10 PICKLES & CONDIMENTS

PICKLES & CONDIMENTS

PICKLING—NOT JUST FOR CUCUMBERS

When you think of pickling, you probably immediately think of cucumber pickles. However, pickling is not just for cucumbers. Pickling is simply the preserving of foods (many different foods) in an acid, often vinegar. Spices and/or sweeteners are added for flavor.

Pickles are processed in a water bath canner. The acidic environment prevents bacterial growth, making the food safe to process in a water bath canner. There are several different methods for making pickles. spicy touch.

Brined or Fermented Pickles

Fermenting is a form of pickling. The food to be pickled is soaked in a salty brine to ferment or cure. This is the most timeconsuming method. Brining time can vary from a couple of days to several weeks.

Fresh Pack Pickles

This is also known as quick process. These pickles are packed in a vinegar solution. They can be brined from a processed and allowed to sit for up to several weeks to allow flavors to develop. Quick and easy, this is the type of pickle that I prefer most often.

Relish

Relishes are a combination of vegetables or fruits that are chopped and packed in a vinegar solution. Sweeteners or spices are added for flavor. Relishes can be sweet, or hot peppers can be added for a few hours to overnight. They are then

Fruit Pickles

Fruits are brined in sweet-and-sour syrup, usually made with vinegar and sugar.

Sauces & Condiments

Sauces include ketchup, chili sauce, barbeque sauce, and more.