How Long Do Home-Canned Pickled Onions Really Last? (2024)

Riya Anne Polcastro

·3 min read

Home canning and pickling are a great way to make your garden's bounty last through the rest of the year. Whether you've got way too many onions or just really enjoy the pickled variety, you might be wondering how long they will stay good for. After all, food safety is paramount when it comes to home-canned goods. When done properly, your unopened home-canned pickled onions are shelf-stable for one year. Although some university extension programs say that with proper storage, you can stretch that up to two years for lower acidity foods -- which onions are -- the USDA gives a 12-month maximum for anything canned at home.

Of course, once that jar of pickled onions has been opened, it will need to be refrigerated. And while it might be tempting to keep them cold until they're used up, the USDA gives all opened home-canned goods a pretty short window: Just three to four days in the fridge.

Read more: 13 Canned Foods You Should Avoid At The Grocery Store

Make Those Pickled Onions Last

As with all home-canned foods, you will want to maximize your pickled onion's shelf life. Do so by following all canning instructions to a T. And always use a recipe that has been scientifically tested and approved. Failure to do so could lead to serious illness, including botulism, which can easily go undetected in improperly canned foods and can be fatal. Additionally, any canned food that smells or appears questionable should be thrown out immediately without tasting. Although some hissing is normal when opening goods canned under pressure, always toss a jar that spurts or hisses excessively.

Temperature, light, and humidity can all affect how long your home-canned pickled onions last, so be sure to store them somewhere that is dark and dry with a cool, even temperature. Fluctuations that can lead to freezing or overheating will cause them to go bad prematurely, so choose your storage location carefully. Always refrigerate pickled onions right away after opening, preferably with an opened-on date so that you know when their time in the fridge is up (just as they should be dated when they are first canned).

Putting Those Pickled Onions To Use

How Long Do Home-Canned Pickled Onions Really Last? (2)

Pickling works well for white, yellow, and red onions alike. Which type of onions you choose to pickle will naturally affect how they taste and what you use them for. And if you're not up for the canning process, they can even be pickled and stored in the refrigerator -- though, in this case, you'll want to use them up within a couple of weeks.

Pickled red onions are excellent on salads, sandwiches, and wraps. They make awesome garnishes for roasted meats, and they're amazing in tacos and chicken quesadillas as well. Any type of pickled onion will go great in potato salad, but the red ones are best for a fun burst of color. Pickled yellow or white onions will also add a delicious tang to your BBQ, or sub them out for pearl onions in a tasty co*cktail. With so many uses, it shouldn't be hard to gobble up those home-canned pickled onions before they expire. Before you know it, it'll be time to make another batch.

Read the original article on Daily Meal.

How Long Do Home-Canned Pickled Onions Really Last? (2024)

FAQs

How Long Do Home-Canned Pickled Onions Really Last? ›

When done properly, your unopened home-canned pickled onions are shelf-stable for one year. Although some university extension programs say that with proper storage, you can stretch that up to two years for lower acidity foods — which onions are — the USDA gives a 12-month maximum for anything canned at home.

How to pickle onions for long term storage? ›

Combine vinegar, water, sugar, bay leaf, and black peppercorns in a saucepot and bring to a boil. Take off the heat and cool. When the vinegar brine has cooled, drain the onions and give them a quick rinse. Transfer onions to a jar or container, packing them in fairly tightly.

How long can you leave onions in vinegar? ›

Let the pickled onions cool to room temperature (about 20 to 30 minutes), at which point they should be sufficiently pickled for serving. Cover and refrigerate leftover pickled onions for later. Quick-pickled onions are best consumed within three days, but they keep for 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.

Can you water bath can onions? ›

Onions are a frequent ingredient in many pickles and relishes providing flavor to other ingredients in a recipe. Because these products contain adequate vinegar to increase the acidity, it is safe to process them in a boiling water bath or atmospheric steam canner.

How long do homemade pickles last? ›

Homemade refrigerated pickles last at least three to four weeks in the fridge, McClellan says. Any longer and the quality will start to decline. You'll notice the brine goes from clear to murky and cloudy, and the pickles start to lose their texture.

What is the shelf life of homemade pickled onions? ›

Your pickled onions will be ready to eat once they're bright pink and tender - about 1 hour for very thinly sliced onions, or overnight for thicker sliced onions. They will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

How to preserve onions for long term storage? ›

How long do onions last? According to The Chef's Garden cookbook, onions stored at temperatures between 30°F and 50°F will keep for up to one year. Otherwise, they'll last for several weeks. Store cut onions in the refrigerator (or even the freezer)

Why do pickled onions last so long but fresh onions spoil after a few weeks? ›

Final Answer:

Pickled onions last longer than fresh onions due to the preservation process involved in pickling. This process creates an acidic environment that inhibits the growth of spoilage-causing microorganisms, thereby extending the shelf life of pickled onions.

When should you pickle onions for Christmas? ›

Well, in the UK you start to see small “pickling onions” in the greengrocers and supermarkets from October onwards, and with a view to the Christmas buffet table, and that ubiquitous cheese board, now is the time to make these pickled onions so they have time to “mature” for 6 weeks.

How long do homemade onions last? ›

Halved, sliced, or chopped raw onions should also be refrigerated, in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. They will last seven to 10 days when stored this way. Cooked onions should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated as well.

How long will canned onions last? ›

When done properly, your unopened home-canned pickled onions are shelf-stable for one year. Although some university extension programs say that with proper storage, you can stretch that up to two years for lower acidity foods -- which onions are -- the USDA gives a 12-month maximum for anything canned at home.

How do you store onions in mason jars? ›

Wash and peel onions. Cover with boiling water, bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes. Pack onions into hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace. Add ½ teaspoon salt to pints or 1 teaspoon to quarts, if desired.

Why do you put onions in the bathroom? ›

According to many other users who were already familiar with the concept of shower onions, keeping these veggies in your bathroom actually helps to neutralize any unwanted odors. That's because onions act as a natural deodorizer, meaning they can basically absorb smells, unpleasant and otherwise.

How to tell if home canned pickles are bad? ›

If the pickles are soft, they are spoiled from the yeast fermentation. Don't use them. Using too weak a salt brine or vinegar solution may cause soft or slippery pickles, as can using moldy garlic or storing the pickles at too warm a temperature. These pickles are spoiled and should be discarded.

How do you store homemade pickles long term? ›

The whole point of canning pickles is to store them in jars with sealed lids on a pantry shelf. As for all home-canned goods, those jars and lids must be specifically designed for canning. Once your jars have cooled and the flat lids have sealed, remove and wash the rings and wipe down the jars with a damp cloth.

Why don't pickle jars say pickle? ›

Olive all use the term on their websites, in advertisem*nts, and in the product descriptions of their pickle varieties. When asked why the word isn't on the front of the jars, all three companies provided nearly the same answer: They feel the word “pickle” isn't necessary on pickles packaged in clear glass containers.

How do you store onions for a long time business? ›

Maintain storage temperature of 45-55°F. Do not wrap onions in plastic or store in plastic bags. A lack of air circulation will reduce shelf life. Onions should feel firm and dry, be free of gray or black mold, and should not have any visible sprouting.

How do you pickle things for long term storage? ›

How to Can Pickles, Step by Step
  1. Fill a large pot with hot water. ...
  2. Submerge canning jars in the hot water and bring to a boil. ...
  3. Gather and trim the cucumbers. ...
  4. Make the pickle brine. ...
  5. Remove jars from hot water. ...
  6. Fill jars with pickle ingredients. ...
  7. Add extra spices (if you'd like) ...
  8. Prep jars for sealing.
Aug 11, 2017

Do I need to sterilize jars for pickled onions? ›

Pickling Preparation

Once you have sourced all your equipment, be sure to sterilise your jars before use. Sterilisation is a crucial part of the pickling process as it removes any bacteria or yeast that is living in the jar, allowing you to preserve your foods in sealed jars for longer.

Why do pickled onions last longer than fresh onions? ›

Pickled onions last longer than fresh onions due to the preservation process involved in pickling. This process creates an acidic environment that inhibits the growth of spoilage-causing microorganisms, thereby extending the shelf life of pickled onions.

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