Quick Answers
What causes soft and slippery pickles?
Soft or slippery pickles often indicate spoilage, so
discard them. This can result from using moldy or
diseased cucumbers, growth of undesirable microorganisms
resulting from too little acid or too little salt, brine
not covering cucumbers during fermentation, scum not
removed during fermentation, using moldy spices or
garlic, or from a poor seal due to insufficient heat
treatment. Soft pickles can also result from using
overripe cucumbers, failing to remove the blossom end,
over-processing, or storing pickles too long at elevated
temperatures (75-95 degrees F.). Using a salad or
slicing cucumber rather than a pickling variety can also
cause soft pickles.
Barbara Willenberg, Nutritional Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia
Last update: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
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