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Easy Pickled Red Onions

Quick, easy pickled red onion recipe that can be customized, stored in the fridge, or canned for long-term storage
Servings: 5 pints

Ingredients
  

  • 6-8 red onions
  • 4 cups white vinegar
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp sugar
  • 3 Tbsp salt
  • 10 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 5 tsp mustard seed
  • 5 tsp black peppercorns optional for more spice
  • Other spices you may want to customize with

Equipment

  • Mason Jars, Rings, and Lids Warm jars before adding ingredients
  • Fermentation weights

Method
 

  1. Cut the root and head off the onions. Remove the skin.
  2. Slice the onions, from top to bottom, as thin or thick as you want
  3. Place onions in mason jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace
  4. Add two cloves of garlic in each pint jar
  5. Add 1 tsp. of mustard seed to each jar
  6. Add 1 tsp. of peppercorns (if desired)
  7. Customize with your own spcies (if desired)
  8. In a pot, add vinegar, water, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil
  9. Add boiling vinegar mixture to your jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace
  10. Use a butterknife to burp the bubbles out of the jars, adding more vinegar as needed. Ensure all ingredients are covered by the mixture in each jar
  11. If you are storing in the fridge, add a fermentation weight to push the veggies down underneath the liquid. Wipe the rim to clean, add a lid and ring, and let sit on counter until cool. Once it reaches room temperature, store in the fridge overnight. Can be used for up to three weeks.
  12. If you are canning for long-term storage, wipe the rim of each jar, add a warmed lid and ring, and place in the water bath canner or large pot full of water. Water should be at least 2 inches above the jars. Bring to a boil and process for 10 minutes. Remove from pot using a jar lifter, place on a towel, and allow to cool for 24 hours. Check your seal to ensure processing was successful. Onions are now shelf stable for up to 18 months.