Expert: Carol Schlitt - 9/30/2007

Question
I just received a recipe for over night dill pickles. I'm wondering what the time limit might be for keeping overnight dills. If I make up a batch, it may be up to a week before we consume them.

Answer
Hi Glenn,

If you are referring to a recipe that recommends placing pickles into a jar and then placing the jar into a canner of boiling water, turn off the canner and then allow the jars to sit in the water overnight -- I can not recommend this recipe for several reasons.

First the method of preserving the pickles is not adequate to ensure a seal. All pickles should be canned using research-based and tested recipes and canning methods, and this overnight recipe is not such a recipe.

Pickle products are subject to spoilage from microorganisms, particularly yeasts and molds, as well as enzymes that may affect flavor, color, and texture. Processing the pickles in a boiling-water canner will prevent both of these problems.

For research-tested dill pickle recipes, please check out this website:  http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/can6b_pickle.html

For a tested recipe for quick-pack dill pickles, see this recipe:  http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/can_06/quick_dill_pickles.html

Carol