Sous Vide Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe 🧅 (2024)

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Making sous vide pickled onions is faster than making a refrigerator pickled onions. Precision temperature in a short amount of time will produce a crunchy, flavorful pickled onion.

Sous Vide Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe 🧅 (1)

This easy and delicious recipe would be great addition to a cheese boardas a compliment or as a topping for ablack bean burger. Don't underestimate the deliciousness of pickled onions when added as a topping for pulled pork, pulled chicken or roast beef. Another recipe that you are going to want to try is my sous vide pickled banana pepper recipe. Be sure to check out my complete collection of sous vide recipes.

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  • Want To Save This Recipe?
  • How do you make quick pickled red onions?
  • Pickled Onion Ingredients
  • How to sous vide pickled onions
  • How long can pickled onions last?
  • How do you make sliced pickled onions?
  • Should you keep pickled onions in the fridge?
  • What spices to use in this best quick pickled onions?
  • How to make pickled red onions mix
  • What other food items are popular for pickling?
  • What do pickled onions taste like?
  • Ways to use pickled onions in everyday dishes
  • What kinds of vinegar can I use to make pickled onions?
  • Want To Save This Recipe?
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 Sarah Mock
  • Comments

How do you make quick pickled red onions?

I found the way to pickle onions quickly is with sous vide cooking. In less than 30 minutes you can have crisp, flavorful, pickled onions. New to sous vide? I explain in simple terms everything I know about sous vide cooking.

Pickled Onion Ingredients

How to sous vide pickled onions

Sous Vide Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe 🧅 (2)
  1. In a zip top bag,add thered wine vinegar, water, pickling spice mix, sugar and salt.
  2. Place the bag in the water of your sous videusing the water displacement method.
  3. Heat your sous vide to 180ºF (82ºC).
  4. While the sous vide is heating,slice your red onion thinlyor to your desired thickness.
  5. Once your water comes to temperature,agitate the liquid contents of the bagto be sure that the salt and sugar have dissolved.
  6. Add the sliced onion to the bag and re-submerge the bag using thewater displacement method. Secure the bag to the side of the pot with a clip.
  7. Cook for25 minutes.
  8. Remove from the water bath and shock (stop the cooking) the onions inan ice bath.
  9. Store the pickled onions in their brine, in a closed container such as a mason jar.

How long can pickled onions last?

Sous Vide Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe 🧅 (3)

Stored in the refrigerator, these pickled onions will last for a minimum of 6 months.

How do you make sliced pickled onions?

Thinly slice the onion with a knife or mandoline. I prefer a red onion but a vidalia sweet onion could be a good alternative. Together with vinegar, salt, sugar and spices, the onions marinade in the brine and become preserved.

Should you keep pickled onions in the fridge?

Pickled onions are not shelf stable. If you won't use pickled red onions, keep them in the refrigerator.

What spices to use in this best quick pickled onions?

I am using a premixed pickling spice for this pickled onion recipe but spices that would be delicious in a pickled onion would be peppercorns, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, bay leaves, allspice, ginger, cloves and cinnamon. It is personal preference as to the combination of pickling spices so play around with it and have fun with your flavors.

How to make pickled red onions mix

If you are in need of a simple picking spice mix with out having to buy a premixed jar, try this combination:

  • 10 peppercorns
  • 2tsp mustard seeds
  • 1tsp coriander seeds
  • 2 bay leaves

What other food items are popular for pickling?

Fresh red onions are popular for picking but you are also going to want to try your hand at other pickled foods such as pickling cucumbers, pearl onions, cauliflower, baby corn, watermelon rind and green beans.

What do pickled onions taste like?

Sous Vide Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe 🧅 (5)

In my opinion pickled onions do not taste like a raw onion. They are crips but not hard in texture, have and acidic bite to the with an after taste of sweetness. Depending on the spices used, there will be notes of those spices.

Ways to use pickled onions in everyday dishes

  • Level up the flavor of tacos with easy pickled red onions by adding these tangy pickled onions as a topping.
  • Incorporate them into salads for a burst of flavor and texture.
  • Sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes over nachos with the pickled onions for a spicy kick.
  • Jazz up avocado toast by layering it with these tangy onions.
  • For a unique twist, drizzle honey over the pickled onions when using them in various dishes.

What kinds of vinegar can I use to make pickled onions?

You can use apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, or white wine vinegar to make pickled onions following the recipe. Simply let the onions marinate in your chosen vinegar for the desired flavor profile.

📖 Recipe

Sous Vide Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe 🧅 (6)

Sous Vide Pickled Onions

Sarah Mock

Making sous vide pickled onions is faster than making a refrigerator pickled onions. Precision temperature in a short amount of time will produce a crisp, flavorful pickled onion.

5 from 11 votes

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Note From Sarah

There is more to a recipe than just the recipe card. Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

Prep time for the recipePrep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook time for the recipeCook Time 30 minutes mins

total time to prep and cook the recipe.Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Sous Vide

Cuisine American

Ingredients

Instructions

How to sous vide pickled onions

  • In a zip top bag, add the red wine vinegar, water, pickling spice mix, salt and sugar.

  • Place the bag in the water of your sous vide using the water displacement method.

  • Heat your sous vide to 180ºF (82ºC).

  • While the sous vide is heating, slice your red onion thinly or to your desired thickness.

  • Once your water comes to temperature, agitate the liquid contents of the bag to be sure that the salt and sugar have dissolved.

  • Add the sliced onion to the bag and re-submerge the bag using the water displacement method. Secure the bag to the side of the pot with a clip.

  • Cook for 25 minute.

  • Remove from the water bath and shock (stop the cooking) of the onions in an ice bath.

  • Store the pickled onions in their brine, in a closed container.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1Tablespoon | Calories: 8kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Sodium: 467mg | Sugar: 1g

Nutrition Disclosure

Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

Sous Vide Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe 🧅 (7)

👩🏻‍🍳 Sarah Mock

CEO/Owner/Founder/Culinary Blogger

Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 14 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.

    More Ultimate Collection of Sous Vide Recipes

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    About Sarah Mock

    Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 14 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply

    1. Alys Corbin

      Is it possible to do this in mason jar without the water bath (to avoid breaking the glass) or will the onions cook too much?

      Reply

      • Sarah Mock

        Alys,
        Can you clarify? Sous vide uses a water bath. Mason jars are safe for sous vide cooking. If you are talking about putting the jar in an oven, I would advise against it.
        If I am not answering your question, please let me know how I can clarify.

        Sarah

        Reply

    2. Nellie Tracy

      Sous Vide Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe 🧅 (12)
      Mmmm so yummy! I could eat these on the daily!

      Reply

    3. Sara M.

      Sous Vide Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe 🧅 (13)
      What a great idea to make these sous vide! Saving this recipe, I've always wanted to make these! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply

    Sous Vide Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe 🧅 (2024)

    FAQs

    What's the best vinegar to pickle onions? ›

    I particularly like a mix of white wine and rice vinegar, and apple cider vinegar and white vinegar are a fun tangy combination. These variations are great, but they're totally optional; your quick pickled onions will be delicious even if you stick to the basic recipe!

    How long do quick pickled red onions last? ›

    Let the pickled onions cool to room temperature (about 20 to 30 minutes), at which point they should be sufficiently pickled for serving. Cover and refrigerate leftover pickled onions for later. Quick-pickled onions are best consumed within three days, but they keep for 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.

    Should onions be blanched before pickling? ›

    Blanch red onions.

    This step will help cut the raw onion flavor for those who prefer a milder tasting pickle. If you don't mind the raw flavor of onions, feel free to skip this step. Once the water is at a boil, submerge onions for about 10-15 seconds.

    Are pickling onions the same as pickled onions? ›

    Hi Marilyn, pickling onions are brown onions that are small and picked early or sown late, sow in November for harvesting in March. Sprouted onions are not poisonous. The only thing about using the pickling onions that have sprouted is that they may be soft and pulpy, and not hard like pickled onions should be.

    Is apple cider vinegar or vinegar better for pickles? ›

    The flavor of apple cider vinegar is less sharp than that of white vinegar, yielding a pickle that is softer on the palate. Apple cider vinegar is the vinegar I use most when pickling, despite the fact that it does color the pickles somewhat. However, I prefer the mellow flavor it imparts.

    Which vinegar is best for quick pickling? ›

    Distilled white vinegar is the most commonly used, because it has a clean, crisp flavor that retains the produce's original taste and color best. Apple cider vinegar lends a milder, sweeter flavor if you don't mind the darker color. White wine, red wine and champagne vinegar all are great to use with pickling.

    Do homemade pickled red onions go bad? ›

    TO STORE: Pickled onions can last in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. I like them best during the first week because they are the most crisp, but they're still yummy later on.

    Why do pickled onions go bad? ›

    Temperature, light, and humidity can all affect how long your home-canned pickled onions last, so be sure to store them somewhere that is dark and dry with a cool, even temperature. Fluctuations that can lead to freezing or overheating will cause them to go bad prematurely, so choose your storage location carefully.

    What should you not do when pickling? ›

    Key rules in pickling to remember:
    1. Never alter vinegar, food or water proportions in a recipe or use a vinegar with unknown acidity.
    2. Use only research tested recipes.
    3. To prevent the growth of botulinum bacteria, you must have a minimum, even level of acid throughout the prepared product.
    Aug 3, 2017

    Why are my pickled onions not turning pink? ›

    Make sure to submerge sliced onions in hot water before transferring them into a mason jar. If your onions aren't turning pink yet, you'll need to give them some more time in the fridge. Also, double-check that they are fully submerged in lime juice.

    Why do you soak onions in salt water before pickling? ›

    I always like to salt and soak the onions before pickling. This gets rid of the harsh 'bite' that often makes raw-onions unappetizing. Soaking them for a short time in hot water softens the onions slightly, priming them for quicker, more thorough absorption of the vinegar brine.

    Is it necessary to salt onions before pickling? ›

    Salt is a very important component when pickling, as it helps prevent the production of harmful bacteria by drawing out moisture. There are two types of 'salting'. Dry salting prior to the pickling process (which the recipe below uses) or wet salting, which uses a brine as part of the pickling process.

    What do Americans call pickled onions? ›

    In the United States and Canada, the word pickle alone used as a noun refers to a pickled cucumber (other types of pickled vegetables will be described using the adjective "pickled", such as "pickled onion", "pickled beets", etc.).

    Can you reuse pickle juice to pickle onions? ›

    Pickling doesn't have to be a long process involving canning and special supplies. If you have vegetables that would be good pickled, like onions, garlic, carrots or green beans, toss them in the jar of leftover pickle juice, and see what happens. They'll make a nice addition to a charcuterie platter or Blood Mary.

    Is there a difference between regular vinegar and pickling vinegar? ›

    “Pickling vinegar” is a term that is usually used for vinegar PLUS spices and flavorings that are ready for use to pickle a vegetable. White vinegar is a component of pickling vinegar, as is salt, peppercorns, bay leaves, etc. Pickling vinegar is more acidic than regular vinegar.

    Is white vinegar better for pickling? ›

    White wine vinegar has a mild flavour but gives a better appearance to light coloured pickles, such as those made from, cauliflower or cucumber. Red wine vinegar is better for pickled beetroot or red cabbage. Cyder vinegar, with its apple base, is particularly good for sweet pickles.

    Are onions pickled in vinegar good for you? ›

    Pickled red onions can be part of a healthy diet. Adding fermented foods to your diet helps with a healthy gut.

    Do you use rice vinegar or white vinegar for pickles? ›

    Any vinegar can be used to make any type of pickles. While a recipe might suggest rice wine vinegar, for example, for an Asian spiced pickle recipe there is no reason that you could not use white vinegar as a substitute or white wine vinegar for that matter.

    References

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