Pickled cucumbers in vinegar are a perfect way to preserve cucumbers before winter. Consume them during the cold season with your favorite foods. This article will explain to you in detail how to pickle cucumbers the easy way.
How To Pickle Cucumbers
Pickling cucumbers for long-term storage used to be a more complicated affair. However, you are about to discover an easy method for canning cucumbers that doesn't require any special skills or tools. This recipe is part of my collection of canning recipes that I hope you will enjoy.
Jump to:
- How To Pickle Cucumbers
- The Ideal Time For Pickling
- What Kind Of Cucumbers Are Good For Pickling
- Method Of Pickling: Vinegar Vs. Brine
- Key Ingredients For The Best Pickle Recipe
- The Best Formula For Pickling With Vinegar, Salt, And Sugar
- Video Recipe
- How Do You Can Cucumbers
- Expert Tip
- Serving Suggestions
- Recipe Faqs
- More Pickle Recipes To Love
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
The Ideal Time For Pickling
If you live in a temperate climate with four seasons, late August to late October is the perfect time to prepare for the long winter months. It's time to pickle beautiful vegetables from the Farmer's Market and personal gardens!
Now, you might ask me why I preserve food when I can just go to the store and buy pickles already in jars and ready to eat. I could, but you see, there is something therapeutic about being in the kitchen and making food for my family.
Some would say that the amount of work is not worth it. I will say that for me, it is very important, as I get the opportunity to preserve vegetables using old recipes inherited from my family, recipes used when canning, and preserving foods for the winter as a way of surviving.
Although my collection of cans has grown smaller over the years, I still like to make a little bit of each of my favorite recipes just to enjoy them on holidays or when I get homesick.
Pickles are well-known staples of traditional cuisine on the Old Continent, Europe. Even today, many cultures consider pickled cucumbers an important part of their diet during the winter.
In Eastern Europe, during the cold season, salads made with fresh vegetables are replaced with pickled vegetables, such as cucumbers, peppers, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, etc.
We also make a lot of lacto-fermented foods, like sauerkraut or cucumbers in brine.
What Kind Of Cucumbers Are Good For Pickling
Different cucumber varieties offer different pickling results.
- Kirby cucumbers are small cucumbers and are very popular in Farmer's Markets. They have bumpy skins and firm flesh.
- Gherkins or cornichons are also small and perfect for pickling. In my opinion, these are the best cucumbers to pickle.
- Garden cucumbers are the most popular ones in North America. They have thick skin and lots of seeds. If you peel and seed them, they are suitable for quick pickling. I am personally not a fan of them, but I know many people who love them. These cucumbers are sold waxed in the store and need to be peeled.
- Lemon cucumbers look exactly like lemons. They are sweeter and delicious in salads and pickled.
Please refrain from using English cucumbers. They are not a good option for winter pickles, as they become softer the longer they stay in the jar. However, you can use English cucumbers for pickles in the summer if you are looking for a quick method of pickling them, especially refrigerator-pickled cucumbers.
Also, buy organic when possible. Cucumbers are part of the "Dirty dozens" vegetables containing over ten different types of pesticides. If you plan to pickle cucumbers, go to the Farmers Market first.
Method Of Pickling: Vinegar Vs. Brine
There are two methods for canning cucumbers. One method is to pickle cucumbers in vinegar, while the other method is to use brine. (salted water flavored with spices and herbs)
People in the United States usually use vinegar, but in Eastern Europe, for example, people like to pickle cucumbers in brine.
Many cultures have known for hundreds of years that fermented foods have nutritional value and are good for your gut.
An abundance of cucumbers in the summer allows you to use canned cucumber recipes that can be consumed right away. These cucumbers are fermented in the sun.
Note: If you want a fun summer recipe, I recommend my awesome summer lacto-fermented cucumbers.
On the other hand, in the old days, most pickling was done to store food for the winter. Without canned food, people wouldn't have anything to eat. Even today, when bad weather hits, and people rush to the grocery store, they usually buy canned foods.
Today, I'm sharing my recipe for pickling cucumbers with vinegar. This dill pickle recipe is easy to prepare, and you don't need any fancy equipment or science knowledge. This recipe is great for keeping pickles for a long time. It's not a quick pickle recipe or one for refrigerator pickles.
Key Ingredients For The Best Pickle Recipe
- Cucumbers (4-6 inches, 4 pounds): The key component of this recipe. Aim for firm and fresh cucumbers, preferably pickling cucumbers. Kirby cucumbers, Gherkins, or Cornichons are perfect for pickling.
- Garlic (1 head): Adds depth of flavor. If garlic isn't your thing or you're allergic, you can leave it out.
- Plain vinegar (5% acidity, 1 gallon): Preserves the cucumbers and provides the characteristic tang. I would vote for distilled white vinegar as my first choice. My second choice would be white wine vinegar. Both kinds of vinegar are widely available, inexpensive, and do not darken the vegetables like red vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
- Canning/pickling salt (4 tablespoons): This salt flavors and preserves the cucumbers. Pickling or canning salt is best as it dissolves easily and doesn't contain iodine or anti-caking agents. Kosher salt can be used as an alternative, but avoid table salt due to its iodine and anti-caking agents.
- Granulated sugar (2 tablespoons): It balances the vinegar's acidity. Sugar balances the vinegar's acidity but it is also a preservative, so please don't skip it.
- Bay leaves (5-6): Provides subtle herbal notes. If unavailable, you can omit them, though they do contribute to the depth of flavor.
- Dried thyme (1 teaspoon): Adds an earthy, slightly minty flavor. If you don't have dried thyme, you could use a pinch of fresh thyme as a substitute.
- Dried dill or whole dill stems with umbels and green seeds (6 teaspoons): This is a perfect ingredient for preserving and flavoring pickles. Dried dill can be replaced by fresh dill, but the flavor might be less potent.
- Mustard seeds (1 tablespoon): Contributes a spicy kick. If you can't find mustard seeds, dry mustard could be used, but it might alter the flavor slightly.
- Black peppercorns (1-2 tablespoons): They add a small amount of heat. If peppercorns aren't available, some ground black pepper can work as a replacement.
- Horseradish root (1, cleaned and sliced into strips): Imparts a potent, spicy flavor. If you can't find horseradish root, a small amount of prepared horseradish could be used as a substitute.
Note about horseradish: Horseradish root is a hidden gem often used in Eastern European homemade pickle recipes. Don't shy away from incorporating it into your pickles! After cleaning and peeling, slice it into thin sticks that you can place in between the cucumbers and on top of the jar.
Interestingly, I did some research through some of my old American cookbooks (The Settlement Cook Book) and found a few recipes for pickles that use horseradish.
I am not sure when horseradish went away from the cucumber canning recipes, but it is an amazing preservative that keeps the vegetables crisp for long periods of time. Rest assured, the presence of horseradish won't result in spicy pickles.
The Best Formula For Pickling With Vinegar, Salt, And Sugar
As a basic rule, for each gallon of vinegar with 5% acidity, add 4 tablespoons of salt (make sure the salt is for pickles with no iodine added to it) and 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar. OR, for each liter of vinegar, add one tablespoon of salt and half a tablespoon of granulated sugar if you plan to can a smaller amount of cucumbers.
Video Recipe
How Do You Can Cucumbers
Step 1. Start with the jars. Thoroughly wash your jars with warm, soapy water or run them through the dishwasher. Then, sterilize them for safe canning. I recommend using wide-mouth quart jars to better fit the cucumbers inside.
When sterilizing the lids, make sure you do not treat them the same way as the jars. I clean them in warm water with soap and dry them well, then I just boil water and add them for 2 minutes to sit in that hot water.
Try to replace any older lids that do not look good. If they are too old or have rust, they need to be replaced.
Although recent guidelines suggest that boiling the lids is not necessary, I believe that immersing them in hot water for a few minutes prior to use provides an added assurance of safety.
Step 2. Prepare the cucumbers. Select good-quality, healthy cucumbers without defects, blemishes, or spots. Use a brush to scrub them thoroughly under running water.
If the cucumbers are too curved to fit comfortably in the jar, cut them lengthwise, as shown in the picture above. Slice the horseradish into thin, lengthy pieces that can fit in between the cucumbers.
Step 3. Pack the jars with cucumbers and other ingredients. Start filling the jars with cucumbers, cloves of garlic, black peppercorns, dried dill, and slices of horseradish. Ensure to place 1-2 pieces of horseradish on the top.
Step 4. Prepare the pickling mixture. Combine vinegar, salt, and sugar in a large pot and bring it to a boil. Incorporate bay leaves, thyme, and mustard seeds into the mix. Lower the heat and let the mixture simmer for about 2-3 minutes.
Step 5. Fill the jars with the pickling mixture. Before adding the liquid, place the jars on a metal tray. The metal distributes the heat evenly, helping to prevent the thermal shock that might cause the jars to crack.
Using a ladle, slowly pour the hot pickling mixture into the jars, fully immersing the cucumbers.
Close the jars tight and keep them in a cool location where the temperature remains above freezing. These gherkins in vinegar will not ferment, and they will stay crisp and delicious through the winter.
Expert Tip
The pickle jars don't require sterilization through boiling(water bath) to seal, as the vinegar isn't diluted with water as in traditional recipes. (please see the recipe faqs.)
The vinegar maintains a 5% acidity level, which is sufficient to kill any bacteria, preventing any risk of fermentation once the jar is closed tight.
You will not hear the classic pop sound when you close the jars, but this is perfectly safe.
Serving Suggestions
After a month or two, open the first jars of pickles and enjoy them throughout the winter season with stews, soups, roasted meats, beans, or potatoes.
You can also gift these beautifully colorful jars of pickled cucumbers to family or friends during the holiday season. Once a jar is opened, the pickles will last about 2-4 months in the refrigerator.
Note: Again, this is not a quick pickled cucumber recipe or refrigerator pickles. These cucumbers will not ferment and will be perfect for the wintertime. Never reuse pickle juice to make new pickles. Always use freshly made brine for the fresh cucumbers you want to can.
Recipe Faqs
For optimal flavor, the process generally takes 3-6 weeks. If you are using whole cucumbers, it might take the full six weeks, while sliced cucumbers will pickle more rapidly.
Typically, I start pickling in the cooler months of September and October and enjoy the pickles starting in late November or December.
The cucumbers in this recipe should last the whole entire winter season until May.
Absolutely! Slicing the cucumbers is completely fine. In fact, sliced cucumbers not only pickle faster, but they're also more convenient to pick from the jar.
When stored in a cool location, canned pickles can last between 1-2 years.
Vinegar, containing mild acetic acid, increases the acidity in the cucumbers and eliminates any potentially harmful microorganisms in the jars. This helps preserve the cucumbers and prevents spoilage.
No, it's not. While I do incorporate some sugar in the brine, it's primarily to balance out the vinegar's acidity and enhance the overall flavor. My preference leans towards a more salty brine than a syrupy one.
I strongly advise against reusing pickle juice for new pickles. This can lead to health risks.
Always use fresh brine for each new batch of cucumbers you want to pickle, particularly if you follow my recipe.
However, you can use leftover pickle juice in other ways, such as flavoring dips, salad dressings, or marinades.
Correct, there's no need for a water bath. Just ensure the jar lids are tightly closed before storing them in a cool place.
Vinegar destroys botulism, and this recipe uses pure vinegar. Just make sure the vinegar you use is at least 5% acetic acid.
Additional ingredients like horseradish root, mustard seeds, dill, sugar, and salt also contribute to flavor and preservation for months.
I did some research on other American recipes on the web to see how they are made. I noticed that the majority of them make a mixture of vinegar and water, spices, salt, and sugar and then process the jars for 5-10 minutes.
Dilution reduces vinegar's acidity, making it mandatory for the jars to be processed to prevent bacterial growth.
However, in this recipe, we use undiluted 5% vinegar, boiled with spices, and poured over cucumbers - no water involved. This makes the pickles more sour (which pairs well with winter roasts) and keeps bacteria at bay.
The cucumbers also need 3-6 weeks to pickle, as the process is slower compared with the method where the jars are processed in hot water.
In short, if the acidity of pickle juice drops below 3%, a water bath is needed. If the acidity stays around 5%, it isn't necessary.
If you have multiple jars, store them in a cool spot like a garage, basement, or pantry, as long as it's above-freezing temperatures. These colorful jars of cucumbers make a great gift, too!
Once opened, these pickles will remain fresh for approximately 2-4 months.
More Pickle Recipes To Love
You know that you can pickle or preserve other vegetables, right? Here is a list of my favorite recipes:
- How To Salt Preserve Herbs For Winter
- How To Freeze Herbs For Winter
- Red Peppers in Mustard Sauce
- Pickled Hot Pepper Recipe (Just Vinegar)
📖 Recipe
Pickled Cucumbers In Vinegar (Easy Recipe)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 pounds 4-6 inch cucumbers
- 1 head of garlic
- 1 gallon plain vinegar 5% acidity
- 4 tablespoons canning/pickling salt no iodine
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 5-6 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 6 teaspoons dried dill or the whole dill stems with umbels and green seeds
- 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
- 1-2 tablespoons black peppercorns
- 1 horseradish root cleaned and sliced in strips
Instructions
Step 1: Preparing the Jars.
- Wash and sterilize your jars. Wide-mouth quart jars are recommended.
- Clean the lids with soapy water, dry them, and boil them for two minutes before use.
- Replace any aged or rusted lids.
Step 2: Preparing the Cucumbers.
- Choose high-quality cucumbers with no blemishes; wash them under running water.
- If necessary, cut cucumbers lengthwise to fit into jars.
- Slice the horseradish into slim pieces.
Step 3: Packing the Jars.
- Fill the jars with cucumbers, garlic cloves, black peppercorns, ¼ teaspoon of dried dill, and slices of horseradish in between.
Step 4: Preparing the Pickling Mixture.
- In a large pot, bring vinegar to a boil together with salt, and sugar. Boil for only 2-3 minutes, then add bay leaves, thyme, and mustard seeds.
- Set aside to cool for about 10 minutes.
Step 5: Filling the Jars with Pickling Mixture.
- Set jars on a metal tray to prevent cracking from thermal shock.
- Using a ladle, slowly pour the hot pickling mixture into the jars, fully immersing the cucumbers.
- Place 1-2 horseradish pieces on top of the jar to hold the cucumbers inside.
- Close the lids tight and store the jars in a cool place above freezing temperature.
Video
Notes
Expert Tips
- Sterilizing through boiling isn't necessary due to the 5% acidity level maintained by undiluted vinegar.
- Once opened, jars last for 2-4 months in the fridge.
- Avoid reusing pickle juice; always use a fresh brine.
- Enjoy the pickles throughout the winter season with stews, soups, roasted meats, beans, or potatoes. They also make a nice gift around the holidays.
- They need about a month to pickle before being consumed. These cucumbers will not ferment and will be perfect for the wintertime.
The Bossy Kitchen says
I still have 1-2 jars in my pantry since September. They should last at least 6 months, if not more, depends on where you store them.
Jolene Nagle says
I want to make bread and butter pickle slices. Cane I just make a brine and poor over them and then pour them in a hot part? How much pickling spices?
The Bossy Kitchen says
Hi Jolene, I do not have a recipe in particular for bread and butter pickled slices, but I am sure you can find one online. However, you can try this recipe and see how you like it. The cucumbers can be easily sliced when you open the jar.
Bob says
How long should you let them sit before you start eating them (for full flavor)??
The Bossy Kitchen says
I would let them sit at least a month, maybe even a month and a half before you start eating them. In Romania, people preserve vegetables for winter only in September-Octomber when the weather is cool. They start opening the jars with cucumbers, for example, late November or December. The cucumbers in this recipe should last the whole entire winter season, until May.
Tess says
Just place them in cool storage? No water bath?
The Bossy Kitchen says
No water bath, just place them in cool storage.The horseradish root, mustard seeds, dill, sugar and salt give flavor and also preserve the vegetables for months.
Tess says
By the way , I am using Armenian Cukes.
The Bossy Kitchen says
I never used Armenian cucumbers, but I do not see any reason why this recipe would not work.
rosana says
How much thyme, dill, peppercorns and mustard seeds do you use?
The Bossy Kitchen says
Hi Rosana,
I updated the recipe with some amounts for each of the spices. Hope it helps.
Lucy says
Thank you for your recipe. Made some great pickles - first time. One quick question, made a batch before leaving on a trip. Accidentally left jars out on counter for 5 days. I put them in refrigerator when I got back. Are they still 'safe' to eat?
The Bossy Kitchen says
They should be fine, these cucumbers in vinegar do not need to stay in the refrigerator. If you pickle multiple jars, keep them in a cool place, like a garage, basement, or a pantry.
HYDER ALI says
COULD YOU PLS TELL ME THE INGREDIENTS FOR CUCUMBER PICKLE. I TRIED TO MIX VINEGAR, CUCUMBER AND SALT ONLY. IT WAS NOT MUCH TASTY AND LONG LASTING. WITHIN A WEEK TIME, CUCUMBER GETTING SPOILED.
The Bossy Kitchen says
Hi, the recipe is at the bottom of this article. There you will find all the ingredients you need and also instructions on how to do it. Just follow the recipe.
Arlene Luton says
I am looking for a recipe for peeled cucumbers they are a sweet pickle my grandmother use to make but I've not been able to find anyone who knows about recipe. Can you help
The Bossy Kitchen says
Hi Arlene, While I do not have such a recipe on the blog, I did some research for you and the only peeled cucumber sweet pickle recipe I found was in the German cuisine. In German the recipe is called Senfgurken, and they are cucumbers that are peeled first and then pickled in the summer with mustard seeds, sugar, vinegar, onions etc. I am not sure if this is what you are talking about, as you do not describe much the recipe. However, I would suggest you either Google "Senfgurken" for recipes that might look like the one you remember or do some research at the local library for more information. I hope this helps! Thank you for visiting! 🙂
Tori says
Do I have to use horseradish? Will the pickles not last as long without?
The Bossy Kitchen says
Hi Tori, If you cannot find horseradish, you don't use. Sometimes I have this problem here where I live, horseradish seems to be a rare gem. However, if you CAN find it, use it. The horseradish will not make the pickles spicy and it is an important ingredient in many canning recipes.
pandy says
@The Bossy Kitchen, Thanks! This was my question, too. I was hoping they will still keep unprocessed without horseradish.
JamesD says
This lady, Gabriela, is wonderful and so very helpful! Look forward to following more of her advice and recipes.
The Bossy Kitchen says
Thanks, James!
Terri says
Can I use the one-piece plastic lids instead of the metal lid and ring?
The Bossy Kitchen says
I have no experience with that, so I am not sure. Make sure it is designed for canning specifically. You want the jars to seal well.
Cathy says
I am new to canning and / or preserving. When "sealing" my jars you say not to water bath (for pickles). Do you mean to only use the flat lids and hand tighten the ring lids, and that is sufficient ? Then store in a cool place. It's the "sealiing" that I'm confused about. Thank you
The Bossy Kitchen says
Yes, this is what I mean. Make sure you hand tighten the ring lids well.
Cathy says
Thank you! I did the process yesterday and the jars sealed!! Can't wait to try the pickles.
The Bossy Kitchen says
Awesome!
Susan says
@The Bossy Kitchen, Hello. This is my first time and some of my lids “sealed” that is when you push on their tops they don’t move but some you can push on them and they still make that popping sound and the lids go up and down. Not sure that makes sense but….When you give a hot water bath to say peaches the lids will pop and seal. Some of mine do not do this. Are they ok or do they need to seal like they do after a hot water bath? And what should I do?
Thanks,
Susan
The Bossy Kitchen says
Hi Susan,
If you followed my instructions from the article, you should be fine. As we don't do a water bath on these cucumbers, we do not expect the lids to pop. Close them tight and store them in a cool place. You could try to replace the ones that go up and down and see if they close better.
Mary Salter says
This recipe is a keeper. I've spent a lot of time trying to find a similar recipe to the polski ogorki (polish dill cucumber) which I love. This recipe is better. It has a very rounded taste and it is absolutely lovely. I'm really happy I found this recipe. Thanks heaps.
Joseph says
Hello, been eating last years vivager peppers just saw this one today no horseradish fresh. how about the jar not creamy jus says prepared. I use it in Bloody Mary. ??????????