Can You Freeze Pickles?

Last updated on October 4th, 2022 at 02:26 pm

So, you enjoy pickles a lot. You eat them straight out of the jar, on burgers, and on anything that can handle the sour tasting food. Recently you have accumulated quite a few pickles and need to store them so they won’t go bad. But, how can you do this? 

You know that a great way to preserve certain foods is by freezing them. This can keep food good for months or years. So, since you have so many pickles that you don’t want to go bad, can you save them for later by putting them in the freezer? 

Can you freeze pickles?

You can freeze pickles to save them for later. This is great if you have a lot of pickles that you don’t want to go bad since pickles can be frozen for up to 6 months. When stored properly, the pickles will stay good until you want to eat them much later on.

Pickles have been enjoyed by many for several years. They are eaten alone, on sandwiches, in potato salad, and so much more. Pickles are actually cucumbers. The cucumbers are pickled (meaning they are preserved in vinegar or brine) to make these sour snacks. 

A popular food, It is estimated that Americans eat about 20 million pickles every year. If you enjoy eating pickles, you may buy more than one jar at a time. However, eventually, these pickles will go bad if just stored in the refrigerator. 

If you aren’t going to eat them all before their expiration date, what do you do? You freeze them! Yes, pickles can be frozen to keep them good and save them for later. If you freeze them the right way they will last for a while. Then all you have to do is thaw them and enjoy them on your burger, hot dog, or however you like to eat pickles.

Freezing is a great way to preserve foods and if you have a lot of pickles you want to save, you can freeze them!

Can Store Bought Pickles Be Frozen?

So, pickles can be frozen. But, does this include all pickles? You can make your own pickles at home, or buy pickles from your local grocery store. 

What about store bought pickles? Can these be frozen?

Store bought pickles can be frozen. Pickles can be frozen for many weeks and months and are even safe to eat up to a year after being frozen. Pickles can lose some quality after being frozen but you can freeze store bought pickles.

Any pickles can be frozen. Whether you make them yourself at home or buy them at the store, pickles can be stored in the freezer until you want to use them later. Over time, pickles kept in the freezer will lose some of their quality. 

But even though they may not be as fresh, the pickles will stay good to eat for several months. So, if you want to freeze store bought pickles, you can!

How Long Can You Keep Refrigerated Pickles?

Just like all other food, pickles eventually go bad. Like we said earlier, freezing keeps them good for longer but most of the time we store pickles in the fridge. So, how long can you keep refrigerated pickles for?

Pickles that are opened will only last for about 1 to 2 months however, unopened pickles can still stay good for a year or two. Freezing opened pickles can help them to last for many months. If pickles have gone bad, there will be some signs of spoilage.

When pickles go bad, they will smell bad, taste bad, and become discolored. They will also have a change in the vinegar/brine texture, bubbling in the jar with bulging lids and be past its expiration date. If you notice any of these signs of spoilage, toss the pickles. 

Unopened pickles can last for about two years when stored properly at room temperature. But once opened they must be refrigerated. Once they are in the fridge, the pickles last for about 1 to 2 months before they start to go bad. 

Can You Freeze Pickles In Ziploc Bags?

There is a correct way to freeze pickles to keep them good. We know that you can freeze them but, does it matter what container you freeze them in? All you have on hand are Ziploc bags. Can you freeze pickles in a  Ziploc bag?

You can freeze pickles in a Ziploc bag. This can save space in the freezer since it isn’t as big as a jar or container. There are also other ways to freeze pickles. By freezing pickles properly, you can keep them good for longer.

So, you can freeze pickles in Ziploc bags. This is great for saving room in your freezer since the bags can be easily stacked side by side or flat. However, it is recommended to freeze pickles in small containers. You can use plastic airtight containers or glass jars. 

Before freezing the pickles, wash and portion them out. Place them in a bag, container, or glass jar (glass jars are recommended for freezing pickles in), and remember to leave some room at the top for expansion. You should do this whether you are using a bag, container, or glass jar for storing the pickles so it doesn’t burst when it is frozen. 

If using a Ziploc bag, remove as much air as possible. Then seal the container or bag, label it with the current date so you know when you put them in the freezer, and freeze until you want to use them.

So, yes, you use a Ziploc bag to freeze pickles in.

How Do You Preserve Pickles?

Pickles are a favorite for many. They can be eaten by themselves or used to top other foods like sandwiches for a tasty meal. If you are wanting to store pickles and preserve them for a later time, how do you go about doing this? 

How do you preserve pickles?

The best way to preserve pickles is to keep them unopened in the jars from the store or for you to can your own pickles. Pickles that you put and seal into glass jars properly can last for many years with many people still reporting them as edible after many years (although I personally wouldn’t recommend eating them. 

There is a correct way to preserve pickles. Unopened, you should keep them in the pantry at room temperature. Once they are opened you can store pickles in the refrigerator. And if you want to save them for longer than a few months, you can freeze the sour snacks.

Remember that the more the pickles sit, the stronger tasting they become. So the taste can get harsher and more sour the longer you keep them. Unopened pickles should be stored in the pantry and opened pickles should be stored in the fridge. If you are going to be storing them they will only last until the expiration date or a few months after being opened. 

Freezing pickles can preserve them for much longer than refrigerating does but they will lose quality over time. 

Final Thoughts

As we conclude, let’s go over some of the things we learned about storing pickles. They can be frozen and this includes store-bought pickles. Refrigerated pickles only last for a few months and so by freezing them, you can save them many more months. 

You can use a Ziploc bag to freeze pickles or you can use things like jars and containers. Preserving pickles is easy and simple to do and by following some of the helpful tips mentioned in this article on how exactly to freeze them, you can keep your pickles for up to a year in the freezer. 

So, yes, you can freeze those popular, sour pickles to enjoy them later.