The Glowing Pickle and Other Vegetables

The phenomenon known as the glowing pickle was investigated. Voltages ranging from 80-140 Volts AC were placed across a variety of vegetable specimens, both fresh and soaked in several salt solutions. The glowing was caused by electric arcing across a steam-filled cavity in the specimen. The emission spectra showed lines indicating the presence of potassium and sodium ions in the fresh specimens. In the specimens soaked in salt solutions, emission spectra matching the salt ions were observed.