Why do pickles last so long?
Pickle's Sour Fortress
Why do pickles last so long?
A cucumber lasts maybe a week in your fridge before it gets soft and sad. But turn it into a pickle, and suddenly it's good for months — sometimes a year or more. What kind of kitchen magic is that?
The secret is that pickles live in a world most tiny creatures hate: an ocean of vinegar and salt. Bacteria and mold need water to survive, and they can't handle super-acidic, super-salty places. It's like trying to set up camp in a desert made of lemon juice.
