The taste for preserved foods is booming and there’s never been a better time to preserve seasonal autumn vegetables, from pickled cabbage to classic beetroot and carrots. The trend has become so popular that one of TikToker’s viral pickled cucumber salads even led to a shortage of the vegetable in Iceland earlier this year.

Now research by meal box delivery experts, HelloFresh, reveals that the past five years have seen a boom in popularity for homemade preserved foods as Google searches for “pickled vegetables” and “how do you ferment food” have both increased by more than 5,000%.

Searches for “pickle kit” are up by 500% in the same period, while “quick pickled cucumbers” are up by 250%.

One of the most effective and satisfying ways to reduce food waste is through food preservation and the growing trend for such foods reflects the UK’s desire to create delicious dishes and snacks with kitchen leftovers.

The #foodpreservation trend continued to grow on TikTok too, with thousands of users sharing their own methods and recipes.

HelloFresh senior recipe development manager, Mimi Morley, said: “Preserving food is a total game-changer! Not only can it inject a burst of flavour into your meals, but it’s a great way to save money and help the environment as you extend a food’s shelf life and reduce food waste. Kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles, and jam are classics and offer the perfect starting point to explore the art of preserving food at home.

“Remember, the key to success lies in proper hygiene – ensure your workspace and tools are clean and sanitised. Invest in essential equipment like glass jars, airtight lids, and fermentation weights to ensure a safe and successful preservation process.”

User @itstrinityjae went viral last month for her homemade pickles video, gaining over 2 million views in that time, which showed users how to make spicy pickles

Another user @khanhong’s video on homemade kimchi recipe has clocked up 1.9 million views in the last month. This was his first time attempting to make kimchi and you can follow his fermenting journey as he uploads more content.

@kkearah.kkraus went viral, accumulating 1.4 million views on her video for the first time making homemade sauerkraut, where she shows users how it’s made, which can take 1–4 weeks. She says, “I’m going to give updates and do a taste test every five to seven days so come back for those.” 

For more information on how to ferment food, visit HelloFresh.