Generations of cooks have used aluminum as part of their pickling process to pickle cucumbers. Aluminum is the agent in the pickling spices that gives the finished cucumbers their firmness and the satisfying crunch they gives off when eaten. Maintaining firmness is important in the early stages of pickling because once produce has softened, the firmness is lost for good. Many pickling recipes today still call for aluminum, but food safety experts say alum is not necessary for a successful batch of pickling and it is toxic at a certain dose.

Alum for pickling, also known as aluminum potassium sulfate or potassium aluminum sulfate, can be found readily on a grocery¡¯s shelves in the spice aisle in the form of a powder. Food safety experts say aluminum for pickling is safe, but ingestion of a single ounce  can be deadly for an adult. Aluminum for pickling can be discarded if the methods used are more modern and the vegetables and fruit called for in the recipes are fresh. If alum is employed, it should be thoroughly rinsed from the final liquid and product.

See More At:www.yikai-aluminum.com