Pickled cucumbers take pride of place in cooking for a reason. They are used to prepare soups, salads, main courses, and are often used as an additional ingredient in baking fillings. There are those who like to enjoy pure corned beef. On the one hand, it is quite easy to preserve cucumbers, but on the other hand, they are the ones that often explode. To avoid this, you need to make the workpiece correctly.
Which cucumbers are suitable for pickling?
When choosing fruits, you must first of all pay attention to the variety. On each package of seeds, producers indicate the area of use of mature vegetables. Salad cucumbers are not suitable for winter harvesting. If you don't have your own garden and you have to buy a product, then you need to take those varieties that are intended for pickling.
Cucumbers should be fresh from the garden. When choosing on the market, you should pay attention to the integrity and firmness of the product. It is imperative to exclude all damaged and decayed specimens. And also too large fruits. The size should be approximately the same, otherwise it will not be possible to tamp them tightly into the jar.
Which vinegar should you use?
It is important to strictly observe the proportions of concentrated acid and water. By default, recipes mean 9% product. If we are talking about 70% of the essence, add no more than 1 tsp to a three-liter jar. Do not use dry vinegar. To avoid spoiling the blank, it is better to buy a new bottle.
How to prepare a container?
Often the cause of the explosion of jars of cucumbers is carbon dioxide, which is released by bacteria. To remove them from the surface of the container, it is necessary to rinse all the dishes with a solution of soda and water. Then process in any of these ways:
1. Steam.
2. Boil.
3. Heat in the oven.
After sterilization, dry completely naturally. Wet cans and lids are not used for seaming.
How to prepare cucumbers?
Vegetables suitable for pickling should be placed in a large container, such as a bucket or saucepan, and covered with cold water. In this position, they should stand during the night.
Before you start rolling the cans, you need to pour over the cucumbers with boiling water.
What to look for when choosing brine ingredients?
- The water for pickling should be as pure as possible, you can take it from a cooler, but it is better to take it from a natural source.
- Coarse gray salt is ideal. In contrast to the fine white, which is simply not suitable for canning.
- Dill umbrellas, herbs, garlic, horseradish and hot peppers should be taken fresh, fragrant, without damage, rotting and yellowness.
How to avoid getting air into the jar?
- Large cucumbers are often hollow on the inside and cannot be used for preservation.
- Pour the brine to the very edge of the jar. Do not allow vegetables to be on top of the liquid.
- The seamer must be fully functional. And the lid and neck of the can are intact.
What should be done after seaming?
The final stage in preserving cucumbers is to place them under a fur coat to cool down. This is necessary so that the process takes a long time and unwanted bacteria are destroyed. Banks must be placed on the lids, that is, upside down.
A responsible approach to pickling vegetables can avoid frustration and wasted time. In addition, cucumber preparations will help diversify the diet in winter.
