Pickeld Onions

[Headfry]

ok, quick question ....

Bottled my pickled onions Monday evening, thought I would top them up with left over spiced and slightly sweetened vinegar. Opened the jars and the lids went with a bit of a 'pop' as if there was some kind of pressure in the jars - then I noticed little bubbles coming up through vinegar.....whats going on here then? are they ok???

[binley100]

Pickled onion wine .......? sounds like they may be having a little ferment. Did you add sugar to them ?

[rustylady]

Sounds as if they're fermenting. You didn't water the vinegar down, did you?

[Headfry]

Hi there and thanks for your help binley100 and rustylady - nope, I did not water it down, but I did add some sugar.
Could I drain off some sweetened vinegar and add Malt vinegar or is all lost?

[rustylady]

Adding sugar shouldn't make any difference really. Andy & Di's pickled courgette recipe uses sugar in the mix and they keep fine. Did you salt the onions before adding the vinegar and sugar?

[Headfry]

Hi Rusty lady - thanks for your help, I peeled them and sprinkled with salt - left them over night- rinsed them well and dried them well, packed them in jars, poured in sweetened spiced vinegar, with extra chillis
I have done much them same for 20 odd years now.
Vexing....?

[Mell]

Were the jars hot when you sealed them ?

[rana]

This sounds like a water issue. Either too much still in the onions or the vinegar was not strong enough.
Normally pickling onions are done in autumn. If the produce has been hanging around since then (even in the dry) the little bulbs could have absorbed water out of the air, particularly if they get warm.