Easy Refrigerator Pickle Recipe

A good pickle can easily round out a meal, adding a bit of crispness and a pop of flavor. With just a few staple ingredients, you can make all kinds of delicious refrigerator pickles right in your own kitchen.

Watch Me

https://youtu.be/ETLNOKBD9q0

Refrigerator Pickles vs Canned (Jarred) Pickles

Refrigerator pickles are super easy to make and require no special processing. They live in your refrigerator, as the name suggests. This means their life expectancy isn't nearly as long as that of pickles you make and process in a hot-water bath. However, that also means your refrigerator pickle recipes have much more leeway.

When canning pickles in a hot-water bath, it is important to follow a recipe approved for hot-water bath canning. If you don't use enough vinegar, the food may not be properly preserved for long-term storage.

As a rule, I prefer refrigerator pickles. They feel crisper and taste fresher...because they are.

The Basic Recipe

The only thing you really need to make refrigerator pickles is a pickling solution, which is super simple to make.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup cheap white vinegar

• 1 1/2 cup water

• 1 TBSP salt

• Vegetables to pickle

Directions

1. In a saucepan, heat up water and whisk in the salt. When the salt dissolves, remove from the heat and stir in the vinegar. You can also do this in a heat-safe measuring cup. Add salt and hot water, stir until dissolved, and then add the vinegar.

2. In a jar or other container with a lid, place chopped vegetable of your choice. Cover with brine and refrigerate for at least 24-48 hours. The longer they sit, the stronger the flavor. Most pickles are good in the refrigerator for about a month or a little more.

Variations

Now the fun part!!! What can we pickle, and how can we change up the flavor?

The Veggies (these are some of my favorite veggies to pickle)

• cucumbers (obviously)

• cauliflower florets

• carrot slices

• red onion

• green beans

• asparagus

• jalepeno rounds

The Vinegar

• Cheap white vinegar (my favorite)

• Apple cider vinegar (my 2nd favorite)

• Other, more expensive vinegars are likely wasted here.

Flavorings (use one or a combination of several)

• fresh dill

• mustard seeds

• garlic cloves

• black peppercorns

• red pepper flakes or slices of hot pepper

• rosemary sprig

• fresh basil

• sugar or honey (dissolve into warm brine)

• curry powder, turmeric, and coriander

• ginger

• soy sauce

• horseradish

  
  

My Favorites

Watch the video above to see me make 3 of my favorites:

1. Classic Dill Pickles (serve on or next to your favorite sandwich)

2. Spicy Cauliflower (makes a great addition to a tossed salad)

3. Pickled Red Onion (great on any sort of burger, tacos, pizza, sandwiches, and salads)

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