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Can we talk gherkins? |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,268
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Can we talk gherkins?
We love gherkins in our house and buy a jar every cople of weeks but a couple of things puzzle me and maybe there's a scientist out there who can help.
Firstly, why are the jars so hard to open, much harder than any other pickle? Even OH can't open them without taking a hammer to to lid and tapping it first.. Secondly, why, once opened and kept in a dark cool place, do they feel very slightly warm? BTW I usually buy them in Tesco or Aldi but got some from Sainbury this week and they were horrible. Sort of soft, spongy and limp when sliced. Also they smelled a bit fishy.
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#2 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Josameto
Posts: 5,231
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I always have to have a jar of Gherkins in, they're a weakness of mine. Usually Lidl's or Sainsbury's, but can't say I've had a problem with soft, spongy gherkins yet. *touch wood*
Guilty pleasure is a Herta frankfurter on a roll with a sliced gherkin, French's Mustard and tomato sauce. |
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,104
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LOVE gherkins, never buy them though just as a treat as part of a Subway
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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 76,808
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I usually have a jar in and they are impossible to open with normal tough jar opening technology (hot water on lid and rubber gloves)..........my last jar i stabbed the lid with a sharp knife to puncture it and release pressure, whereupon it opened easily
But then there's a hole in the lid so they're not airtight..............
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,158
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I've heard that if you hold the jar upside down and tap the lid on a floor, it releases the air bubble or something....never tried it out though.
How about home made tartare sauce? Finely chopped small gherkins, maybe some olives and capers and mixed into mayonnaise - perhaps with some lemon juice! |
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#6 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Josameto
Posts: 5,231
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Quote:
How about home made tartare sauce? Finely chopped small gherkins, maybe some olives and capers and mixed into mayonnaise - perhaps with some lemon juice!
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#7 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 7,610
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I adore gherkins & cornichons. Very handy to take the edge off any pangs when dieting too.
I usually buy Lidl's and they're always lovely. As for opening jars - slip the tip of a round ended knife ( preferably not a sharp one) under the lid and slowly twist the knife and the lid should 'pop' as the vacuum is released. |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 256
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Quote:
I adore gherkins & cornichons. Very handy to take the edge off any pangs when dieting too.
I usually buy Lidl's and they're always lovely. As for opening jars - slip the tip of a round ended knife ( preferably not a sharp one) under the lid and slowly twist the knife and the lid should 'pop' as the vacuum is released. |
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 5,154
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With any tight jar lid just pierce a hole with a fork in the lid and off it pops . I have special little kitchen tool that is for that purpose , a wooden handle and a spiky thing on top .
I always keep my jar of gherkins in the fridge . |
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,116
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If you're a keen gardener, they're a good thing to grow as they don't take much effort, are quite prolific and lend themselves to preserving so well. Just make sure you use a good vinegar.
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#11 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Norn Iron
Posts: 3,851
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Quote:
I adore gherkins & cornichons. Very handy to take the edge off any pangs when dieting too.
I usually buy Lidl's and they're always lovely. As for opening jars - slip the tip of a round ended knife ( preferably not a sharp one) under the lid and slowly twist the knife and the lid should 'pop' as the vacuum is released. |
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#12 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Cathedral of Motorcycle Racing
Posts: 2,410
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Get yourself one of these.
Cheap and safe to use. I bought one over 20 years ago and there hasn't been a jar that I couldn't open since. Another fan of the Lidl cornichons. No gherkins on my pickles and cheddar sandwich. I'm posh you know... |
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#13 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 9,198
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I saw the Hairy Bikers make this on one of their shows - a terrine with whole cornichons inside.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/co..._terrine_54023 You'll have to get off your butt and do a bit of work but it looked excellent. Warning! Do not ever go see them live if you are a foodie. My daughter bought me tickets. Two 20 min "cookery" sessions in an evening show. The "cookery" was basic and the rest of the evening was pantomime clowning with dressing up sketches, trousers dropped and bums shown and the big one thinking he's the new Eric Morecambe. Truly cringeworthy. The short lad, Dave Myers, should pay him off and go solo. |
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#14 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,230
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I heard from several people that Aldi gherkins were really nice, so I bought some.
I find them crisper than other brands, such as Sainsbury's own brand. But I've decided that I prefer the slightly softer ones. Not that there's anything really wrong with the Aldi ones, they just aren't quite as good as others according to my personal taste. |
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#15 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Gravesend
Posts: 1,522
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Mmm i love gherkins an pickled onions there my secret addiction
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#16 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Up North
Posts: 58,791
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Can't say I can remember having problems with pickle jars inparticular.
For those times when I do have problems though I have one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brabantia-Pr...2427034&sr=8-2 I think it was a hand me down. Can't remember buying it. At other times I just give the lid a whack with the heel of a knife. |
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#17 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,158
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Quote:
Maybe some capers? It's not tartare sauce if it doesn't have capers.
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#18 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: CyberManc
Posts: 3,820
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Big gherkin fan - especially ones with chillies - no need to pierce the top tho - couple of taps on the side of the lid with the back of a good strong knife works every time
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#19 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 8,093
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Love gerkins! Could sit and eat a jar of them. Don't by them very often usually have it in my mcds or subway mmmm
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#20 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 5,704
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A boa constrictor is what you need!
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#21 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,268
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Thanks for the replies.
I've got one of those 'boa constictor' type things norbitonite, but OH keeps putting it in the garage! ( No, I don't know why either )It seems a few of you do find gherkins hard to open but no-one has answered the question 'why?' or the very slightly warm question, although I'm guessing that's some vinegar and air chemical reaction. |
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#22 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,230
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I've never found gherkins hard to open. But my OH hands jars to me to open that are even easier to open than big jars of gherkins. So maybe it depends on individual physiology.
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#23 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: East London
Posts: 14,258
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I love gherkins or 'wallies' as they are called here in East London,cannot beat fish,chips and a Wally.
![]() Love the ones they do in the states they such a great variety,my fave being bread and butter pickles,I can eat whole jar myself.
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#24 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Spooner Drive, Quahog
Posts: 1,871
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it's gotta be Mrs Elswood for pickles or a good new green but those are usually in the chiller cabinet and in the Kosher section of places.
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