There’s an open pickles jar in your fridge, and you’re not sure how long pickled cucumbers are good for. Can pickles go bad?
Or your jar is a few weeks (or even months) past its date, and you’re thinking: do pickles expire?
If you’re not sure how long your pickles will last or if they go bad at all, this article is for you. In it, we’ll cover:
- how to tell if your pickles are bad (and what might seem off but is completely normal for dill pickles)
- how long do pickles last, both before and after opening the jar
- storing pickles – what to do with a sealed jar and how to go about an open one (plus what to do if you’ve left your open pickles out overnight)
Sounds interesting? Let’s jump right into it.
Can Pickles Go Bad? Do They Expire?
Pickles can go bad in one of the following ways:
- They grow mold.If some pickled cucumbers aren’t fully submerged in brine, they can develop mold ([RD]), although that might take up to a few months. If you buy pickles in bulk at the farmer’s market (without any brine), mold might show up much faster.
- They become too sour to eat.Okay, those pickles aren’t technically spoiled, but are no good flavor-wise. Too sour pickles are usually a result of prolonged storage, storing them at a too warm temperature, or both. I’ll talk about this more in the next section.
Besides that, there are some situations that people find concerning but areperfectly normal for pickled cucumbers(and other fermented products, such as sauerkraut or kimchi). Those include:
- There’s fizz in the jar after opening.That’s perfectly okay because while the fermentation process slows down, it doesn’t stop ([RP]).
- The taste or texture is different from the last jar(s).Pickles are a living thing, and the taste, texture, and color vary between batches. Those qualities are also affected by how long you store your pickles ([RP]).
All in all, pickles don’t last forever, but it’s not like they’re going to spoil soon after the date on the label.
How Long Are Pickles Good For?
Unopened pickles retain quality for about 2 years of pickling (or a year past the date on the label). Once you open the jar, pickles taste best for about 2 to 4 months, possibly more if you’re into really sour dill pickles. For pickles that you buy in bulk from a barrel, eat them within a week.
The truth is, there isn’t a one time frame everyone agrees upon when it comes to both unopened and opened pickles. Everyone has their own estimates.
Because of that, assume the date on the label is for the best quality, and the longer pickles sit in storage, the sourer they’ll become.
If you’re a regular pickles eater (like me), you’ll find pickles that are about a year past their date okay taste-wise, but ones that are like 4 or 5 years old will be way too sour for your palate. Open the jar and give one a taste to check if the flavor is acceptable.
How Long Do Pickles Last Once Opened?
Open pickles taste best for 1 to 2 months if you refrigerate them but will likely stay good-enough for eating for another month or two. It all depends on how sour pickles you still find acceptable.
There isn’t one correct answer here. Some producers recommend eating their pickles within two months ([RP]), while others say they’ll last “as long as it takes for you to eat them” ([RD]).
The thing to remember here is that open pickles continue becoming sourer, so the longer they sit in storage after opening, the harsher the taste.
How To Store Pickles
Store unopened pickles in a dark, cool, and dry place. The pantry or a cupboard in the kitchen is perfectly fine, and so is the fridge.
After you open up the jar, keep it in the refrigerator, sealed tightly. The same thing with pickles you buy in bulk – they should sit in a plastic container or bag refrigerated.
Most pickles, unlike sauerkraut, don’t require refrigeration as long as the jar is unopened. But if you grabbed your jar from the refrigerated section, make sure you always refrigerate them.
Once you open your pickles, you should refrigerate them and make sure every single cucumber is submerged in brine ([RD]). If it’s not, it might grow mold or darken after a couple of weeks.
If there’s a spoiled pickle in your jar, you can toss it out and enjoy the remainder ([RP]).
Do You Have To Refrigerate Open Pickles?
No, but storing them in the fridge is the recommended method for a reason.
If you leave them out after opening, the fermentation will speed up, and they will become much sourer much faster than in the fridge. They might become too sour to eat in a matter of a week or two. Plus, any pickles not covered by the brine will grow mold within days.
That also means that accidentally leaving open pickles out overnight isn’t that big of a deal. Just put them back in the fridge, and all is well and good.
What if you left out pickles at a warm temperature for a few hours and there’s carbonation in the jar?
Place the lid loosely on the jar, and put it in the refrigerator for a few days. The loose fit should allow any carbon dioxide to escape, and the fizz should be gone ([RP]).
Summary
- Pickles don’t really go bad or expire, but they become sourer over time. At some point, they’ll be too acidic to eat.
- For best quality, finish dill pickles within a year of their date, or 3 to 4 months of opening the jar. If you’re into super sour pickles, you can double those estimates.
- Pickles without any brine (e.g., bought in bulk) keep for about a week.
- Unopened pickles should sit in a cool and dark place. Once you open the jar, keep it sealed and refrigerated. The same applies to dill pickles you buy in bulk – store them in a plastic bag or container in the fridge.
References
FAQs
Pickles can go bad, but even so, they are rarely a cause for food safety concerns. Try and use up your pickles within three months of purchase, if you can. And be on the look out for any off colors, tastes, smells or textures—let your senses be your guide!
Do pickles expire or go bad? ›
"Pickles will eventually spoil if given enough time. Some may think the acid will prevent mold from growing, but given enough time, the mold will prevail." Tiner says the pickle brine has a lot to do with pickles lasting up to a year past the "use by date".
Can you eat 5 year old pickles? ›
Canned Goods Canned goods typically have an Expiration Date. Low-acid canned foods such as vegetables like peas or carrots can last anywhere from two to five years. High acid canned foods such as citrus fruits, pickles, or tomatoes can last 12 to 18 months.
What causes pickles to go 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 to tell if pickle juice is bad? ›
If the juice turns cloudy, or if it develops an off smell or taste, it's time to discard it. Also check for bubbles or fizziness, this signals that it's fermenting, which is not desirable in pickle juice. Always make sure to use a clean spoon when scooping out pickle juice.
Does pickle in a bag expire? ›
Van Holten's Pickle-In-A-Pouch varieties are fermented and shelf-stable for up to 2 years after manufacture date.
What does mold on pickles look like? ›
If you found a different substance on top of the vegetables—green, black, red, or pink, in raised fuzzy spots—don't panic. While those spots are mold, you may be able to dispose of this layer and have perfectly good fermented vegetables below the brine.
Can you eat 15 year old pickles? ›
Pickled Items
Pickled cucumbers, peppers, beets or other vegetables are good for one to two years past their best before date, whether opened or unopened and can be stored in the refrigerator or pantry. They may lose their crunch over time, but are still safe to consume.
Can you eat 30 year old pickles? ›
An unopened jar of pickles should be OK for years. If it wasn't well packed, or the jar has been opened, it's still safe to eat, indefinitely. The salt and acid will no allow the growth of harmful bacteria, but the pickles will lose their shape and texture. You will eventually have pickle mush.
What foods can you not eat after the expiration date? ›
But things like milk, cheese, fresh vegetables, and fruit should not be eaten past their prime because they can harbor bacteria that can be dangerous to your body, This is caused by the natural breakdown of organic matter. You'll also be able to tell that these foods have gone bad based on their appearance and smell.
Pickled-caused food poisoning is very rare. "With a fresh pickle like ours, if you see the top of the lid domed up or bubbled, this typically means the product has fermented and gone bad," says Eddie Andre, director of brand experience at Grillo's Pickles.
How to tell if pickles have botulism? ›
the container is leaking, bulging, or swollen; the container looks damaged, cracked, or abnormal; the container spurts liquid or foam when opened; or. the food is discolored, moldy, or smells bad.
What is the white stuff floating in my pickle jar? ›
When fermenting vegetables, it is common to notice a white layer forming on top of the liquid after a few days. Often this white film is mistaken for mold, and the entire ferment is discarded. However, the white film is usually a type of yeast known as kahm yeast.
Do unopened pickles expire? ›
How long do canned pickles last? If the jars are properly heat-processed, both homemade and commercially sealed pickles can sit unopened at room temperature for years, says Julie Laing, author of The Complete Guide to Pickling. But eating them sooner will ensure the best texture and flavor.
Can bacteria grow in pickle juice? ›
Some pickle juice contains probiotics, sources of bacteria that can help promote a healthy gut. The pickle juice with probiotics comes from cucumbers packed in a solution of salt water, also referred to as brine, and allowed to set until bacteria grow and consume most of the carbohydrates in the cucumber.
Why do pickle jars not 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.
Why pickles have a long shelf life and do not get spoiled for months? ›
Salt and oil do not allow moisture and air to enter the material and hence bacteria cannot thrive on them. Therefore, pickles do not get spoiled for months together. Q.
How long do opened pickles last unrefrigerated? ›
Like most other foods, pickles should be left out on the counter for no more than two hours. Despite being preserved in brine, bacteria can still form in the pickle jar. Even in two hours, pickles' texture can start to change. Warm temperatures cause pickles to soften and lose their crunchy texture.
Are refrigerator pickles safe? ›
Cautions about Refrigerator Pickles
For many years, refrigerator pickles have been regarded as very safe. However, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recent studies have concluded that Listeria monocytogenes survive and multiply in low-acid, refrigerator pickles for several months.
Are floating pickles bad? ›
Floating happens to the best of us. As long as your seal is tight and your headspace the right amount, you should not have to worry about it other than a possible loss of colour in the fruit at the top of the float. Exposed parts can become tougher and less tasty.
