# Canning Conundrum

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canning-conundrum/204488>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [September 29, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canning-conundrum/204488 "2003-09-29T15:22:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canning-conundrum/204488/1 "2003-09-29T15:22:21Z")

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So, something perplexing happened while I was canning pickles this weekend. A jar tipped over as I placed it in the water bath. I righted it, but, upon removing it I realized that some of the vinegar had spilled when it fell, maybe about 1/4 of the liquid in the jar. The pickles were no longer fully submerged in the brine.

Surprisingly, however, I got a good seal on that jar. My question is: is this jar good? Or should it be discarded?

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**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canning-conundrum/204488/2 "2003-09-29T18:37:51Z")

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Just eat that jar now and save the others for later. The pickles should keep for a while, but the exposed parts will probably soften more quickly.

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**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canning-conundrum/204488/3 "2003-09-29T18:40:05Z")

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C’mon people! I need help here! Is my jar of pickles a seething time bomb of botulism or not?

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**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canning-conundrum/204488/4 "2003-09-29T18:41:43Z")

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Oh, thanks Zenster. 🙂

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**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canning-conundrum/204488/5 "2003-09-29T20:36:31Z")

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I trust you managed to get a good “pull down” on the spilled jar’s lid, just like all the others? If so, you have little to worry about.

[Homer]

Mmmmmm … botulism!

[/Homer]

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**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canning-conundrum/204488/6 "2003-09-29T20:53:11Z")

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Botulism shouldn’t be a hazard in the acidic environment of the pickling solution. Softening, as posted above, is a possibility. Mold growth would be more common, since air has replaced some of the brine. Take the tip from Zenster and eat that jar first, always storing it in the fridge. If you’re still undecided, toss it. You’ll always wonder at every little ache and pain after you’ve ingested said pickles. A small price for piece of mind.