Can I use old cucumbers for pickles?
Don't Throw out those Overripe Cucumbers! Soak 'em with salt to draw out the excess juices, then add vinegar and sugar and a few good seeds and spices - you've got the zestiest condiment. It'll turn an ordinary hot dog or hamburger into something special.
What can I do with old cucumbers?
Five ways to use up leftover cucumbersStore them right. Keep cucumbers in the vegetable drawer of the fridge. ... Make them go further. Limp cucumbers can be revived by slicing off the end and standing in a bowl of cold water. ... Pickle them. ... Make a dip. ... Make a drink.
Can you still pickle soft cucumbers?
Use small, firm cucumbers. This is, hands-down, the most important! If you start with a big ol' soft cucumber, you'll end up with big ol' soft pickles. Always, always select the smallest, most firm cucumbers and leave the big soft ones out of the pickle jar.
What to do with over mature cucumbers?
Peel and quarter them. Cut out the entire seed cavity and chop or shred up the rest. This can be used for making cucumber-yogurt soup, Green gazpacho or tzatziki sauce. One of our favorite ways to use up these monster-sized cucumbers is in a basic vinegar and sugar cucumber salad.
Can you use out of date cucumber?
When cucumbers have gone bad, they become mushy and develop a white slimy surface and should not be eaten. There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!
Can you revive old cucumbers?
Cucumber that has gone limp can be revived by chopping off the end and standing it in cold water, according to Love Food Hate Waste. It also suggests freezing cheese and milk.
Are soft cucumbers OK to eat?
If it feels squishy rather than firm, it's bad, but if only one end is soft, cut it off and eat the firm end. If you see any mold growth on the skin, don't eat it.
Can you pickle rubbery cucumbers?
Burpless cucumbers are not recommended for use in fermented pickles. This is because, at their normal mature size, they produce an enzyme that causes the pickles to soften during fermentation. However, if smaller burpless cucumbers (those with small seed) are used, they may be suitable for making fresh pack pickles.
Why do you soak cucumbers in ice water before pickling?
For a quick and easy way to help ensure crisp pickles: soak cucumbers in ice water for 4 to 5 hours before pickling. This is a safer method for making crisp pickles. Using lime, or calcium hydroxide, in solution for soaking cucumbers changes the amount of acid in the cucumber tissue.
What happens if you leave cucumbers on the vine too long?
One of the most common reasons for the color change is simply leaving them on the vine too long. Over-ripened cucumbers will turn yellow and become bitter. If yours are also puffy, large, or have sunken areas or wrinkles, this is likely the problem.
Can you pickle cucumbers that have turned yellow?
It is also important not to use overripe cucumbers when making refrigerator dill pickles. How do you know when a cucumber is overripe? It is quite simple. Cucumbers that have a yellow hue to them are not good to use to make pickles.
Can you leave cucumbers on the vine too long?
Cucumbers left on the vine too long have a bitter taste that ruins the fresh flavor. The fruits ripen at different times on the vine, so it is essential to pick them as they are ready. Harvest when the fruit is the right size, which is usually eight to ten days after the first female flowers open.
Are overripe cucumbers edible?
And while it may not look appetizing, overripe cucumbers are perfectly safe to eat – seeds and all.
Can you freeze cucumbers for later use?
With proper prep, cucumbers should keep in the freezer for up to nine months. Weinstein recommends slicing them (peeled or unpeeled––your choice), arranging the slices in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freezing them uncovered.
How do you keep pickled okra from being slimy?
One popular way to reduce okra's sliminess is to "soak it in vinegar for 30 minutes [before cooking with it], which helps to break up and dissolve the slime," says food scientist, food industry consultant, and author Bryan Le.
How long can old cucumber last?
Old cucumbers will last up to one month in the fridge. They may be stored for even longer if they are kept in a cool area with good ventilation.
What You’Ll Need to Pickle Cucumbers
The prime ingredient, of course, are the cukes themselves. There are specific varieties for pickling and others meant to be used fresh. Pickling cu...
Step by Step Process For Traditional Dill Pickles
Pickling cucumbers are usually thicker-skinned than other varieties, which helps them stay crisp. If you plan to slice them (do not skin dill pickl...
Want to Learn More About Pickling Cucumbers?
Pickling Cucumbers from Oregon State UniversityCommon Cucumber Questions and Answers from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Ways to Pickle Cucumbers
Besides the standard canning method, cucumbers can be made by fermenting either on the shelf or in the refrigerator, made into relishes, or made into fruit pickles. Those options are just a start. There are literally hundreds of recipes for making pickles out of cucumbers.
Step by Step Process for Traditional Dill Pickles
Pickling cucumbers are usually thicker-skinned than other varieties, which helps them stay crisp. If you plan to slice them (do not skin dill pickles), then the sizes won’t matter. To pickle them whole, you’ll need to select pickles that will easily fit into a jar – the thinner varieties often work well for this.
Want to learn more about pickling cucumbers?
Pickling Cucumbers from Oregon State University Common Cucumber Questions and Answers from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Step 1
Wash the jars in a dishwasher set to the sanitize cycle, or boil them in water for 10 minutes. Remove the jars from water and let them dry.
Step 2
Fill the canner about three-quarters full of water and heat on high to start boiling. A large canner takes up to 20 minutes to come to a full boil.
Step 3
Wash the cucumbers with water to remove dirt. Cut the cucumbers in quarters lengthwise and remove the large seeded area from the middle. Cut the cucumber strips into 1-inch long chunks.
Step 4
Combine the water, white vinegar, pickling salt and pickling spice in a large kettle to make the brine. Heat the mixture to a simmer while stirring well to dissolve the salt. Simmer the brine for 15 minutes.
Step 5
Place a head of dill and a garlic clove in the bottom of each canning jar. Pack the cucumber chunks into the jar as tightly as possible, leaving 1/2 inch of space at the top of the jar.
Step 6
Pour the pickle brine into each jar, stopping 1/2 inch from the top of the jar.
Step 7
Boil the jar lids for two minutes in a small saucepan filled with water to soften the rubber. Place a lid on each jar and secure tightly with a jar ring.
Can I use 'old' cucumbers?
I have a basket of cucumbers that I picked and then had company and forgot about them. Maybe a week old. They are not soft or showing any signs of spoiling. Can these be used for anything or should they go into the compost pile? I know the recipes always say to use fresh.
Comments (11)
I would not waste sugar, spices or my time on pickles that are more than 2 days old, whether refrigerated or not. They will be great for the compost. Sorry.
Bread and Butter Pickles
This classic bread and butter pickles canning recipe is one of the best I have found. If you are a person who loves pickles with delicious, crunchy sweetness this may just be one of your yearly choices to make. No mushy pickles with this recipe!
Fermented Dill Pickles
If you know the benefits of fermenting foods, then you’ll definitely want to check out Angi’s great recipe. She shares everything you need to know to make a healthy pickle with a wonderful crunch.
Crunchy Dill Pickles
This last recipe comes from Sharon at Simply Canning. She includes everything you need to know so you can be enjoying the crisp snap of pickles around your table in no time.
Find fast answers to the most common pickle and cucumber questions I receive
Use freshly harvested cucumbers, the firm flesh and smaller seed cavity help them stay crisp.
