Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Eating and Drinking => Cooking, Storing and Preserving => Topic started by: themoog on August 13, 2010, 12:54

Title: You can't keep a good onion down
Post by: themoog on August 13, 2010, 12:54

Or at least I can't!

For the first time I'm pickling the onions from my patch which didn't make the sizing grade and I just can't get the little whatnots to stay under the liquid. I've tried packing them in every which way but to no avail.

I'm sure that this is basic stuff but I give up  :blush:. Any tips?

Title: Re: You can't keep a good onion down
Post by: compostqueen on August 13, 2010, 13:39

are you using a jar that's too big for the onions you've got?

Title: Re: You can't keep a good onion down
Post by: themoog on August 13, 2010, 13:49

I'm using the 'parfait' wide necked jars that I use for chutney and marmalade.

Title: Re: You can't keep a good onion down
Post by: compostqueen on August 13, 2010, 13:51

If you have the onions packed in the jar there should be no room for them to bob about, if you get my drift  :)

Title: Re: You can't keep a good onion down
Post by: themoog on August 13, 2010, 13:53

My onions are all different sizes. They reach the top of the jar, as does the liquid.

Should I be less delicate and give them a good squashing, try to fit in a few more?

Title: Re: You can't keep a good onion down
Post by: TheEnglishman on August 13, 2010, 14:25

Errrm - can't you just put the lid on  :unsure:

Title: Re: You can't keep a good onion down
Post by: arugula on August 13, 2010, 14:27

Quote from: themoog on August 13, 2010, 13:53

My onions are all different sizes. They reach the top of the jar, as does the liquid.

Should I be less delicate and give them a good squashing, try to fit in a few more?

That sounds like the right idea moog.

:)

Title: Re: You can't keep a good onion down
Post by: themoog on August 13, 2010, 15:56

Right, time to get tough  :D!

TheEnglishman - I have, but all things I've read on the subject say that the veg must be below the liquid level to keep.

Title: Re: You can't keep a good onion down
Post by: themoog on August 13, 2010, 16:23

OK, 20 minutes of onion-wrestling later (much to my 3 year old's amusement  :D) and I've got some improvement. A couple have bobbed back up to the surface but they'll have to do and I'll just have to keep an eye on them (devious little blighters).

Thanks for the help chaps.