making pickles

[grapevine]

does anyone here have any idea about making pickles?

[jal_ut]

Yes, we do it every year. There are a variety of pickle recipes. What kind of pickles are you wanting? First step is to get an approved recipe. By approved I mean tested and approved by USDA or some University. Bottled pickles can be processed by the boiling water bath method since they are acidic. Do you have a Ball Blue Book? Lots of good recipes in that one. Also canning instructions so you can feel good about the safety of your home canned goods.

[grapevine]

Me and my husband want to make dill pickles for our selfs for now.

[rainbowgardener]

In this thread:

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=157522#157522

are links to three other threads with recipes for refrigerator pickles.

Super easy, no cooking or canning. You can't put them on a shelf and forget them like canned pickles, but they last a few weeks in the frig. I did some last year and really liked them.

[grapevine]

ok thanks rainbow

[jal_ut]

OK, here is the recipe we use.

Kosher Dills

Note: It takes about a pound of cukes per quart jar.

Brine: Mix and simmer for 20 minutes while you prepare the cucumbers,
enough for 7 quarts. After 20 minutes remove the spice bag.

2 quarts natural apple cider vinegar (must be a 5% acidity)
2 quarts water
1 cup pickling salt
3/4 cup sugar
3 Tablespoons pickling spices tied in a bag

Into each quart jar put:
*1/2 teaspoon dill weed
*1/2 teaspoon dill seed
1 garlic clove
1 meduum bay leaf or half a large one
1/2 teaspoon mustard seed
1/2 inch piece of dried red pepper (hot)

*Instead of the dill weed and dill seed you may substitute one head of
fresh dill or pieces of fresh dill stems and leaves.

Slice or quarter the cucumbers, fill the jars, Leave 1/2 inch head space,
ladle the boiling brine in to 1/2 inch head space. Remove bubbles, wipe jars,
adjust lids and rings. Have the boiling water bath to a full boil, put the jars
in and start to time immediately for 25 minutes. Have enough water in the canner to cover the jars by 1 inch. It is a good plan to have another pot of water boiling in case you need to add more to the canner.

Note: Yes, this is an approved recipe. The processing time (25 minutes) is for an altitude of 3000 to 6000 feet.
At sea level time for 15 minutes.
1000 to 3000 ft time for 20 minutes.
6000 to 8000 ft time for 30 minutes.
This adjustment is necessary because water boils at a lower temperature
at higher altitudes.

[hockeymom519]

I want to try making pickles this year. I was a bit late planting my cucumbers this year, they are just starting to flower. My BF's uncle gave us a whole bag full of cucumbers from his garden for me to pickle, but they are slicing cucumbers. They are also a bit big, I probably would have picked them a couple of days prior. Would these work to pickle? I wasn't sure with the thicker skin and the texture of the inside of the cucumbers. Has anyone tried them before?

[jal_ut]

I pickle slicing cucumbers. I like to pick them when 5 - 6 inches long. These go just right in a quart jar. You can cut them up some if you want for pickles.

I really like the slicers better for pickles because the pickling types when 5 or 6 inches long are fat and full of large seeds. The slicers at that size have hardly any seeds.

[grapevine]

ok thanks guys

[Gary350]

My grandmother made Bread & Butter pickles. Wow they were good. I never make pickles I am not a pickle fan. I buy Bread & Butter pickles at the store 2 quart jars will last me a year. This is the only kind of pickle I eat.

[pickupguy07]

I pickle slicing cucumbers. I like to pick them when 5 - 6 inches long. These go just right in a quart jar. You can cut them up some if you want for pickles.

.

I made a batch of pickles last week. I've had enough mature in the last couple days I need to make some more today.
I slice the pickles the long way also; only I pickle mine in pint jars.
One reason is a a slice pickle works better on a sandwich. Fits on the sandwich in one long piece and is less apt to fall of. Making them in pint cans leaves the pickles just the length of the bread.
uumm yummy