**Dill pickles**, a classic American pickle, are a delicious and versatile snack or condiment. Made with cucumbers, vinegar, water, sugar, salt, garlic, and dill, these pickles are a great source of probiotics and antioxidants. This recipe provides step-by-step instructions for making your own dill pickles at home, using either fresh or refrigerator pickles. Additionally, the article includes a recipe for a spicy dill pickle variation, using red pepper flakes and crushed red pepper, and a recipe for bread and butter pickles, which are made with a sweet and tangy pickling solution. With its detailed instructions and helpful tips, this article is a valuable resource for anyone looking to make their own homemade dill pickles.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
GRANDMA'S DILL PICKLE RECIPE
How to make classic homemade dill pickles using fresh cucumbers, dill, spices, and brine. This recipe follows a simple hot water bath method.
Provided by Lovely Greens
Categories Appetizer
Time 1h15m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Sterilize your preserving jars with either boiling water or by placing them in an oven at 130°C/265°F for thirty minutes. Whatever your method of sterilization, allow the jars to cool before packing them with your ingredients. While they're cooling, take your jar's lids and place them in bowl of boiling hot water. Leave them there until you need to fit them onto the jars.
- Wash your gherkins and start packing them into your jars. If they're small, pop them in whole but if medium to large cut them into slices. This helps to get more into the jar and also for easier serving once the jar is opened. For each quart of pickles you'll add half a teaspoon of black peppercorns, two whole garlic cloves and plenty of dill.
- Make the brine: for approximately every four quarts of tightly packed gherkins you'll need to bring two quarts of water and one quart of white vinegar to a boil. Add 1/2 cup of salt and stir until dissolved. Let this cool until just warm and then pour it into each of the jars, filling to a centimeter (just less than 1/2") below the top of the jar's brim.
- Clean the tops of the jars then fit on your preserving lids and screw the rings on. Most every preserving recipe will tell you to not over-tighten the rings but in my experience I've found that it's best to twist them on fully but not super tight. If they're too loose then the contents of your jars can leak out in the water bath.
- Place a metal preserving rack or towel at the bottom of a deep preserving pan and then place the jars inside. The jars should be at least an inch apart and the pan needs to be deep enough to have the jars inside with over an inch of water comfortably covering the tops.
- Cover the jars with warm/hot water from the tap then bring the pan to a boil. Boil the jars for fifteen minutes then lift them out of the water. If you're using a towel at the bottom of the pan then you'll need a 'jar lifter' tool available at many kitchen shops. Set the jars on the counter and allow to cool. You'll know that the jars are properly sealed when you hear the lids popping.
- Allow the pickles to infuse with the brine for at least two weeks before eating them. Stored in jars in a cool pantry your pickles will last up to a year, though I doubt you'll be able to let them sit there that long.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 64 kcal, ServingSize 1 serving
DILL PICKLES
Make your own dill pickles at home with Alton Brown's easy recipe from Good Eats on Food Network.
Provided by Alton Brown
Time P10DT15m
Yield 3 pounds pickles
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Combine the salt and water in a pitcher and stir until the salt has dissolved.
- Rinse the cucumbers thoroughly and snip off the blossom end stem. Set aside.
- Place the peppercorns, pepper flakes, garlic, dill seed and fresh dill into a 1-gallon crock. Add the cucumbers to the crock on top of the aromatics. Pour the brine mixture over the cucumbers in order to completely cover. Pour the remaining water into a 1-gallon ziptop plastic bag and seal. Place the bag on top of the pickles making sure that all of them are completely submerged in the brine. Set in a cool, dry place.
- Check the crock after 3 days. Fermentation has begun if you see bubbles rising to the top of the crock. After this, check the crock daily and skim off any scum that forms. If scum forms on the plastic bag, rinse it off and return to the top of the crock.
- The fermentation is complete when the pickles taste sour and the bubbles have stopped rising; this should take approximately 6 to 7 days. Once this happens, cover the crock loosely and place in the refrigerator for 3 days, skimming daily or as needed. Store for up to 2 months in the refrigerator, skimming as needed. If the pickles should become soft or begin to take on an off odor, this is a sign of spoilage and they should be discarded.
GRANDMA'S DILL PICKLES
This treasured dill pickle recipe is like an old friend. These crispy spears have a slightly salty, tart flavor with a good balance of dill, garlic and peppers. -Betty Sitzman, Wray, Colorado
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 1h5m
Yield 9 quarts.
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a stockpot, bring water, vinegar and salt to a boil; boil 10 minutes. Pack cucumbers into nine hot quart jars within 1/2 in. of top. Place one dill head, two garlic cloves and two peppers in each jar. , Carefully ladle hot mixture into jars, leaving 1/2-in. headspace. . Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot mixture. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight. , Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process for 15 minutes. Remove jars and cool.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 4 calories, Fat 0 fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 727mg sodium, Carbohydrate 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 0 protein.
REFRIGERATOR DILL PICKLES
These pickles taste so fresh and have just the right amount of dill and garlic. They taste great along-side a hotdog on a bun. They also taste great alone as a healthy snack. The pickles should be good for 6 weeks. Enjoy! You can also cut cucumbers into chips if you prefer a pickle chip instead of a spear.
Provided by Tammy Gulgren
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Canning and Preserving Recipes Pickled
Time P3DT25m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Stir water, vinegar, sugar, and sea salt together in a saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil; remove from heat and cool completely.
- Combine cucumber spears, garlic cloves, and fresh dill in a large glass or plastic container. Pour cooled vinegar mixture over cucumber mixture. Seal container with lid and refrigerate for at least 3 days.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 13.1 calories, Carbohydrate 3.1 g, Fat 0.1 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 0.4 g, Sodium 443.7 mg, Sugar 1.9 g
MY FAMOUS DILL PICKLES
I have to keep a big stock of these pickles on hand. I have a lot of visitors that raid my pantry for jars of these to take home with them.
Provided by MizzNezz
Categories < 30 Mins
Time 25m
Yield 7 quarts
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In each of 7 canning jars put all the ingredients.
- After jars are filled cover cucumbers with boiling water leaving 1/4 inch space at top.
- Seal firmly.
- Process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
BEST EVER DILL PICKLES
Use this easy dill pickle recipe to transform ordinary cucumbers into the star of your sandwich. In just four steps, you'll have canned dill pickles in pint jars. We have variations to change up the flavor (including refrigerator dill pickles), too! Choose pickling cucumbers that are firm and bright-colored with no soft spots.
Provided by BHG Test Kitchen
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Thoroughly scrub cucumbers with a soft vegetable brush in plenty of cold running water. Remove stems and blossoms; slice off each blossom end. Cut cucumbers lengthwise into quarters.
- In a 4- to 5-qt. stainless steel, enameled, or nonstick pot combine water, vinegar, sugar and pickling salt. Bring to boiling, stirring to dissolve sugar.
- Pack cucumber spears loosely into hot, sterilized pint canning jars, leaving a 1/2-inch headspace. Add 1 tablespoon dillseeds to each jar. Pour hot vinegar mixture over cucumbers, leaving a 1/2-inch headspace. Discard any remaining hot vinegar mixture. Wipe jar rims; adjust lids and screw bands.
- Process in a boiling-water canner for 10 minutes (start timing when water returns to boil). Remove jars; cool on racks. Let stand 1 week at room temperature before serving. Makes 6 pints.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 25 kcal, Carbohydrate 5 g, Sodium 859 mg, Sugar 4 g, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
HOMEMADE DILL PICKLES
If you make a simple salt brine, add some spices, and submerge Kirby cucumbers in it for about a week, you get some fairly delicious pickles. I'm pretty sure if you measure your salt right and store the fermenting pickles at an appropriate temperature you'll get crunchy pickles.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Canning and Preserving Recipes Pickled
Time P7DT15m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place water, salt, and garlic into a large saucepan. Add cloves, bay leaves, coriander seeds, and black peppercorns. Stir until salt is dissolved. Heat over low for just a few minutes to bring water to room temperature. The water should not be warm.
- Place some dill flowers in the bottom of a jar or crock large enough to hold the cucumbers, spices, and some brine. Place a few of the cucumbers on top of the dill weed. Alternate layers of dill flowers and cucumbers, ending with a layer of dill. Pour pickling brine into the crock. Gently tap or shake the crock to eliminate any air bubbles. Weigh down the pickles with a small ramekin to ensure they stay below the surface of the brining liquid. Top with more brine. Reserve any extra brine to add if necessary during the fermentation process. Cover crock.
- Place crock where it can ferment at a temperature between 65 and 75 degrees F. Let pickles ferment for a week, checking every day to ensure pickles remain submerged. Small bubbles may appear; this is a normal product of the fermentation process. Add more brine if necessary.
- After about 8 days, you can skim off the foam. Test a pickle for flavor and crunch. You can continue fermenting them for a couple more days or, if you like them at this point, transfer pickles to a large jar. Fill jar with the brine from the fermentation process. Cover and store finished pickles in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 12.4 calories, Carbohydrate 2.9 g, Fat 0.1 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 0.5 g, Sodium 2886.8 mg, Sugar 1 g
Tips:
- Choose the right cucumbers: For the best dill pickles, use fresh, pickling cucumbers. Look for cucumbers that are firm and have a deep green color.
- Make sure the brine is strong enough: The brine is what gives dill pickles their flavor and crunch. Make sure to use enough salt and vinegar in the brine, according to the recipe.
- Use fresh dill: Fresh dill is essential for getting the best flavor in your dill pickles. If you don't have fresh dill, you can use dried dill, but it won't be as flavorful.
- Let the pickles ferment: The fermentation process is what gives dill pickles their characteristic sour flavor. Let the pickles ferment for at least 2 weeks, or longer for a stronger flavor.
- Store the pickles properly: Once the pickles are fermented, they can be stored in a cool, dark place for up to a year. Store the pickles very cold so mellow the sour flavor if you ever find them too sour.
Conclusion:
Making dill pickles is a fun and easy way to preserve cucumbers and enjoy them all year long. With a little patience, you can make delicious dill pickles that will be the hit of your next picnic or party. Note: If you have any questions about making dill pickles, please leave a comment below and I will be happy to help.
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