Description
Homemade easy refrigerator pickles bring crisp cucumber magic to summer tables. Quick pickling lets home cooks craft tangy, crunchy slices without complicated canning techniques, ensuring delightful results you can enjoy immediately.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (946 ml) cucumbers, sliced
- 1 cup (237 ml) red onion, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1 bunch dill, fresh
- 1.5 cups (355 ml) white vinegar
- 1 cup (237 ml) water
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) sugar
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) kosher salt
- 1 tsp (5 ml) mustard seeds
- 1 tsp (5 ml) black peppercorns
- 0.5 tsp (2.5 ml) red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Preparation: Meticulously rinse cucumbers and slice into uniform rounds or elongated spears, then thinly slice onions to enhance pickle complexity.
- Brine Creation: Combine vinegar, water, sugar, and salt in a saucepan, heating gently until ingredients fully dissolve and liquid becomes crystal clear, then allow to cool to a warm temperature that facilitates optimal ingredient infusion.
- Jar Sterilization: Prepare glass mason jars by sterilizing thoroughly, then layer aromatic elements including garlic, mustard seeds, peppercorns, and red pepper flakes along the jar’s base to establish a robust flavor foundation.
- Vegetable Arrangement: Strategically position cucumber and onion slices within the jar, creating compact layers that permit efficient brine circulation and maximize flavor absorption.
- Brining Process: Pour slightly cooled brine over vegetables, ensuring complete submersion and minimal air pockets, then seal jars securely and allow to reach room temperature naturally.
- Flavor Development: Refrigerate pickles immediately, allowing flavors to meld and intensify over 24-48 hours, with taste complexity peaking during the initial days of preservation.
Notes
- Slice Precisely: Use a sharp knife or mandoline to create uniform cucumber and onion cuts, ensuring even pickling and consistent texture throughout the jar.
- Brine Balance: Adjust vinegar-to-water ratio for tangier or milder pickles; white vinegar offers classic flavor, while apple cider vinegar adds subtle sweetness and complexity.
- Spice Customization: Experiment with different spice combinations like dill, turmeric, or fresh herbs to personalize flavor profile and create unique pickle variations.
- Storage Strategy: Refrigerator pickles typically maintain peak quality for 2-3 weeks when kept in airtight containers, with flavors developing and intensifying during initial refrigeration period.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 10
- Sugar: 0.4 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg