What would happen to this pickle if no oil had been added?
If no oil had been added to the pickle, air would enter the pickle jar and microbes would grow on the food.
The pickle would spoil faster, develop a foul smell, and coloured patches of mould would appear on it.
Without oil forming a protective layer, the pickle would not last for months and would become unsafe to eat.
Explanation
Finding #4 in the chapter clearly states that oil keeps out air and stops the growth of microbes. Paati explains that oil stops air from getting in, which keeps the pickles safe. Without oil, the preservation method would fail as microbes need air to grow.
Solution Steps
Oil prevents air from entering the pickle jar and stops microbial growth
Without oil, microbes grow on the food causing spoilage
Signs of spoilage include foul smell and coloured mould patches
Oil forms a protective layer that preserves pickles for months