You can freeze pickle juice! You may be skeptical, but you can freeze both homemade and commercial pickled juice. To freeze pickle juice, simply pour the juice into a jar and place it in the fridge.
That’s it! The pickle juice will stay fresh until you are ready to use it, at which time you can remove it from the fridge and enjoy.
Why would someone want to freeze pickle juice?
Some people prefer to make their own homemade pickles or other items that require a brine solution before soaking.
The freezing of the brine solution makes them easy to store and use. People also like to make homemade pickle juice.
Some people make gallons of pickle juice each year for canning or fermenting, and if they do it regularly, it can be very handy to have a supply of frozen juice on hand.
I have covered more about the uses in the latter half of this article. Now let’s look at the freezing process.
What are the different ways to freeze pickle juice?
There are two ways to freeze pickle juice:
The first way, which is the most common, you simply to pour your fresh jar of pickle juice into a sealable container and freeze it.
The pickle juice will stay fresh until you are ready to use it. When you are ready to use the pickle juice, simply remove the pickle juice from the freezer and allow it to thaw for a few hours before using.
The process for freezing your own homemade pickle juice is pretty simple:
- Get your canner or a large sealable jar that holds at least 5-gallons.
- Heat 1-gallon of pickle juice on the stove or in a microwave for 30 minutes.
- Allow it to cool for an hour or so, until the temperature is below room temp.
- Put your jar of pickle juice in the refrigerator. (This step is optional, but does not take much time.)
That’s it.
Note: Homemade pickle juice will not last as long as commercially canned goods.
The second way that you can freeze pickle juice is by using vacuum sealing.
You can vacuum seal your pickle juice using any standard vacuum sealing kit.
You won’t have to worry about oxygen getting into the container, and you will be able to store your pickle juice in the freezer for long periods of time without worrying about it going bad.
The process for doing so:
- Prepare your vacuum sealing kit.
- Pour your pickle juice into a sealable container. This step is optional but will keep the bottle from drying out in the freezer.
- Vacuum seal your sealed container.
- Place in the freezer and enjoy.
How long can you keep pickle juice in the freezer?
You can freeze pickle juice for a few years when stored properly. The taste of the juice should not change, and it will remain safe to use for as long as you would like.
Some people keep their homemade pickle juice for years before using it, without any problems.
Why does pickle juice not freeze?
There are a few reasons why pickle juice will not freeze:
- The pickle juice comes into contact with oxygen. This will cause the chemical reaction to be righted and the solution to thaw. If there is a leak in the container (or if you are storing it improperly, such as in a plastic container), you will see the juice go from thick and syrupy to thin and runny.
- The glass of your pickle jar may be too thin or not thick enough to prevent the liquid from freezing to the bottom of the jar. This will cause your pickle juice to freeze to the bottom of the jar, and while it still technically “freezes” you will have a hard time getting it out when you thaw it.
- You do not have a consistent temperature. When you freeze anything, you must ensure that the temperature remains constant for the substance to continue freezing.
What are the best containers to use for freezing pickle juice?
There are a couple of different types of jars that you can use for the storage of your homemade pickle juice. The two most common types are:
1) Wide mouth half-gallon and gallon jars. These are the most common jars that you see in stores, and they are easy to use with step one (heating). There are also several different types of “wide mouth” jars. When you are picking one out, make sure to read the label – some of them may be too small for your pickle juice, and you would have to heat the liquid in a microwave first.
2) Sealable glass jars. You can use these jars instead of the wide-mouth bottles, but you need to purchase a vacuum sealing kit so that it will seal properly. You can find one easily on Amazon.com if you don’t already have one.
Uses of pickle juice
Pickle Juice has many uses, including cooking, cleaning, and gardening.
Please note, that some people use pickle juice for culture only rather than food. It is up to you to decide if it is worth the expense and the time, or if it is simpler to stick with just using wine vinegar.
1) Cooking: Pickle juice has slightly higher acidity than water. So it can be used as a substitute for water in recipes that call for water; however, you need to add a little lemon juice since lemon juice also has acidity.
For example, You can make homemade pizza sauce with pickle juice, by simmering the juice with the other ingredients and using it as the base. Just add some lemon juice to balance out the acidity.
2) Cleaning: The high acidity in pickle juice also makes it very effective at cleaning your home. Here are a few ways that you can use pickle juice around your house:
- Use it as a filler for your dishwasher detergent container. (Just add enough vinegar to make it about 1/3 of the way full.)
- Clean with it. Just gently scrub it all over the kitchen and your bathroom with a scrubby pad. Let it sit for an hour or so, then wipe down with a wet rag.
3) Gardening: Pickle juice is very useful in the garden, especially when plant diseases and insects are present. If you notice that your plant is suffering from a disease or insect infestation, just kill the pest with some vinegar, and then pour a mixture of pickle juice onto the infected area.
So, now you know that you can freeze pickle juice and the different use cases. So, what are you waiting for? go ahead and make some homemade pickle juice and get it on the shelf in your freezer.
