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Post by Lexica on Jan 30, 2019 21:26:27 GMT
My grandmother used to make the best dill pickles on the planet. They were crunchy and tangy and I loved them. My dad and I used to get together and make up large batches of them. You know where this is going, right?
I was tossing stuff from my pantry and packing up some still usable food that I am going to give to my bff’s brother because I don’t want the hassle of moving it with me and her brother is broke.
I was very surprised to find 2 jars of dill pickles on the shelf from the last batch dad and I made. Dad had been gone for a number of years. Seven? Eight? I really want to taste a bite to see if they taste the same. With all the vinegar in there, would that be dangerous to do?
I won’t eat a whole one or anything, I am just so curious to refresh my memory with that taste. I did look at the pickles through the glass and they look normal, no weird residue in the jar or anything.
Is that totally insane and you will all be reading about my death tomorrow? I am so weird about old food and tossing things that are in the least bit questionable. I am surprising myself at how much I want to taste a bite!
eta I just googled that the manufacturer “use by” date concerns peak flavor, not safety when it comes to pickles.
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trollie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,580 
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Post by trollie on Jan 30, 2019 21:27:51 GMT
I think pickles would be fine
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anaterra
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,078
Location: Texas
Jun 29, 2014 3:04:02 GMT
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Post by anaterra on Jan 30, 2019 21:58:05 GMT
I'd probably take a bite... just to see...
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Jan 30, 2019 22:03:25 GMT
I'm not too squeamish about stuff like this if no meat or dairy is involved. I would smell it and then try a nibble. And if it was good, I'd probably stick it in the fridge to eat after I saw I didn't get food poisoning or die.
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jan 30, 2019 22:04:42 GMT
I don't think you can necessarily see botulism spores... This site says home canned foods generally have a one year shelf life, and should be used within two years. High acid foods (vinegar is an acid) have a lower shelf life. So I would not eat 7-8 year old home canned pickles. |
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Post by Crack-a-lackin on Jan 30, 2019 22:45:09 GMT
Hmmm...I would have said yes because I swear we had pickle jars around for years but not after reading Eddie’s link. Bummer because I would really want to taste them again, too.
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Post by Zee on Jan 30, 2019 22:51:26 GMT
I wouldn't eat them because I think at that age, they'd taste horrible and probably would no longer be crunchy.
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Post by FuzzyMutt on Jan 30, 2019 22:57:06 GMT
My Gram and Pap used to make the best breadn butter pickles. I can actually imagine a chipped ham sandwich piled high with them and a huge tomato from his garden... I understand the urge to try them!
I know for a fact Gram never made them after Pap passed, and she passed about 10 years later. We all met up in her apartment after her funeral (many of us lived out of state) while my Uncle worked off of a piece of paper she had that listed who got specifically what. Then everyone took turns choosing the other things in her tiny apartment that we wanted. One of my Uncles used his first turn to claim the last jars of pickles, sauce, corn etc she had left. Then he cracked one open and we all shared it. That was the last time we were together. (No one died... lol)
That said, they didn't taste the same. I don't know if they'd turned, or if emotional memory made them better on those sandwiches on Sunday afternoons with Pap, but even if I knew they were safe- I wouldn't do it. Hugs!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 30, 2024 9:35:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2019 22:58:17 GMT
The vinegar would help preserve them but I'm not sure if it would after 7 or 8 years though. Have a small bite and see. I wouldn't think that a small taste would harm you.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jan 31, 2019 0:20:45 GMT
Nope. They would be all squishy and gross after all this time! We have a jar of pickle spears in our fridge that I bought last summer at Costco that have a Use By date of last August. I’ve never seen that before on a jar of pickles you buy off the shelf, but these are the kind that are already refrigerated when you buy them. DD has eaten some of them (they weren’t opened at all until maybe a couple weeks ago) but they are starting to look like they’re losing their snap. I won’t eat them because I don’t like pickles enough to chance it but she said they were still fine. 🤨
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Post by Lexica on Jan 31, 2019 0:55:23 GMT
I do have my grammy’s recipe, although it wasn’t written very well. Even Dad struggled to read her handwriting and her amounts were in handfuls and pinches, the way she cooked. I am pretty sure I am the only family member with it. And I know for a fact that I am the only one who made them with my dad. It’s funny, we also made a huge batch of pierogi every Christmas and I was the only one to help with those other than my son who wanted to learn from his grandpa. I even have a video of grandpa teaching him to make them now that I think of it. I bet he would love to see that. Those are another tradition that will end now, unless my son is interested.
I guess I will have to settle for opening one of the jars and taking a good long sniff - assuming I don’t see anything floating on the surface. I’m actually surprised that their lids are still on tight and hadn’t blown. Once I get settled into a new place, I will make a small batch instead of risking ruining the memory with mushy pickles or barfing.
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