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Claussen pickles are a popular brand of pickles produced in the US. They are a little different from other pickle brands in that they are not cooked in the pickling process and are normally found in the supermarket’s refrigerated section.
The original creator of these delicious pickles was Claus Classen. He was a vegetable farmer who, in 1870, decided to pickle his surplus cucumber crop.
Classen made them with salt brine, dill, garlic, and other spices, resulting in what fans call the best kosher dill pickle ever created. (Kosher does not refer to Jewish law in this instance but to the presence of garlic.)
Whether you choose to eat them on a burger, in a meatloaf, in a salad, or straight from the jar, you’ll need to store them in the refrigerator in between use.
If you’re one of the curious folks who have been asking why Classen pickled, have to be refrigerated when other pickles sit on the supermarket shelf, keep reading because we have got the answers for you!
Why Do Claussen Pickles Have to Be Refrigerated?
When it comes down to most pickles, they can last for around one to two years (even past the expiration date imprinted on the pickle jar) on the store shelf or in your pantry.
However, once you open the pickle jar, you need to refrigerate it because it is cooked in a brine mixture and not pure vinegar. This makes it essential to be refrigerated.
Claussen pickles have a unique color, taste, and crunch, making them stand out from the others. Customers say that they are neither too sweet nor too tangy. Just right! They do not contain any artificial colorings, hence their unique color.
Storing Cucumber Pickles
Most pickles are hot-canned in a vinegar and brine mixture. This hot canning process enhances the shelf life of the pickle, but it does change the texture somewhat. The pickles tend to be soft rather than crunchy.
On the other hand, Claussen’s are fresh pickles. It would be best if you kept them in the refrigerator all the time because they have not been sterilized by cooking, and the chances of bacterial growth will increase at room temperature.
Refrigerated pickles don’t use the traditional canning process. The raw pickles are rinsed and trimmed, then cut lengthwise.
They’re immersed in a cold brine made from distilled white vinegar, salt, and spices, including vinegar. They can then be kept in the refrigerator for up to six months.
Why Chill?
The reason Claussen’s Cukes are chilled is simple – to maintain their trademark freshness and crunch.