I have several large pickle jars from the store that would really be great to re-use for several things but I can't get the pickle smell out of the jar and it leaves a flavor to anything else I put in the jar. I am sure some one out there knows how to get rid of pickle "essence". I'd sure love your advice! Thanks, Pam

-- Pam Harsh (harshhaus@aol.com), April 27, 2001

Answers

Response to Pickle out of Pickle jars

Is the jar made of glass? If so, the residue could be in the lid's seal. Fill the jar with Baking soda & water and leave overnight, turn unside down (with lid on) and let stand all day. Empty, rinse well and see if this got the "pickle essence". If jar is plastic - toss it out.

-- Eve in FL (owenall@lwol.com), April 27, 2001.

Or run thru the dishwasher.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), April 27, 2001.

Sometimes letting the jar set with bleach water in it will help. Especially for the lid, as Eve mentioned.

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), April 27, 2001.

PLace a peice of cardboard in the jar and seal it. It will soak up the smell

-- grant (organicgrange@yahoo.com), April 27, 2001.

I have about 40 gallon pickled hot pepper jars my hubby gathered up from the local sandwish shops. This was prep for Y2K. We found out that what worked best to get them free of smell was to wash them in the dishwasher and then set them open out in the sunshine (open) for a few weeks. Sunning the lids also is important. We filled them with water and put them in the basement in antifreeze boxes. They are very strong and stack well. Now we are using the jars for milk.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), May 03, 2001.

Thanks everybody for your input. Setting them open in the sun is the only thing I have not tried and I will do that. Just the dishwasher is not enough. I've bleached, and that is not enough, and the baking soda didn't do it either. Leaving them open outside makes a lot of sense. Thanks again to you all.......Pam

-- Pam Harsh (harshhaus@aol.com), May 03, 2001.