Commercial processors pickle only a few seafood species, but you can pickle almost any seafood at home. Use pickled seafoods within 4-6 weeks for best flavor. Refrigerate seafood during all stages of the pickling process. Ingredients and Equipment Use high-quality seafood. Avoid hard water, especially water high in iron, calcium or magnesium.
Hard water can cause off-colors and flavors.
Salt high in calcium and magnesium can cause off-colors and flavors. Suitable containers for pickling seafood include large crocks or heavy glass, enamel or plastic containers. Metal containers may cause discoloration of the pickled seafood. Pack pickled seafood in clean glass jars after the pickling process is complete. Cover the seafood with pickling sauce and close the jar lids tightly.