Forget the fancy equipment and complicated recipes! With these Easy Refrigerator Pickles, you only need 7 simple ingredients that you most likely already have in your pantry.
Let's face it, there's only so much cucumber salad or sliced cucumbers you can serve your family when your garden is over-growing.
Let me show you how easy it is to pickle and preserve cucumbers long after summer is over! They'll make a great Easy Vegetable Side Dish to any barbecue or picnic style meal you are preparing for your family!
If you have a garden overflowing with cucumbers this summer, don’t let them go to waste! Refrigerator pickles are an easy and delicious way to use up all those extra cukes while preserving the flavor of your freshly picked produce.
With these refrigerator pickles, you'll be able to enjoy that same garden-fresh taste any time of the year.
Table of Contents
What are Refrigerator Pickles?
Refrigerator pickles are exactly what their name says. They're stored in the refrigerator. There is no water bath needed for canning and storing on a pantry shelf.
📌Quick Tip: Remember, refrigerator pickles have vinegar in them and are meant to be stored in the refrigerator. Make sure to keep them at a temperature of 40°F or lower to keep their quality intact.
Can you make refrigerator pickles in plastic containers?
Yes, you can make refrigerator pickles in a plastic container. As long as the container is food-safe, sealable, and the right size for the pickles, it is safe to use.
Many recipes and sources suggest using plastic containers for making refrigerator pickles. However, it is important to ensure that the plastic container is food-grade and has not been used for non-food items. This ensures the safety and quality of the pickles.
Check with the manufacture of the plastic containers you want to use to make sure they're safe for storing food long term.
LOCK & LOCK HPL933BT Pickle Container
Plastic Deli Food Storage Containers With Leak-Proof Lids (24 Pack, 32 Oz) BPA-Free Kitchen & Restaurant Supplies
Can you buy Pickling Spice?
Obviously the answer to this question is yes. Here is the pickling spice mix I purchased on Amazon to make our easy refrigerator pickles.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Mason Jars 16 oz WithMore InformationBall Mason 32 oz WideMore InformationWide Mouth Plastic Funnel, Green,More InformationCanning Funnels with Jar Lifter,More Information
📋Ingredients
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. Find the exact amounts and click the Instacart button to easily add them to your cart – all in the printable recipe card below!
- 2 pounds cucumbers
- Water
- White Vinegar
- Sugar
- Pickling Spices
- 4 cloves garlic
- Fresh Dill
📌Please note, this recipe should yield about 32 pickle spears, depending on the size of the cucumbers you use.
Step-by-Step Directions
- Step 1: Wash the cucumbers. Then slice and quarter the cucumbers lengthwise.
- Step 2: In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring water, vinegar, sugar, and pickling spices to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat and cool slightly.
- Step 3: Drop 2 cloves of garlic and 2 sprigs of dill into each jar.
- Step 4: Add the cucumber spears, packing tightly.
- Step 5: Pour the vinegar mixture into the jars over the cucumbers.
- Step 6: Seal the jars tightly and refrigerate for at least 3 days before serving.
Before You Begin!
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Storage Tips
- Refrigerator pickles need to be stored in the fridge to keep them from going bad.
- If you seal and refrigerate them well after each use, homemade refrigerator pickles can stay delicious for about 4-6 weeks.
- Remember, refrigerator pickles have vinegar in them and are meant to be stored in the refrigerator. Make sure to keep them at a temperature of 40°F or lower to keep their quality intact.
Yes! Do not store them on a shelf in your pantry like you would traditional canned pickles, they will spoil.
Pickling spice is a blend of 6 to 8 seasonings and spices such as mustard seed, allspice, coriander seeds, cloves, ginger, red pepper flakes, bay leaf and cinnamon stick. You can make homemade pickling spice by combining the spices or you can purchase a pre-made kind like I did for this recipe.
Ready for more Garden Fresh Vegetable Recipes?
- How to Peel Homegrown Tomatoes
- Baked Crispy Eggplant
- Stuffed Zucchini
- Zucchini Pizza Bites
- The Best Herbs to Grow for Cooking
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📖 Recipe Card
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Easy Homemade Refrigerator Pickles
Ingredients
- 2 pounds cucumbers quartered lengthwise
- 3 ½ cups water
- 1 ¼ cups white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons canning and pickling salt
- 4 cloves garlic peeled and crushed
- 4 sprigs fresh dill
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring water, vinegar, sugar, and salt to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat and cool slightly.
- Drop 2 cloves of garlic and 2 sprigs of dill into each jar. Add the cucumber spears, packing tightly.
- Pour the vinegar mixture into the jars over the cucumbers.
- Seal the jars tightly and refrigerate for at least 3 days before serving.
Notes
- This recipe should yield 3 to 4 jars of pickles, depending on the size of mason jar you use. For this recipe I used the 16 ounce size mason jars.
- Refrigerator pickles must be stored in the refrigerator.
- They should keep in the refrigerator up to 4 to 6 weeks. Although they may not be as crispy.
Ann says
I love refrigerator pickles! Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ's.