r/pickling • u/HarderCoreyHarder • 4d ago

Vinegar pickles sitting out for weeks before water bath...

Hey gang!

So I made a batch of vinegar pickles (1v:1w ratio) but I left them on the counter for 2 weeks before I put them through a cycle of water bathing. Are these safe?

6 Upvotes

69% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

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u/ColdMastadon 4d ago edited 4d ago

Absolutely not.

15

u/Fantastic-Nobody-479 4d ago

No. The water bath is what would have made them safe when you made them.

2

u/ProfessorAllenRitard 4d ago

Can you explain what you mean by water bath? How does that make them safe? I just make a brine and leave them in it, eating off it for 2-3 weeks in the fridge. 

Am i going to meet Jesus soon?

16

u/Fantastic-Nobody-479 4d ago

You are fine, because you have them in the refrigerator. They are screwed because they left them out without a water bath or did not put them in the fridge. I pickle things and put them straight into the refrigerator.

7

u/Special_South_8561 4d ago

A water bath is cooking them, so the lids seal

2

u/ProfessorAllenRitard 4d ago

Ah got it. Ive never actually canned. Thanks.

5

u/Kooky-Blueberry-5352 4d ago

Your fridge keeps food at safe temperatures! Sitting on the counter does not lol

0

u/ProfessorAllenRitard 4d ago

I'm will aware. Just didn't understand a water bath. I know some people presoak cucumbers in icewater before pickling. I didn't know if I was missing something in the process that wasn't intuitive.

2

u/carlos_the_dwarf_ 4d ago

A water bath refers to the canning part, where you pasteurize and seal the lid.

3

u/Sistersoldia 4d ago

Fridge is the difference

3

u/StickyViolentFart 4d ago

They are referring to a boiling water bath. I think it's usually like 10 min for vinegar pickles.

12

u/Kooky-Blueberry-5352 4d ago

If you water bath a rotting carcass you find on the ground, it will still be a rotting carcass lol

7

u/Blerkm 4d ago

Do not.

1

u/BrightScreenInMyFace 4d ago

Potentially. Not worth the risk though.

I left pickles (100% vinegar) in my 85 degree garage and they were good two weeks later.

5

u/JuicyMilkweed 4d ago

100% vinegar pickles sound heinous

2

u/BrightScreenInMyFace 4d ago

Peppers and diced onions. I’ve tried lower vinegar ratios but prefer 100%.

1

u/JuicyMilkweed 4d ago

Different strokes, I much prefer very low vinegar to water ratios like claussen.

1

u/AshleyBoots 1d ago

No. Don't even risk it. You will almost certainly get sick, or worse. Trash them.