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Are my pickles safe to eat? #915739

Asked August 28, 2025, 5:57 PM EDT

I have been fermenting pickles, and they developed mold on the surface of the brine. I scraped it and it comes back. When I read the recipe from Extension that I used, it said to just scrape the mold off. But when I started to look around online, people were very mixed on whether it was safe if mold grew on top. I would love to can them if they are safe to eat, but I am worried about it. I am including a picture of the developing mold (I scraped it yesterday so there is not much), and a picture of the jar (there has been a whiteish film on the pickles since nearly the beginning of the process. Everything is below the waterline.

Benton County Oregon

Expert Response

Your pickles look great.  As long as you remove the mold and scum (the white film that forms on the top) regularly and your pickles do not become mushy, and smell bad they should be safe.

Below are the instructions for canning your pickles once they are fermented outlined in the instructions for canning from the National Center for Home Food Preservation. 
 If you boil and strain your brine and then process your pickles you should no longer have a mold problem. I would suggest the low temperature pasteurization method outlined in the bottom of the instructions below.  It results in a much crisper pickle. 

Fermenting pickles cure slowly. Check the container several times a week and promptly remove surface scum or mold. Caution: If the pickles become soft, slimy, or develop a disagreeable odor, discard them. Fully fermented pickles may be stored in the original container for about 4 to 6 months, provided they are refrigerated and surface scum and molds are removed regularly. Canning fully fermented pickles is a better way to store them. To can them, pour the brine into a pan, heat slowly to a boil, and simmer 5 minutes. Filter brine through paper coffee filters to
reduce cloudiness, if desired. Fill jar with pickles and hot brine,
leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Adjust lids and process as recommended in Table 1 below.  

Table 1. Recommended process time for Dill Pickles in a boiling-water canner.
Process Time at Elevations of
Style of Pack Jar Size 0 - 1,000 ft 1,001 - 6,000 ft Above 6,000 ft
Raw Pints 10 min 15 20
Quarts 15 20

or use the low-temperature pasteurization treatment described below.

The following treatment results in a better product texture but must
be carefully managed to avoid possible spoilage. Place jars in a canner
filled half way with warm (120º to 140ºF) water. Then, add hot water to a
level 1 inch above jars. Heat the water enough to maintain 180º to 185º
F water temperature for 30 minutes. Check with a candy or jelly
thermometer to be certain that the water temperature is at least 180ºF
during the entire 30 minutes. Temperatures higher than 185ºF may cause
unnecessary softening of pickles.


Hope that helps. If you have other questions you might like to call the OSU Extension Food Preservation Safety Help line. Certified Master Food Preservers are available to personally answer your questions M-F from 9 am-4pm. The number is <personal data hidden>.


Thanks for using Ask Extension


Nellie Oehler
































































An Ask Extension Expert Replied August 28, 2025, 7:13 PM EDT

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