Ohh my pickles

I love pickles and Indian pickles in particular. I used to make lots of them, but seem to have less time these days. I only made pickles of which I can find the ingredients here where I live (Netherlands), so mango pickle is out if the question. I have made green tomato chutney a lot, because we had tomatoes in the garden. In cold summers they will get not ripe. I also like rhubarb pickle. I have made lots of lemon pickle. Since the sun in western Europe is not hot enough, I put the whole batch in a very low oven and leave the oven door open. I also made pickled eggs. When I asked for 200 eggs, the man at the chicken farm looked at me as if I were mad. He did not ask any questions when he gave them to me or rather sold them. I made them pickled eggs with different flavours. The whole house was invaded by the smell of vinegar for weeks. The eggs lasted for about three years. I always use an Indian cookbook to make these pickles. Thanks for starting this discussion because I had completely forgotten about making my own. I think I will do so again soon.

without pickles many indians wont have food.it is really sad that you have made large amount of pickles and all your works went in vein because of this low graded plastic bottles.from next time store them in glass bottles or pots made of clay. This will make pickles to be good for long time.

Hello Ma You prepared large quantity of pickles and I am sad to know that it spoiled due to the low quality of plastic containers. I can imagine how much time you spend to prepare all those and it is really said if it goes as waste. Why could not use the glass bottles, bottles made by glass is the best to keep the pickles for long time. Else you have to use the high quality plastic bottles then also I won’t recommend keeping the pickles in plastic bottles. I rarely make pickles at home, I bring the same from home when I visit there. I bring the pickets in plastic bottle from home because it may broke in travel but after reaching here I transfer the pickle to glass bottles. My brother-in-law’s wife used to tell me this thing when packing the same at home, ‘when you reach Delhi change the bottle first otherwise it may get damage’. Next time, be sure with the container where you keep the pickle.

Kalyani maam, As far as I know pickles if made in a large or small quantity will be good for years together if stored in glass or ceramic containers. Plastic makes the pickles worse. Obviously, when the plastic containers being not food grade would have made it even more worse. Better be careful the next year so that you will have good pickles all year round. If you dont mind share your pickle recipes with me. I would be glad to add them in my recipe website with due credits to you.

dear ma Sorry to hear that your pickles are spoiled :( I wish to have one small jar too I do make pickled green(unripe)papaya with carrots,bell pepper,onion,garlic,ginger and syrup made of brown sugar,vinegar,pinch of salt. I wish you teach me how to do your pickles one day. Hugs to you and pa

Dear Kalyani Auntiji, I am so very sorry to read about your pickles getting all spoiled. My mom too used to prepare a variety of pickles for us all (now she is unable to because of health reasons) and I used to help her cut up the veggies etc. so I know how much efforts and love are put into preparing them. My mum often says that unless you don't put your love in them, they won't be liked by others :) It is definitely because of the plastic containers that made them go bad :( I am truly sorry that it had to happen. The plastic nowadays is not very good and of no guarantee of being food grade quality, because I bought some pickles which were in plastic container and they went bad when not used for a week or two.