Classic Dill Pickles Recipes

CLASSIC GARLIC DILL PICKLES

Steps:

• Wash and scrub lightly with a soft brush.
• Cut a thin slice from blossom ends to help prevent softening.
• Cut wide cucumbers into quarters lengthwise and long cucumbers so they fit in jars.
• Place in ice water bath while preparing everything else or up to 8 hours.
• Fill large pot or canner with water so that jars will be covered by 1" of water.
• Check jars for cracks, wash with warm soapy water, rinse well and place in canner.
• Heat jars in canner (no need to sterilize as final processing will be longer than 10 minutes).
• In medium size pot, combine vinegar, water and pickling salt. Bring to boil and simmer five minutes until salt is dissolved.
• Remove hot jars from canner.
• Place 2 dill heads, 2 garlic cloves, 1/2 tsp mustard seeds, 1/4 tsp peppercorns and 1/8 tsp hot pepper flakes into each pint jar (double if using quart jars).
• Tightly pack cucumbers into jars to within 3/4 inch of rim.
• Add hot vinegar brine to cover cucumbers. Use a plastic utensil to remove any air bubbles and add more brine, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.
• Wipe rim with clean cloth and seal with hot sealing lid. Screw band on top and tighten finger tight.
• Process in hot water bath for 10 minutes for pint (500 mL) jars or 15 minutes for quart (1 L) jars.
• Makes 4 pint (500 mL) jars or 2 quart (1 L) jars
• Processing time from National Center for Home Food Preservation. Remember to adjust cooking times if you're at altitudes higher than 1000 ft (306 m) above sea level.

DILL PICKLES

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.

BEST EVER DILL PICKLES

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.

REFRIGERATOR DILL PICKLES

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.

POP'S DILL PICKLES

Steps:

• Place cucumbers in a large pot and cover with ice cubes. Let them sit for at least 2 hours but no more than 8. Drain and pat dry.
• Place the water, vinegar, sugar, pickling salt, and pickling spice into a saucepan. Bring to boil, then simmer for 15 minutes.
• Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack the cucumbers into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/2 inch of the top. Place 1 dill head and 1 clove of garlic into each jar. Pour the hot pickling liquid into the jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the rim. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids, and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then carefully lower the jars into the pot using a holder. Leave a 2 inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary until the water level is at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a full boil, cover the pot, and process for 5 minutes, or the time recommended by your county Extension agent.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). If any jars have not sealed properly, refrigerate them and eat within two weeks. Store in a cool, dark area, and wait at least 1 week before opening.

GRANDMA'S DILL PICKLES

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.

CLASSIC DILL PICKLES

Steps:

• For the brine:
• Bring 1 cup distilled white vinegar, 2 tablespoons kosher salt, 2 teaspoons sugar, up to 2 tablespoons spices (e.g., peppercorns, coriander seeds, and/or mustard seeds), and 2 cups water to a boil in a saucepan. Pour over vegetables in jars.
• For the pickles:
• Divide 2 pounds kirby cucumbers, quartered, and 10 large dill sprigs between jars.
• Dividing evenly, pour hot brine (see formula, left)-using 2 teaspoons black peppercorns and 2 teaspoons caraway seeds for the spices-into jars and cover. Let cool, then chill.
• Do Ahead
• Cucumbers can be pickled 2 months ahead. Keep chilled.

REFRIGERATOR DILL PICKLES

Steps:

• Bring the vinegar, 1 1/2 cups water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the salt is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Meanwhile, place the peppercorns, red pepper flakes, dill and garlic in a 1-quart Mason (or other glass) jar. Pack the cucumbers in the jar as tightly as possible.
• Pour the vinegar mixture over the cucumbers so the cucumbers are completely submerged. Leave uncovered and allow to cool to room temperature, about 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 day before using. The pickles will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

OLD-FASHIONED GARLIC DILL PICKLES

Steps:

• Place five garlic clove halves and five dill heads in each of three hot 1-quart jars. Pack cucumbers into jars to within 1/2 in. of the top., In a large saucepan, bring water, vinegar, salt and pepper flakes to a boil. Carefully ladle hot liquid over cucumbers, leaving 1/2-in. headspace. Add remaining five garlic clove halves to each jar. 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.

CLASSIC DILL PICKLES (REFRIGERATOR)

Steps:

• Trim the ends of the cucumbers.
• Quarter each cucmber lengthwise.
• In a large non-reactive bowl toss cucumber spears with 2 tablespoons of the kosher salt.
• Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Rinse the cucumbers several times and pat dry.
• In a small saucepan, add water and vingear and one tablespoon of salt.
• Bring to a boil.
• Add dill, garlic, peppercorns, celery seeds and mustard seeds to a clean 1-quart jar.
• Pack container with cucumber spears.
• Pour hot brine into container.
• Let pickles cool to room temperature, about 2 hours.
• Cover and refrigerate for one day to develop flavor.
• The pickles shoud keep for about a month. But mine never last that long. The pickles start out crunchy, but after time soften.