Pickles are a delicious and healthy addition to your sandwiches and burgers, or just for a quick and easy snack with a snap. But have you ever taken a bite from a pickle that just didn't taste right? We spoke with a pickle expert to find out if pickles go bad, and how to make sure you're storing them correctly.
Do pickles go bad?
Yes. Like any other food, pickles can go bad. No matter what veggie is being pickled, whether it's a classic cucumber, snap peas or even mini bell peppers, they can go bad for a couple reasons:
- Age: Like any food, pickles won't last forever. But they may be consumed past the "Best- by" date if no signs of spoiling are present (more on that below).
- Improper storage: If your pickles haven't been properly stored, especially after opening, this can lead to faster spoilage.
How to tell if pickles have gone bad?
Here are a few signs your pickles are a little too far gone:
- Visible mold: This is an obvious sign that your pickles have gone bad.
- Unusually sour taste and smell: If things smell and taste a bit more sour than usual, in an unpleasant way, this may not be a good sign. If you're not liking the taste anyway, it may be time to toss those pickles.
- Off colors and textures: If your pickles are looking mushy with off coloring and the brine isn't looking as clear as usual, it's time to say goodbye.
- Bulging jar: This could mean your pickles were not sealed properly and there is carbon dioxide present, an indicator that they have begun to ferment or that harmful bacteria may be present.
That being said, there haven't been any food-borne illnesses reported from commercial pickles in the U.S. for much of the past 50 years, according to the USDA. Pickled-caused food poisoning is very rare.
"With a fresh pickle like ours, if you see the top of the lid domed up or bubbled, this typically means the product has fermented and gone bad," says Eddie Andre, director of brand experience at Grillo's Pickles. "This can happen with our pickles due to temperature abuse (getting warm) or too much oxygen in the jar causing the pickles to ferment at a much faster rate. This happens because we make everything cold and fresh to order without boiling or pasteurizing our product." If your pickle juice is fizzy like soda, this also is an indicator it has begun to fermented and go bad.
How to store pickles
For fresh pickles, like Grillo's, that are carried in the refrigerated section of your grocery store, make sure they stay in the refrigerator at home before and after opening (cold temperatures prevent fermentation). "As long as the pickles are kept cold, they can last upwards of 75 days unopened in the fridge," Andre shares.
Once opened, any pickles should be stored in the fridge, submerged in brine, to maintain freshness for at least up to three months, according to the USDA. On a shelf in your refrigerator's door is a common place to store jarred items, but inside the fridge where you can ensure your pickles stay cold may be a better spot. Though it's not necessary, you can store unopened pickle jars in the fridge if you have the room, but the pantry is also just fine.
And just in case you can't eat all of your pickles in the fridge before they start turning bad, freezing them can be an option. However, Grillo's "wouldn't recommend it." Andre says, "If Grillo's freeze, they tend to become transparent and get very mushy. We do, however, encourage freezing the brine and making pickle juice pops!" (But not if your salt sensitive!)
What if I ate expired pickles?
Even if your pickles are past the marked date, as long as there are no obvious signs of spoilage, you'll likely be okay if they have been properly stored. But just because there are no visible signs of spoilage, the quality still may not be up to par with what you're used to. "We wouldn't encourage eating expired pickles because the taste alone wouldn't represent the quality of our product," says Andre.
But if you see even one of the above signs present and the pickles aren't yet past their expiration date (or if they have passed the expiration date), it may be time to toss them and make sure you adhere to proper storage guidelines for your next jar.
Bottom line
Pickles can go bad, but even so, they are rarely a cause for food safety concerns. Try and use up your pickles within three months of purchase, if you can. And be on the look out for any off colors, tastes, smells or textures—let your senses be your guide!
Now that you've increased your pickle knowledge, dredge them in a breadcrumb mix to make Oven-Fried Pickles, which pair perfectly with herby sour cream, or, if you have an air-fryer, try these Crispy Air-Fryer Pickle Chips.
FAQs
"Pickles will eventually spoil if given enough time. Some may think the acid will prevent mold from growing, but given enough time, the mold will prevail." Tiner says the pickle brine has a lot to do with pickles lasting up to a year past the "use by date".
How do you know if pickles are spoiled? ›
Visible mold: This is an obvious sign that your pickles have gone bad. Unusually sour taste and smell: If things smell and taste a bit more sour than usual, in an unpleasant way, this may not be a good sign. If you're not liking the taste anyway, it may be time to toss those pickles.
Is it safe to eat expired pickles? ›
If it feels very soft and mushy, or the texture is different than usual, they're definitely not safe to eat. If you're ever unsure or if you feel like your pickles might be bad, it's always better to err on the side of caution. Remember, to avoid foodborne illness — when in doubt, throw it out.
How long do refrigerator pickles last? ›
How long do refrigerator pickles last? Homemade refrigerated pickles last at least three to four weeks in the fridge, McClellan says. Any longer and the quality will start to decline. You'll notice the brine goes from clear to murky and cloudy, and the pickles start to lose their texture.
Are refrigerator pickles safe? ›
Cautions about Refrigerator Pickles
For many years, refrigerator pickles have been regarded as very safe. However, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recent studies have concluded that Listeria monocytogenes survive and multiply in low-acid, refrigerator pickles for several months.
Can you get food poisoning from bad pickles? ›
Conversely, asazuke lightly pickled pickles, popular in recent years, have a low salt concentration and are only somewhat fermented, which can allow food poisoning-inducing bacteria to continue to survive and multiply. These kinds of pickles do not keep long.
Are 2 year old pickles still good? ›
An unopened jar of pickles can be stored at room temperature (i.e., the pantry) or in the fridge for up to two years past the expiration date. Once opened, pickles will stay fresh for roughly the same length of time as long as they are stored in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container.
Do jarred pickles expire? ›
Once you've opened the jar, you can refrigerate the pickles for one to three months. Unopened pickle jars can be refrigerated for up to 12 months. However, they may still be good past their expiration date if stored properly. Your best bet is to seal the jar before placing it in the fridge.
Why do pickle jars not say pickles? ›
Olive all use the term on their websites, in advertisem*nts, and in the product descriptions of their pickle varieties. When asked why the word isn't on the front of the jars, all three companies provided nearly the same answer: They feel the word “pickle” isn't necessary on pickles packaged in clear glass containers.
Does pickle brine go bad? ›
But does pickle brine ever go bad? The short answer is yes, pickle brine will eventually go bad. “All items have a shelf life," Bec says. "So I would not hold onto it for more than one to two months after consuming the pickled product."
Salt and oil do not allow moisture and air to enter the material and hence bacteria cannot thrive on them. Therefore, pickles do not get spoiled for months together.
Can pickles go bad without refrigeration? ›
Despite what you may have heard, pickles in a jar do indeed go bad. According to Can It Go Bad?, an unopened jar of unrefrigerated pickles can sit on a room-temperature shelf out of direct sunlight for 2 years. Once opened, the pickles can spoil, but this process is slower than with other perishable foods.
How do you know if refrigerator pickles are still good? ›
Pickles can go bad if not properly stored, so look out for the following signs to see if your pickles have spoiled:
- Visible mold.
- Discoloration of brine or pickles.
- A bad smell when opening the container.
- Texture change.
Refrigerator pickles, or quick pickles. These guys aren't shelf-stable (meaning that they need to stay chilled in the refrigerator rather than at room temperature), and they won't last as long as canned pickles, but then again they don't need to because they are so delicious, crisp, and versatile.
How long can you keep quick pickles? ›
Quick pickles are not shelf stable and must be stored in the refrigerator, where they will last for up to one month. The exception being onions and shallots which will last in the fridge for about two weeks.
What does botulism look like in pickles? ›
In any type of pickle you have placed into a jar, a bulging lid is a sign of spoilage and possibly botulism. If you see this, discard the pickles, regardless if they smell bad or not. This is due to the gas given off by the bacteria.
Can you get botulism from pickling? ›
Making sure enough vinegar is added to the cucumbers is important to make safe pickles; Clostridium botulinum can grow in improperly canned, pickled foods with a pH higher than 4.6. It is critical to use scientifically tested recipes for making pickles to ensure their safety.
Can pickles in a jar go bad after opened? ›
While pickles have a shorter shelf-life after they're opened, that does not mean they are particularly delicate. Pickles brined in a solution with a higher vinegar content are likely to last longer, though any opened jar of pickles will start to show signs of deterioration after a few months.
What does mold on pickles look like? ›
If you found a different substance on top of the vegetables—green, black, red, or pink, in raised fuzzy spots—don't panic. While those spots are mold, you may be able to dispose of this layer and have perfectly good fermented vegetables below the brine.
