Found a jar of pickles from 2022 in the back of my fridge yesterday

Went to grab a snack and spotted this jar of pickles way in the back corner. Checked the date and it said August 2022. I opened it up and the smell hit me like a wall, instantly tossed it. Then I pulled everything else out and found a half-eaten container of yogurt from three months ago too. Felt good to just clear it all out and wipe down the shelves. Has anyone else found something that old hiding in their fridge?

2 comments

2 Comments

terry_walker3d ago

the smell hit me like a wall" - yeah that's the part that always gets you. But here's something nobody talks about: those old jars can actually be a FIRE HAZARD. I read once that fermented foods like pickles build up gas over time, and if the seal is tight enough, the glass can explode. I found a jar of salsa from 2021 behind my stove once and when I tried to open it, the lid popped off so hard it dented my ceiling. So you might have dodged a literal bullet there by tossing it before messing with it. Next time maybe wrap it in a towel before you open anything that old, just in case. Cleaning out the fridge after is always worth it though, feels like a fresh start.

patricia422d ago

Actually I think the real danger people don't realize is that it's not just the glass exploding. @terry_walker mentioned the lid denting their ceiling which is crazy but I've heard stories about botulism spores hiding in those old sealed jars. My aunt had a jar of homemade pickled eggs from 2019 that she found and she opened it with a towel like you said. The stench was so BAD it made her throw up instantly and she had to air out her whole kitchen for two days. She said it smelled like rotting meat mixed with nail polish remover. So yeah you dodged something serious there.