I wouldn't. The worst that can happen is that they will be really soft from the prolonged processing time.

Next time just tell him to go away and come back in 20 min. That's what my wife does to me all the time. :-) Distractions when canning, especially when it is new to you, usually lead to mistakes and we have all made them.

Dave

Thanks Dave. Mistakes that cause a not so nice product is a mistake I can handle. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to make someone sick (or worse). They look so nice in the jars, but if they were dangerous I would pitch them. The last thing I want is toxic pickles. Next batch I'll be sure to shoo DH out of the kitchen till I am done, lol.

As Dave said, it will be fine. Mrs. Wages mixes normally have added citric acid and all reliable pickle recipes have some "wiggle room" built in for these sorts of occurrences.

If they're too soft just chop them up for use in salads or sandwiches and chalk it up to experience.

Carol

Thank you Carol. This pickle mix does have citric acid in it. I figured they were safe, but this is my first attempt at pickles, so felt I should ask someone with more canning experience before eating them. I can't wait to try them.

Could not wait so my son & I opened the 1 pint of pickles. The jar wasn't cold at all. Not as soft as I expected, but they were very salty!. After leaving them in the fridge they are getting better but still a bit salty tasting. Not a complete flop but not exactly a success either. But I will be doing more of them next year.

You can rinse the pickles in a couple of washes of water to leach out some of the salt and then store them in a finishing brine of vinegar and water or just leach a few pickles at a time for more immediate consumption.

Carol

Thanks Carol. I was wondering if I could do something like that. I will it a try. Would the finishing brine be half vinegar, half water?