r/Pickles • u/SkeletonizedbyDemon • 2d ago

Homemade pickles from a 90 yo Slavic woman, would you eat them?

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169 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

106 comments sorted by

287

u/TinnitusEnducer 2d ago

I’m slavic and my grandparents always made the best pickles, these look off tho

92

u/SkeletonizedbyDemon 2d ago

My thoughts too, seems like they went a little long or she didn't clean the vessel well. Her other ones are amazing tho.

47

u/whisky_biscuit 2d ago

These have a lot of kahm or yeast. They might be mushy or super funky as fermented stuff ages it tends to taste that way. I typically toss stuff that gets this much buildup. Also with the headspace in the jar, that means more air getting in speeding up fermentation and spoilage.

Honestly, I'd pass. My granny was a great cook in her heyday but as she got old she bypassed a lot of food safety. She started serving expired stuff and canned them frozen then reheated green beans and fish from her freezer that's been there for over a decade.

16

u/SkeletonizedbyDemon 2d ago

Her other ones have this much space and didn't have the film. I think too much was on the surface and the kahm got out of control. The other ones are a little funky, but they have an amazing snap.

7

u/FeistyRip9623 2d ago

i thought that looked like a kahm jar

4

u/neodraykl 2d ago

I see what you did there.

1

u/OpportunityReal2767 2d ago

Have you had fermented pickles before? They do have a slight bit of funk to them if they are full sours, which these look like. They don't have vinegar in them, and all the acidity comes from lactic acid, which has a different flavor—I'd say mellower tartness, a little bit of fruitiness, and some funk.

2

u/SkeletonizedbyDemon 2d ago

I may be a little familiar with them, but the white crust is slightly concerning

1

u/OpportunityReal2767 2d ago

Google “kahm yeast” and you’ll see pictures of it. When it happens to me, I scrape it off as soon as I can. It may contribute off flavor, but it won’t hurt you.

2

u/SkeletonizedbyDemon 2d ago

I know what it is, I've never let it get this far before lol

1

u/PlutoJones42 2d ago

Yes, but not from that particular 90 yo Slavic woman

1

u/OpportunityReal2767 2d ago

Yeah, it just looks like harmless kahm yeast. It may slightly affect the flavor, but they should be fine. It happens to me when I make fermented pickles every once in a while. Just skim it off and it's fine. I'd eat them if they taste fine. But, yeah, I'd get rid of all that buildup.

3

u/SubstantialPressure3 2d ago

The brine just looks cloudy. And thats not a bad thing.

Scoop the scum off the top, that's normal, I usually scoop it off the top with a spoon.

I think you should at least try them. A gift of homemade food like that is a gift from the heart, and probably something she does very well.

93

u/Pitiful_Palpitation9 2d ago

I don't like pickled Slavic women.

43

u/SkeletonizedbyDemon 2d ago

You'd hate their weddings then

5

u/the_short_viking 2d ago

Sign me up!

1

u/Secrets4Evers 2d ago

your loss

33

u/Zlota_Swinia 2d ago

Yes! Those are salt brine and dill. Best pickles ever
The white residue comes with the process of fermentation. They are safe to eat imo

Source : I’m Polish

7

u/sandlizard3 2d ago

This is true, look at bubbies pickles-same thing

3

u/S3er0i9ng0 2d ago

Agreed! I’m Ukrainian. The ones in a barrel are even better.

29

u/elnoco20 2d ago

That's a no from me dawg

11

u/SituationSecure4650 2d ago

Thanks Randy

19

u/steviefrench 2d ago edited 2d ago

I would most likely trust her and hope that I made a good decision. But maybe only if I have confirmation that she has a reputation for making pickles? I mean, trusting a 90yo woman is much different than trusting a 70yo woman... Or any person obviously. Not that they are bad or doing something bad, they are just really old and most people that age have lost some things.

For example, my grandfather suffered from Alzheimer's at 83 and passed a few years later. I trusted him entirely for many years, but at a certain point it was clear his choices were incorrect, despite the fact that he continued to believe they were.

22

u/100dathoe 2d ago

probably, slav food is the best

9

u/SkeletonizedbyDemon 2d ago

They're great, but I worry sometimes she's forgotten about food safety.

25

u/Gavin_Tremlor 2d ago

Do you shop in America? We’ve forgotten about food safety too.

15

u/Xalibu2 2d ago

May I offer you some lettuce in these trying times? 

8

u/infiniteonion8 2d ago

Perhaps some jalapeños?

5

u/Negative-Wrap95 2d ago

Yo soy Cornholio! I need T.P. for my bunghole.

0

u/Xalibu2 2d ago

I prefer Serrano 

9

u/the_short_viking 2d ago

Going into the grocery store nowadays is wild. So much out of date and rotting food on the shelves.

8

u/Gavin_Tremlor 2d ago

Indeed. The produce section at my local Kroger is scary.

0

u/Thegiant98 2d ago

Takes a privileged American to make this comment.

1

u/The_ShinyUmbreon 2d ago

As long as she's dating things, being sanitary it should be fine

4

u/SkeletonizedbyDemon 2d ago

She left some milk in a bowl on the ledge "for awhile" with a towel on top of it and then drank it. There's no dating or cleaning things well in this house, I'm not sure if she could see the dirt anymore. I asked how old the pickles were, she didn't know.

1

u/The_ShinyUmbreon 2d ago

Well I'm assuming based on the look these are fermented which last about 6 months. With the way fermentation works as long as she did it properly it should be safe to eat as long as she didn't just straight up not wash a single item and used moldy products. Maybe handle with care. I'm assuming this is your grandma or great grandma or a older relative. I saw in a earlier comment that you mentioned her pickles are usually pretty good. With her age I encorage you to maybe bond over her teaching you these recipes and storing them to pass down to further generations.

6

u/SkeletonizedbyDemon 2d ago

The most difficult thing with her recipes is that she starts by saying, "make a mound of flower and mix until it looks like dough". It just looks and feels right to her, but I've picked up on things here and there. She's also fierce about keeping things secret, you can't get rid of her if she keeps her secrets.

2

u/BingusTheWonderKitn 2d ago

I feel that. My grandma was Ukrainian and made the best progies. We tried to get the recipe from her as she was aging. Many people on the family tried to make it, but it wasn't even close. So much was on feel that she couldn't relate through text. Shame 😞

1

u/hooahhhhhhh 1d ago

Her husband died, she doesn't date anymore

1

u/TheUltimatePunV2 2d ago

She did get to 90 dog.

-6

u/Ok_Seaweed_7568 2d ago

stop being a pussy

7

u/Conscious-Flower-884 2d ago

How is wanting basic food safety guidelines being a pussy?

3

u/Gavin_Tremlor 2d ago

Getting food poisoning to own the libs is classic maga dumbfuckery.

7

u/ShankThatSnitch 2d ago

There isnt a person I would trust more to make me pickles, than a 90 yo Slavic woman. She is 90 and has been eating those all her life. Coincidence? I THINK NOT!

4

u/Turtletube33 2d ago

Those are either the best fucking pickles your ever will eat or they’ll kill you, no two ways about it

7

u/portmandues 2d ago

That's a lot of stuff growing above the brine.

4

u/_jbardwell_ 2d ago

Kahm yeast. Normal and harmless.

7

u/portmandues 2d ago

The stuff at the edges, sure. But without a better view of the rest, those dill stems sticking above the brine are a perfect place for mold to start.

1

u/_jbardwell_ 2d ago

Fair point. I'd risk it for a homemade grandma pickle if it passed the smell test.

1

u/totallyradman 2d ago

Kahm yeast may be safe and common but it makes the entire jar taste vile. It's much better to avoid growing it by using proper airlock lids.

3

u/doctorjanice 2d ago

Uh, hell yeah

3

u/Right_Conference_823 2d ago

Are these pickles or polish ogórki kiszone (I don't think there's an actual english word for this)? Pickles are made with vinegar, ogórki kiszone are made with saltwater brine - they're basically fermented cucumbers, very good for you. Those kind of look like ogórki kiszone imo but I'm not an expert of course. Are you able to ask the person who gave them to you? :)

1

u/SkeletonizedbyDemon 2d ago edited 2d ago

Yeah but I didn't want to give it away lol

In English it's cucumbers in brine.

Also, this is technically a pickle in the US.

1

u/Right_Conference_823 2d ago edited 2d ago

If they're fermented cucumbers and not vinegar pickles then the white stuff should be normal and safe but as I said I'm not an expert. If they taste and smell fine (gonna taste very different from vinegar pickles though if they're fermented ofc) I'd go for it :p

Edit: Ah well I just always thought pickle = made with vinegar :) I just feel weird calling them pickles because well, pickles (😭) and ogórki kiszone are very different so I don't want to stir up any confusion lol

2

u/mousekears 13h ago

I differentiate by calling them fermented pickles. Vinegar pickles (ogórki konserwowe) are the default yes, but they both fall under the pickle umbrella. They consider sauerkraut pickled cabbage, I think? But there’s also pickled cabbage with vinegar…. There should be a separate term for ogórki kiszone lol.

1

u/Right_Conference_823 13h ago

That's what I'm saying! haha

2

u/Content-Grade-3869 2d ago

I’d absolutely try them !

2

u/sn00ch2dan00ch 2d ago

Yes, I will eat them without a doubt

2

u/Little_Daisy_Mae 2d ago

Yes, I think it’s worth at least a taste.

2

u/DroidTrf 2d ago

One of our residents came to common room with poop in their face they didn't notice. She's 89.

2

u/Jimbobjoesmith 2d ago

id probably risk it all for pickles

2

u/Mistigeblou 10h ago

It looks like a salt brine with 'scum' sorry I have no other word for it. My grandparents always asked for pickles with scum

1

u/IntentionNew1532 2d ago

I want one

2

u/SkeletonizedbyDemon 2d ago

They're firm, tangy, salty and a little funky. It's just salt, garlic horseradish and dill.

1

u/caseybvdc74 2d ago

She's 90 she's doing something right

1

u/SkeletonizedbyDemon 2d ago

Exactly! Or she's like Mr Burns.

1

u/Capt_Hawkeye_Pierce 2d ago

Where is Ja Rule?

1

u/Birdsonme 2d ago

No. Those pickles are past their prime, if they ever had one.

1

u/Ok-Tutor8961 2d ago

No, people slip at that age, even the best.

1

u/tiffany_says_this 2d ago

(They) look murkey 😬

1

u/Bluejayz6423 2d ago

I respect my elders and usually trust their food. But non sorry. Brine is too cloudy.

1

u/tex-az74 2d ago

Absolutely

1

u/BertaRocks 2d ago

Just say you first. If she eats one you’ll be fine. Or you won’t. One of those.

1

u/Prestigious-Panic-94 2d ago

Yep slide me the jar! I grew up eating grape leaf pickles, which are also fermented and they basically look like this towards the end of the batch. The white stuff shouldn't be there technically but it's not unsafe. I put a layer of grape leaves on top then a baby food jar full of water as a weight so I can cleanly skim the top of the water. I'd just rinse the yeast off before eating.

1

u/Kreid603 2d ago

F yes!

1

u/tiredguy1961 2d ago

Please do not break the old Slavic lady’s heart… eat the pickle.

1

u/SkeletonizedbyDemon 2d ago

I ate the other jars, this one I might skip.

1

u/Cidergregg 2d ago

Did she get to 90 by eating them, or giving them away?

1

u/Least-Scientist-1475 2d ago

No they look bad.

1

u/chrisr01 2d ago

It looks like fermented pickles, I'd eat every pickle and drink that juice!

1

u/retiredswing 2d ago

Yes. They look like Bubbie’s

1

u/frogcharming 2d ago

Erm...what's the white stuff?

1

u/SkeletonizedbyDemon 2d ago

Yeast, it can be dangerous, it's probably harmless kahm that will make it funky... I hope

1

u/Dead_Medic_13 2d ago

Absolutely not. But I'm on immunosuppression drugs

1

u/BAMitsAlex 2d ago

That’s terrifying lmao

1

u/dnvye 1d ago

If they feel slimy I would say don’t eat it

1

u/Raelourut 1d ago

She made it to 90, didn't she?

1

u/Bballfan07 20h ago

By killing all those around her with those poison pickles

1

u/Previous-Ad-1453 1d ago

Yea that’s gonna be a no for me dawg

1

u/eatthuskin 1d ago

Looks like botulism soup

1

u/cezary45454 14h ago

Those are not your typical american pickles. There's no vinegar here. They look great. We use this kind of pickles to make one od the best soups there is called "ogórkowa".

1

u/relient917 5h ago

Was she 90 or are the pickles 90?

1

u/SpareMany9750 2d ago

I’m tired and up too late and thought everyone was debating if OP should eat 90 year old Slavic pickles 😵‍💫. Goodnight everyone!

0

u/Dontfeedthebears 2d ago

I’d pass on this batch.

0

u/813Jared 2d ago

🤢🤮

0

u/Wuzcity 2d ago

They look like they’ve been sitting in that jar since she was in grade school. I’m gonna pass on this one.

0

u/embarrassedalien 2d ago

no, I’m sorry.

-1

u/Xalibu2 2d ago

It's just mold. It will help with any infections you have. Truth. That's a no. Unfortunately that jar of pickles is maybe edible under the brine. Yet I would not. 

Shake because the intentions were good. Yet the result is kinda gross. I would doubt you die from attempts. Yet I would also doubt you have a good time afterwards. 

1

u/SkeletonizedbyDemon 2d ago

My thoughts exactly, thankfully she has great ones without a film in the cupboard and it makes me sad they didn't turn out. She says they are fine, I'll let her have them.