Pickle care tips in winterImage Credit source: maakaachaar07/ sumankatadkakitchen
Pickles have always been a part of the plate in Indian homes. This is also a great way to preserve vegetables and fruits and if you want to add a tempting taste to your food, what could be better than pickles. Different types of pickles are made in every season, like in summer we make pickle from raw mango and in winter we make pickle from things like carrot, amla, raw turmeric, ginger, garlic, but sometimes it happens that the oil of pickle dries up. Especially if the pickle from one season continues till the next season, then the oil in it reduces. Due to this, mold may develop in the pickle. Let us know how you can make pickles as before.
To keep the pickle healthy for a long time, it is important that you take some precautions, otherwise the pickle starts spoiling and it is said that the older the pickle is, the tastier it becomes. If you also have pickles kept at your place and its oil has dried up by the time winter arrives, then know how to add oil to it.
Why does pickle oil dry up in winter?
Actually, when the temperature is low, the oil starts becoming a little thick and in hot weather it spreads rapidly, hence the pickle becomes dry in winter. In summer, vegetables produce natural fluids, whereas in winter, this process slows down and due to this, the pickle starts looking quite dry.
Make pickle like before in this way
If the pickle oil kept in your house has dried up, then do not make the mistake of adding raw mustard oil directly into it. For this, the oil should be heated well till the smoke comes out and then after it cools down completely, add it to the pickle. After this, mix the oil well in the pickle with a dry spoon. It will come back to good texture. When you add oil after cooking, it reduces the raw smell of the oil and also reduces the bitterness and also increases the shelf life of the pickle.
These things keep pickles healthy
To prevent fungus from growing in pickles, things like alum, citric acid, white vinegar should be added. If mold has started growing in your pickle, then that pickle should be removed immediately. Add one teaspoon white vinegar in it or add lemon juice. Actually, citric acid prevents the pickle from spoiling.
show sunshine to pickles
Pickles can get spoiled due to moisture in winter, so keep it in a place where there is no possibility of moisture getting there. In winter, you can also expose the pickle to sunlight for one or two days in between, but during this time, the lid should be removed from the box and instead, a cloth should be tied over it.
Keep these things in mind
- If you want to keep the pickle good for a long time, then always keep it in an airtight glass or ceramic jar. Plastic is also harmful and fungus grows quickly in it.
- While storing the pickle, the container should be checked thoroughly to ensure that there is no moisture in it. Similarly, always take out the pickle with a completely dry spoon. Wet or dirty spoon spoils the pickle very quickly.
- This is the best way to prepare a container for storing pickles. Wash it, wipe it with a cloth, then expose it to sunlight and after this, place a piece of hot coal in a bowl, add two pinches of asafoetida on it, turn the bowl upside down and keep it for some time. In this way your pickle barni will be ready.