Here is everything you need to know about pickled onions’ shelf life and storage. Find out how to store pickled onions, how long they last, and how to tell if your own are spoiled.
You have a jar of pickled onions that is only partially open, and you’re wondering how long they can last. How long are onions pickled to keep?
Or perhaps you’ve had yours out for a while and are wondering if they’re still safe to eat. How can you tell if a jar of pickled onions is bad?
You’re in the right place if one of these queries led you here.
Before we discuss spoilage, storage, and all that other good stuff, let’s briefly talk about two different kinds of pickled onions. In order to approach it correctly, you must be aware of which one you are dealing with.
Canned versus fresh pickles
Pickled onions come in two varieties: canned pickles and quick pickles.
Pickles can be canned either commercially or at home, and fermentation is optional. They are processed, sealed in airtight containers, and last months without refrigeration. This sets them apart.
In order to make quick pickles at home, onions are typically immersed in a pickling liquid made of water, vinegar, salt, and possibly other flavor-adjusting ingredients. Quick pickles aren’t canned; they are placed in the refrigerator as soon as they are made and remain there the entire time.
(Ethan Chlebowski’s recipe for quick pickles is provided here.)
Even though there’s a lot more to it, this one distinction makes the rest of the article make sense.
Let’s move on to discuss storage, spoilage, and the shelf life of pickled onions.
The shelf life of pickled onions
For one to two weeks, homemade quick pickles maintain their best quality. They begin to lose their crispness after those two weeks, but they should still be safe to eat for another week or so. Additionally, make sure that the onions are always completely submerged in the pickling solution.
Unopened, canned pickled onions keep for at least a year in a cool, dry environment. They require constant refrigeration and have a three to four week shelf life after opening.
The scoop on pickled onions is that. Let’s expand on both types a little bit.
Rapid pickles
One to two weeks pass before quick pickled onions start to lose their crispness. The onions then start to soften but remain edible for at least a week. And you must always keep them in the refrigerator.
Quick pickles don’t last nearly as long as canned pickles because they are never canned. However, the onions last much longer than the typical 3 to 4 days for leftover food because of the acidity of the vinegar and the salt that has been added.
In relation to storage time, it’s hard to say how long the onions will be secure. But the majority of sources advise using them within two to three weeks, so I do too.
tins of pickles
Pickles that have been canned last for at least a year and possibly much longer. The leftovers should be moved to the refrigerator as soon as you open the jar because they will last there for about four weeks.
As with all canned goods, chances are canned pickled onions will likely remain edible for several months after the printed expiration date, provided the jar isn’t damaged and the seal isn’t broken.
You get about a month’s worth of storage time after opening. Similar to quick pickles, canned pickles also have brine-covered onions that keep them safe for a considerable amount of time after opening.
To find out how long you can store your canned pickles after opening, you should, of course, read the product’s label (or, if homemade, the recipe).
Although most sources recommend using pickles within 3 to 4 weeks of opening, others advise doing so within just 7 days. And if the label specifies that, I advise you to follow it.
How to Recognize Bad Pickled Onions
Throw away your pickled onions if
- They are rotten.
- The portion of your pickled onions that is above the pickling liquid may mold if it is not completely submerged. The same thing occurs with sauerkraut that isn’t brine-covered. You could probably get away with throwing the spoiled slices away and using the rest, but just to be safe, I advise throwing away the entire jar.
- They are kept in storage longer than is necessary.
- After opening, homemade quick pickles last up to 3 weeks and canned pickles up to 4 weeks (check the label or recipe). Assume they are no longer safe to eat if yours have been opened for a lot longer. Even if the onions appear to be in perfect condition, discard them.
- Either the seal is broken or the jar leaks.
As with all canned goods, if there’s a problem with the jar, can, or seal, the product isn’t safe to use. You can still use the pickled onions the same way you would use quick pickles if you are canning onions at home and discover that the can has not sealed itself properly.
- Off-putting onion smell.
- Your pickled onions are bad if they suddenly stop passing the sniff test.
- Poor quality is present.
Pickled onions will soften if left in the refrigerator for longer than one to two weeks. This is particularly apparent if you use warm (or cool) pickling liquid rather than one that is almost boiling. Additionally, you can discard the soft pickled onions if you don’t like them.
Advice: Don’t taste the onions to make sure if there are any other signs of spoilage. One of the items on the previous list is sufficient to declare the onions spoiled.
That concludes the list of pickled onion spoilage indicators. However, trust your gut and toss the onions if necessary if you notice anything else unusual.
How to Keep Pickled Onions Fresh
Quick pickles must always be kept refrigerated. Make sure the lid is on tight and that the onions are completely submerged in the pickling solution.
Pickles in a can should be handled similarly to other canned goods.
Be sure to fully immerse the onions in the pickling solution.
All the jar needs is a cool, dry place to sit in while it is not sealed. The leftovers are placed in the refrigerator after you first open the jar, tightly sealed. In addition, make sure the jar’s contents are always submerged to prevent drying out and the development of mold.
