Pickled Onions

[jackie j]

I bought some pickling onins as I didnt grow any, I peeled them and sprinkled salt on like mum did and left them overnight, I have put them in jars and added pickling vinegar but as I was putting them in the jars I noticed that they are soft. Should they be like this ? I am worried now cos I hate soft onions.

[shirlthegirl43]

I soaked mine in salted water for 48 hours. They are a little soft but they seem pretty popular anyhoo. It is my first try at pickling so I wasn't sure if it was right for them to be softer than commercial ones.

[BrideXIII]

i bought mine too, they were a little softer, only soaked them in salt for 24 hours, but they blow my head off, yes i know i wasn't supposed to open them until xmas, but i couldn't resist those brown shiny balls, and they taste sensational, i couldn't get any sarson so bought a large 'can' from the green grocers of 'suitable for pickling' but unspiced and spiced it myself yummy!

[jackie j]

Oh well will have to wait and see, no doubt my sister will find fault with them !!! She has always been a better cook than me, being the eldest mum showed her what to do by the time it was my turn being the youngest she didnt have much time. You would think that as my Nan, my Mum, my Sister and my nephew ( who works for Grodon Ramsey )are or were good cooks I might have picked up something !!! not me useless at it. I normally ring my sister and ask her advice but I thought I would show her !!!

[Hilary B]

The salt takes out some water, which makes them soft. With luck the vinegar replaces the lost water, so they get firm again. If you salted them too well (or are just plain unlucky) then they may not fully re-crisp.

[shirlthegirl43]

So if we refrain from eating them too early they may get crispier again? Great news thanks I will hide some jars!

[BrideXIII]

So if we refrain from eating them too early they may get crispier again? Great news thanks I will hide some jars!

too late here they are nice and crispy though.

[shirlthegirl43]

I bought a load more to pickle yesterday - just need to brace myself for the peeling bit now!! (Time to try the contact lenses again methinks)

[BrideXIII]

I bought a load more to pickle yesterday - just need to brace myself for the peeling bit now!! (Time to try the contact lenses again methinks)

I tried that holding a wooden spoon between your teeth, gets in the way, but I was gobsmacked, it actually works.

[shirley]

If you like your onions to bite back try putting a chilli in the vinegar with the onions.

[BrideXIII]

If you like your onions to bite back try putting a chilli in the vinegar with the onions.

yepo definitely, i put one green one red in, plus peppercorns and juniper berries and cloves, they are gorgeous, and if i hadn't just eaten chocolate ckae they would be coming back out of the fridge now, will wait till later though

[shirlthegirl43]

Is there an 'optimum' length of time to keep them for the flavours to develop fully? Also, how long should I leave my pickled beetroot before I try it? (desperate for a beetroot buttie but ain't buying any)

[BrideXIII]

Is there an 'optimum' length of time to keep them for the flavours to develop fully? Also, how long should I leave my pickled beetroot before I try it? (desperate for a beetroot buttie but ain't buying any)

never done beetroot so I can't comment, the onions recipe said 3 months, but i waited a month, i would imagine by xmas the last jar which i have hidden will be nicely matured, apparently if you heat the vinegar when adding your own spices its quicker, if you add them cold you should wait the full 3 months .

[jackie j]

I used my beetroot straight away it was fine. Will let you know if its any better at christmas. All my pickles are in a cupboard where we forget I've put stuff.
So far
Courgette and Walnut Chutney
Courgette RelisH ( what makes you think I had a glut !!! )
Blackberry and Apple Chutney
Beetroot
Red Cabbage
Pickled Onions ( they are so big I could only fit approx 12 to a jar !! )
All from my plot except blackberry's, apple's and onions, I didnt know I had made so much at least 6 jars of each in various sizes.

[Hilary B]

I bought a load more to pickle yesterday - just need to brace myself for the peeling bit now!! (Time to try the contact lenses again methinks)

A neighbour of mine always brined the onions for 48 hours BEFORE peeling. I tried it one year, and it did help with the tears (a bit). If you can make sure of breathing through your mouth, not your nose (that is what most of the tricks are for) that helps too.

If you use ready-spiced vinegar, that is quickest. No reason you can't add chillies as well. I've never tried putting vinegar and spices in a blender to get the flavour out quicker (instead of heating it and losing some of the vinegar content), but I would have thought it would help.