Pickled Onions (2024)

It’s the time of year when pickled onions are readily available. Pickling them is a simple process and they keep for months in a vinegar solution, always at the ready to serve on a cheese platter or ploughman’s lunch. There are few things more warming in winter than a bowl of steaming hot soup and fresh crusty bread with cheese and pickled onions.

In the following recipe, you can use any type of vinegar – white, dark malt or cider. Keep in mind that dark malt vinegar (which gives the strongest flavour) is not suitable for people who are gluten intolerant or have Coeliac disease.

Pickled Onions

Brining solution

200g cooking salt

2 litres water (3 cups boiling and 5 cups cold)

1.75 to 2kg pickling onions, peeled

Spiced vinegar

7½ cups vinegar

20g allspice berries

20g peppercorns

A few cloves

2 bay leaves

¾ cup sugar

To make brining solution, combine salt and boiling water and stir until the salt is dissolved, then stir in the cold water. Allow to cool, add onions and weigh down with a plate or similar and set aside for 24 hours.

Combine vinegar, spices and sugar in a saucepan and bring just to boiling point. Cover saucepan with a lid, then leave to infuse for at least 3 hours to infuse. Strain through a sieve. Set aside to cool completely.

Drain the brining solution from the onions, then rinse. Pack onions into sterilised jars to within 2.5cm of top of each jar. Each jar should contain 650g onions approximately. It’s important to keep the proportions right so that there is enough vinegar in each jar to preserve the onions effectively.

Pour cooled spiced vinegar over onions, ensuring that onions are completely covered. Each jar should contain about 3 cups of the spiced vinegar.

If onions float to the surface, place a crumpled piece of baking paper in top of each jar and press into the vinegar, making sure there are no air pockets underneath. After a few days this can be removed as onions will have absorbed the vinegar and should stay submerged.

Seal immediately and store in a cool, dry and dark place for 2 months before using.

Pickled Onions (2024)

FAQs

How long do pickled onions last in vinegar? ›

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.

Are pickled onions still healthy? ›

Not only are pickled red onions delicious but they are full of health benefits as well. Onions are one of the most important horticultural crops that is extensively used as a food and in medicinal applications. More than 64 million tons are grown each year worldwide.

Why do pickled onions go bad? ›

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.

Can bacteria multiply in pickled onions? ›

Pickling solutions are typically highly acidic, with a pH of 4.6 or lower, and high in salt, preventing enzymes from working and micro-organisms from multiplying.

How long do homemade pickled onions last in a jar? ›

If using the quick method, pickled onions will last up to one month in the fridge. If you have used the slow method, store the onions in the fridge for up to two months.

How long should you leave pickled onions before eating? ›

Seal the jars and leave to cool. The onions will be ready to eat after about 1 month or better if kept for 2. Once opened store in the fridge.

Are pickled onions good for your liver? ›

2. Good for heart health, can lower blood pressure, and reduce risk of heart disease and stroke 3. It's an antioxidant that benefits the liver and helps protect against cancer 4. Contain many nutrients such a phosphorus, potassium, folate/vitamin B9 5.

Why are pickled onions so addictive? ›

Because it is high in salt, this plays a major factor in pickled products' addictive nature . It could also indicate a sign of low blood pressure. 'Pickle juice is also popular with those following a ketogenic diet as they may need more sodium to manage electrolyte balance,' says Shona Wilkinson, aka DR VEGAN.

Are pickled onions anti-inflammatory? ›

Aside from giving your meals a flavor boost, onions are teeming with nutrients down to the core. Each layer is abundant with anti-inflammatory properties, vitamins and nutrients.

How to tell if pickled onions are bad? ›

If they give off an off-putting or sour smell, it's best to discard them. Additionally, if you spot any signs of mold, it's time to say goodbye. Changes in color from vibrant pink to brown or a slime-like texture are also indicators of spoilage.

Can you eat too many pickled onions? ›

Eating a whole jar of pickled onions is not necessarily bad, but it is not recommended. Pickled onions are high in sodium, so eating too many of them can lead to high blood pressure and other health problems. Additionally, pickled onions can be acidic, which can irritate the stomach.

Why are my pickled onions fizzing? ›

“A lot of times when microorganisms grow, as part of the fermentation process they produce carbon dioxide gas,” she says. “And so definitely don't eat anything that's discolored or fizzing.”

Can you eat a whole jar of pickled onions? ›

If you are planning to eat a whole jar of pickled onions, it is important to do so in moderation and to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

What culture eats pickled onions? ›

Pickled red onions in bitter orange juice are especially emblematic of Yucatán cuisine, where they are used as a garnish or condiment, especially for seafood. In Switzerland, they are served to accompany raclette, along with pickled gherkins.

Why does onion turn pink in vinegar? ›

According to culinary scientist Jessica Gavin, the anthocyanins (or coloring pigment) in the red onions react with the acid in the hot pickling liquid to turn the onions a radiant pink.

Does pickled vinegar go bad? ›

However, vinegar is essentially self-preserving and doesn't technically expire. Providing it is stored properly, it can be used indefinitely. But it is still worth checking the recommended best before date of individual vinegars to achieve optimal flavour.

Does vinegar onion expire? ›

Fermented pickled red onions contain high amounts of good probiotics and digestive enzymes. Maintaining a healthy gut flora can aid your digestion and overall energy levels. Pickle Expiry: Shelf life: 1 Month Once opened: Handling Instruction: Packed in Glass Bottle.

How long do pickles in vinegar last? ›

That's right — pickles don't last forever and can go bad within weeks of opening the jar. Cucumbers are pickled in vinegar or brine, which prevents bacterial growth. After that, they should be stored at 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit for three to four weeks, according to the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

Are onions pickled in vinegar good for you? ›

Pickled red onions can be part of a healthy diet. Adding fermented foods to your diet helps with a healthy gut.

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