Canned pickled peppers recipe: 59 photos
Pickled Sweet Peppers
FAQ
Pickles, including pickled peppers, can be made crisper by adding calcium chloride granules. Calcium chloride does not lower the acidity in the jar and is safer to use than lime. It is used in commercially canned pickles.
Unopened and kept in a cool, dark place (like a pantry), purchased pickled items will last years. Once opened, they should last about one year at near-peak quality. Homemade pickled items will last anywhere from 3-4 weeks to 2-6 months — depending on the recipe, method, and, well, who you ask.
The first step in the process involves an overnight soak in a 10% salt solution. That firms up the peppers a bit, and draws out some moisture. It also reduces the heat level of the hot peppers if using them. After soaking in the salt water solution for 8-12 hours, I drain the peppers in a colander.
Pack peppers tightly into sterilized jars, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. For each 6 cups of brine, combine 5 cups vinegar, 1 cup water and 1 tablespoon pickling salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer five minutes. Pour vinegar solution over peppers, leaving 1/8-inch headspace.
Use Calcium Chloride. Calcium chloride (CaCl2), sometimes known as “pickle crisp”, is a type of salt that helps preserve the crunchiness of food. It is used in the food industry to help preserve the texture of canned fruit and vegetables. Sea salt is sodium chloride. In this case, we're talking about calcium chloride!