In a pickle

[JustJustine]

Hello all, I'm a newbie on site and to preserving! Last week I began my xmas hamper making but something's not looking good on the side of my pickle jars.... Just uploading the pic for your all to see. Any ideas what it is? Is this batch ruined?
lol silly me the pic is wrong way n I don't kno how to move it around, pls view my pic upside down LOL In a pickle indeed x

[roitelet]

Do you mean the white deposit round the caps?

[mrbadexample]

I can't see anything wrong with them. If anything, they make me fancy a pickled onion!

[JustJustine]

Do you mean the white deposit round the caps?

Yes the weird white stuff. Any ideas?

[roitelet]

What vinegar did you use and did you dilute it with water?

[SarzWix]

What was your process from start to finish? Did you salt them or soak them in salt water first? And for how long?

[JustJustine]

Okay this is what I did....
. peeled pickling onions (no soaking/ washing with water)
. Placed into sterilised jars
. Followed a recipe by adding pickling spice and white wine vinegar to the jars of pickles
. Sealed jars
. Shook the jars daily (admittedly one did leek on the first shake so reopened and adjusted rubber band)

I haven't tasted these 1week old pickles. Any volunteers to be my guinea pig?

[JustJustine]

What vinegar did you use and did you dilute it with water?

Did Not dilute with water, is that the pickling "norm"?

[rustylady]

Should maybe have sprinkled the onions with salt overnight and rinsed with clean water before jarring and adding spiced vinegar.

This draws excess moisture out of the onions.

[JustJustine]

Rustylady, I'm going to start again.
Does anybody has a tried and tested recipe I may have pls?!
The white looking stuff on the jars is very mould like so can't give thm away as Xmas presents. I jus don't kno what's growing on the outside and why. I would hate for this to happen to my 2nd batch

[rustylady]

Here's one recipe BBC - Food - Recipes : Pickled onions If you google you will find loads more.

[roitelet]

Some receipes say to use some water with the vinegar but I think that it reduces the acid too much so never do it.

Here is a receipe that I use and it is always sucessful.

Sweet pickled onions

Put the onions or shallots on a plate and sprinkle well with salt leave for 12 hours.
Wipe off all the moisture and pack in jars with sprigs of tarragon and a peice of red or green pepper.
Add one teaspoon of whole mixed pickling spice to each jar.
Boil the vinegar with the sugar at the ratio of 6oz white sugar to 1.25pints vinegar.
Pour into the jars and cover.

I use Lidl's brown vinegar and keep them 6 months before eating. These are not too strong and even the French keep asking for the recipe!

BTW there is no need to use the expensive Le Parfait jars. Old chutney jars will do as they have vinegar proof lids. If you dont have any then use any jar with a wide neck and before putting the lid on put a jam skin on and this works just as well.