Use Pickling Vinegar?
As discussed earlier, pickling vinegar has numerous benefits, from food preservation and killing microorganisms to improving food flavor. Moreover, pickling vinegar doesn’t expire; thus, you don’t need to keep buying it. Pickling vinegar may last a long time without losing its potency if it is preserved properly. Therefore, it’s good to consider pickling vinegar while preparing your food.
How to Use Pickling Vinegar Summary
Indeed, pickling is an excellent way to freshen and enrich your food. Besides food preservation, vinegar pickling has many benefits like improving food flavor and killing microorganisms.
As for how to use pickling vinegar, all you have to do is to follow tried and tested pickling recipes, especially those from reliable sources. Make sure you use the correct amount of vinegar and water in the process. Before eating, inspect the products once they have been refrigerated to see if there are any issues. Additionally, inspect the goods you plan to pickle for deterioration.
Enjoy your vinegar-pickled meal!
