Q1.
Discuss: What would happen to this pickle if no oil had been added?
Answer
Without oil, air would reach the pickle, microbes would grow on it, and it would spoil in a few days or weeks instead of lasting for months.
What would happen, in order:
- Air, and the microbes floating in it, would settle on the top pieces.
- The mango pieces would still hold a little moisture, so those microbes would begin to grow.
- White, green or black patches of mould would appear on the surface.
- The pickle would start smelling sour and bad instead of spicy and fresh.
- The pieces would go soft and slimy, and the whole jar would have to be thrown away.
| Pickle with oil | Pickle without oil | |
|---|---|---|
| Air reaching the pieces | Blocked by the oil layer | Reaches them freely |
| Mould on the top | Does not form | Forms in a few days |
| Smell | Spicy and pleasant | Sour and foul |
| How long it lasts | Months, even a year | A few days to a few weeks |
Sample answer for the discussion: “Oil is the pickle's lid. Without it, air can touch the mango pieces, and where there is air, moisture and warmth, microbes grow. The pickle would grow mould on top, smell bad and have to be thrown away. That is why Paati fills the jar with oil until every piece is covered.”
Some pickles use no oil at all — lemon pickle in the South is often made with only salt and lemon juice, and salt does the same job by pulling out all the moisture. So the rule is not “always oil”; the rule is “take away air or water, one way or another”.