A thread about pickling

[Gattopardo]

I would like to pickle some red onions, large red onion sliced.  This is something of an indian friend would like and is too lazy to do.

Have read a few online recipes and some say to pass boiling water over sliced onions while others don't so am a bit lost.

Is it acceptable to reuse picking vinegar from empty jars of silverskin onion or pickled gerkins?  As I have a large jar and this seems perfect.

Thank you

[ravenbait]

All you can do is experiment, really. Passing boiling water over the onions will make them sweeter -- the heat will bring out some of the sugars and tone down the acidity, and it will soften them a little. If you want your onions are crunchy as possible, I wouldn't. If you prefer them slightly softer, like silverskins, then I would.

Not too sure about reusing pickling vinegar. Part of me would worry about contaminants that had got in there while the original pickles were being eaten. Pickles don't keep forever, and even vinegar has a shelf life. If I were making pickles to give to someone else I'd use fresh vinegar and make up a pickling mix. If it were just for me, I might experiment.

Sam

[graculus]

Is it acceptable to reuse picking vinegar from empty jars of silverskin onion or pickled gerkins?  As I have a large jar and this seems perfect.

I've never done that, and would only consider it in an emergency ie it was a case of re-use vinegar or let the produce go to waste. In storage the vinegar may have become diluted as water is drawn out of the veg. by osmosis; and the vinegar in shop bought pickles is weak to start with.

[SteveC]

Does your friend want English style pickles or Indian ones? The latter tend to be quick pickled for immediate eating, not for preserving. I've used the boiling water method with Indian style.

[ElyDave]

I never re-use my vinegar.

Indian "pickles" are very different and in my experience are more like a kimchi/sauerkraut but much drier, involving a lot of salt, mustard, oils and other spice rather than vinegar. Ans contrary to Steve C, I've seen them last a very long time

I can canvass Mrs ED for recipes if needed?

[slope]

I can canvass Mrs ED for recipes if needed?

Yes please for recipes