Making brine pickles. They've been in for about a week and I've been skimming the 'scum' off the top, but notice that there also seems to be 'scum' that has settled on the pickles and the bottom (it a huge glass jar). I'm using a recipe from 'The Big Book of Preserving the Harvest", using cider vinegar, salt, water, pickle spices, dill weed, etc. Is everything on track or did I miss something?

Thanks! TH

-- Tom H (raider7@naxs.net), July 30, 2000

Answers

I keep mine in a crock for 7 days....then I rinse them all off before I head for the alum solution..it works for me..I do not think you are doing anything wrong at all..sometimes I have a significant amount of "junk" if the house is very warm, sometimes no scum at all....pickle on....God bless...

-- Lesley (martchas@gateway.net), July 30, 2000.

I'm with Lesley (Hi Lesley!). I just leave them in the brine for a week, making sure they stay under the surface, by using a dinner plate weighted down with a canning jar full of water. After the week is up, dump them in the sink, and wash off the scum. Then the alum (Lesley, re your recipe, I use 3 TBSP per gallon rather than your 1). Don't worry - be happy! GL!

-- Brad (Homefixer@SacoRiver.net), August 02, 2000.

I suspect temperature may play a part in this. Do you have a working garage frig. in which the crock can be placed while they cure?

-- Ken S. in TN (scharabo@aol.com), August 13, 2000.