Exact Answer: 12 Months To 18 Months
Refrigerator Pickles are a very popular dish that is eaten on a wide scale all around the globe.
Refrigerator Pickles are not only tasty but also increase the shelf life of different edible items. In simple words, refrigeration pickles are just some edible items kept in vinegar and stored in the refrigerator.
There are many different types of refrigerator pickles. Some of the most popular types of vegetable pickles are refrigerator pickled pepper, refrigerator pickled cabbage, pickled eggs, and refrigerator pickled corn.
How Long Do Refrigerator Pickles Last?
| Preparation method of refrigerator pickles | Time |
| Homemade refrigerator pickles | 12 months to 18 months |
| Readymade refrigerator pickles | 18 months to 24 months |
The shelf life of pickles when kept in the refrigerator depends on several factors like the type of pickles, what all ingredients are used in that pickle, packaging conditions of the pickle, and other such factors
But apart from all these factors, the major factor that determines the shelf life of pickles when kept in the refrigerator is the preparation method of the pickle.
In general conditions, the average shelf life of pickles when kept in refrigeration is about a minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 18 months.
But it must be noted that depending upon whether the pickles are homemade or readymade, their shelf life varies in the refrigerator.
On average, under normal conditions and proper storage, ready-made pickles can last easily from a minimum of 18 months to a maximum of 24 months when kept in the refrigerator.
On the other hand, homemade pickles when kept in the refrigerator can range from a minimum of 12 months to a maximum of 18 months.
The added preservatives play a vital role in increasing the shelf life of pickles when kept in the refrigerator.
Why Do Refrigerator Pickles Last That Long?
In general, homemade pickles when kept in the refrigerator have a smaller shelf life, while on the other hand, pre-made or ready-made pickles can last for a longer duration of time in the refrigerator.
The major reason behind the greater shelf life of readymade pickles when kept in the refrigerator is because such refrigeration pickles have artificially added preservatives and other such substances.
These added preservatives and such substances are synthetic and also not very healthy for health. But on the contrary, these artificially added preservatives play a vital role in increasing the shelf life of pickles when kept in the refrigerator.
The reason behind the shorter shelf life of homemade pickles when kept in the refrigerator is because these pickles do not have any artificially added preservatives or substances which work on increasing their shelf life.
Although, if an individual would want to increase the shelf life of homemade pickles, then he or she can add synthetic preservatives to the homemade refrigerator pickles.
But it is not recommended to artificially add synthetic preservatives to pickles or any other edible item because such synthetic preservatives are not very good for health.
Lastly, if a person wants to prolong the shelf life of refrigerator pickles without artificially adding synthetic preservatives and such substances then the best possible way to do that is to store them in an airtight container or a sealed bag.
Moreover, as mentioned earlier also, homemade pickles when kept in the refrigerator do not have any artificially added preservatives.
As a result, they are much more reactive to harmful bacteria and all other germs present in the atmosphere. Therefore, it becomes really important to store them in a dry and airtight container to keep them away from atmospheric agents, and most importantly moisture.
Conclusion
The best and the most appropriate time for how long refrigerator pickles would last can be known by its best before or also known as the expiry date.
That is to say that if you are buying readymade or pre-made refrigerator pickles then it is important to mark the last date or the best before the date mentioned in the packet or the jar of those refrigerator pickles.
Not just look at the best before that, but also make sure to consume the refrigerator pickles before their best before date. If consumed after the spoilage of the refrigerator pickles, it can result in serious health issues.
References
- https://meridian.allenpress.com/jfp/article-abstract/68/11/2356/171667
- http://getd.libs.uga.edu/pdfs/jordan_lindsey_l_201005_ms.pdf
I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️
