Pickled eggs are hard-boiled eggs that are immersed in vinegar, water and spices. The more they stay in the solution, the richer they become in flavor. They are a good source of protein.
Pickling is a way to preserve eggs so that they can be eaten months later.
Pickled eggs have since become a favorite snack for many, best served with beer.
Why pickle your eggs? If you happen to boil too many eggs, more than you need at a time, the best way to preserve them is to pickle them. The acid found in the vinegar helps to prevent harmful bacteria from contaminating the eggs. After you are done pickling your eggs, how should you store them? Do pickled eggs need to be refrigerated?
Do Pickled Eggs Need to Be Refrigerated?
Yes, they do. Pickled eggs are liked by many people and are usually homemade. One of the very important reasons why it’s important to store pickled eggs in the refrigerator is because of botulinum toxin. Botulinum toxin can be found in home canning foods. They produce very dangerous toxins which can be very damaging to a person’s health. To prevent that, we recommend that you refrigerate pickled eggs.
For those that do not have time to pickle their eggs, there are company-processed ones that can be bought and eaten. These company-made pickled eggs can be stored without refrigeration for many months if they are not opened. But after opening, it’s best to eat them within one week and be refrigerated until you finish them.
How Long Do Pickled Eggs Need to Sit?
Pickled eggs that are sealed well in a plastic or glass container can last up to 4 months in the refrigerator. The time the eggs take to absorb seasoning depends on the size of the eggs. About 6 hours is needed for the eggs to start picking the flavors from the pickle juice, but often the absorption depends on the egg size. If they are small eggs, it will take a much shorter time than it would take big eggs to absorb the flavors. It also depends on personal preference. The longer the eggs sit, the stronger the flavor absorbed will be. So, if you want mildly flavored eggs, 6-7 days is okay. For stronger flavors, you will have to allow it to sit for more days.
Do Pickled Eggs Go Bad?
Pickling eggs help to extend their shelf life but they eventually go bad. However, how pickled eggs are stored is very crucial to their shelf life. If they are not covered tightly and refrigerated, they can easily get contaminated by bacteria and go bad.
Another crucial thing that makes pickled eggs go bad apart from poor storage is poking. It shortens the shelf life of the eggs. When the hard-boiled eggs are poked and go into seasoning liquid, Clostridium can enter the yolk which often grows to become food poison. When the pickled eggs contain food poison, they automatically become bad.
Read also: Raw Chicken in The Fridge for Seven Days? Here’s What Happens
How to Tell If Pickled Eggs Are Bad?
There are different ways to tell if pickled eggs have gone bad and are no longer safe to eat.
- Color: If the color of the pickled eggs has changed completely from how they were when they were first made, they have likely gone bad.
- Smell: For homemade pickled eggs, an abnormal smell may be nothing to worry about at first. Pickling changes how eggs smell. But if after some time you notice a smell that puts you off, it may be best to discard them.
- Foam: A foamy look all around the jar is normal. But when the foam effect can only be found on top of the pickling solution, it is an indication that it is no longer safe to eat.
- Swollen cover: Excess acid in the solution used to pickle the eggs can result in a swollen cover. For safety, it is best not to consume food in this state.
How Long Do Pickled Eggs Last Unrefrigerated?
Pickled eggs should be refrigerated immediately and kept refrigerated until they are used up. Pickled eggs kept at room temperature can easily cause botulism. This happens when bacteria develop in it.
So, it’s best to eat pickled eggs immediately they are ready for consumption if you don’t want to refrigerate them.
Read also: Raw Chicken in The Fridge for Three Days? Here’s What Happens
Do Pickled Eggs Need to Be Refrigerated After Opening?
Machine-sealed pickled egg jars are airtight, which makes it impossible for bacteria to develop on the food. But when the seal has been opened, it’s not possible to maintain this air-proof condition. That will make the pickled eggs prone to contamination by bacteria. The best thing to do to keep pickled eggs safe for consumption after opening is to store them in the refrigerator.
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