How to prepare pickled vegetables step by step?

Did you know that preparing pickled vegetables is a way to preserve food for a longer time? This method, known as pickling, has been used for a long time and works in a simple way, which you can carry out with just a few ingredients.What allows microbes not to reproduce and the vegetables to last longer is acetic acid, which increases the acidity of the food, eliminates microorganisms, and thus prevents spoilage.However, for the vegetables to truly be pickled, the vinegar you use must contain at least 5 percent acetic acid and you should never dilute it. On the other hand, although the most common vinegar for pickling vegetables is white because it does not discolor the food, apple vinegar also works.How to make pickled vegetables step by stepOf course, at kiwilimón we have a foolproof recipe for you to make pickled vegetables, as we call them in Mexico, but in addition to this, it is very important the container in which you will store them.It is best to use stainless steel, enameled utensils, or food-safe glass. The materials to avoid are copper or iron, as they could discolor the vegetables. Once you have them, make sure they are not broken and that their lids function optimally.Finally, before going to the step-by-step guide, you can also reuse glass jars; just wash them and clean them thoroughly with soap and water, and sterilize them. As for the raw materials, it is best to buy fresh vegetables that are not too ripe, as they will maintain their shape better.The first thing you need to do for the base mixture of the pickle is to boil in a pot 6 cups of water, 2 cups of white vinegar, 3 tablespoons of sugar, one and a half tablespoons of salt, and herbs, pepper, mustard seeds, fennel seeds, and garlic for 2 minutes.Then add the vegetables to the pot; typically, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and onions are pickled. Once in the water, let them sit for a minute, but remove the pot from the heat. When they cool completely, transfer them to your sterilized container and voilà! You have your pickled vegetables.