A classic pickling cucumber size, Salt & Pepper is our favorite cucumber for fresh eating, without question. We fill our 20-gallon crock with her for pickles each season, as well!
Can you pickle salt and pepper cucumbers?
Salt and Pepper cucumbers are best suited for eating fresh and pickling. They can be sliced or chopped and used in salads, cold pasta dishes, as a garnish, or served as an hors-d’oeuvre. It can also be pickled and consumed by itself or sliced and placed on sandwiches, burgers, and in relish.
What type of cucumber is best for pickling?
“I like to use medium-to-small-sized Kirby cukes,” says Brad. The Kirby variety has a thicker skin that can stand up to the pickling liquid, and remains crunchy, with a good snap, long after it’s been preserved. “You wanna find cucumbers that aren’t too big or too small,” says Brad.
Is salt and pepper good on cucumbers?
Seasoning with Salt and Pepper
Because cucumbers contain so much water, the generous amount of black pepper helps the spicy flavor come through.
Can you pickle any type of cucumber?
Pretty much any type of cucumber can be used for pickling, but true “pickling” cucumbers are different than heirlooms, slicers, or Japanese cukes.
Should you soak cucumbers in salt water?
Saltwater Brine: This method, also known as saltwater soaking, is used to pull out excess water from cucumbers before pickling, which will help prevent soggy pickles.
How do you keep cucumbers crisp when pickling?
Soak Cucumbers In Ice Water Beforehand
If you’re not canning your cucumbers immediately, leave them in an ice bath or in your refrigerator overnight to maintain firmness. Doing this before you start canning them will give you the crunchiest pickles you’ve ever had!
Why do you soak cucumbers in ice water before pickling?
For a quick and easy way to help ensure crisp pickles: soak cucumbers in ice water for 4 to 5 hours before pickling. This is a safer method for making crisp pickles. Using lime, or calcium hydroxide, in solution for soaking cucumbers changes the amount of acid in the cucumber tissue.
How do you tell a pickling cucumber from a regular cucumber?
Pickling cucumbers are shorter and bigger around than slicing cucumbers. They are bred to have thinner skins and black spines so the pickled product will look better. Pickling varieties can be eaten fresh and slicing varieties can be pickled, but the differences can be discerned by the average consumer.
What can I do with lots of cucumbers from my garden?
7 Different Ways to Eat Up Extra Cucumbers
- Find our Pickled Cucumbers recipe here.
- Tropical Cucumber Smoothie with Kale.
- Hydrating Cucumber Smoothie with Mango.
- Cucumber Mojito Mocktail.
- Mixed Berry & Cucumber Bellini Mocktail.
- Cucumber Melon Sangria Mocktail.
- Lemon Cucumber Virgin Cooler.
What color are salt and pepper cucumbers?
Cucumber – Salt and Pepper
High yields of eye-catching, light yellow, 3-5″ fruits that pack an impressive sweetness and crunch.
What can I make with too many cucumbers?
Here are some more great cucumber recipes.
- Half Sour Fermented Pickles.
- Redbud and Cucumber Sandwiches.
- Cucumber and Onion Salad.
- Cucumber Lime Smoothie.
- Watermelon, Orange and Cucumber Aqua Fresca.
- Cucumber Cilantro Salad.
- Shrimp Salad Bites.
- Cucumber Mint Jam.
Why are my homemade pickles mushy?
If the pickles are soft, they are spoiled from the yeast fermentation. Don’t use them. Using too weak a salt brine or vinegar solution may cause soft or slippery pickles, as can using moldy garlic or storing the pickles at too warm a temperature. These pickles are spoiled and should be discarded.
What makes a pickle crunchy?
Add tannins. Include a couple grape leaves, horseradish leaves, oak leaves or black tea leaves in each jar. The natural tannins found in these leaves help homemade pickles stay crisp.
Should I cut cucumbers before pickling?
Trim away the blossom or stem end of the cucumber, which contains enzymes that can lead to limp pickles. Leave the cucumbers whole, cut them into spears, or slice them into coins, as desired.
Do you rinse salt off cucumbers before pickling?
When I’m ready to pickle, I drain the sliced cukes and rinse them well to remove excess salt. The reason to follow a recipe is that the right balance of vinegar, sugar and salt have been worked out for you, so you know the brine (the pickling liquid) will achieve the right level of acidity and flavor.
How long can cucumbers sit in salt before pickling?
Cold Salt Water Brine
The next step is to make a saltwater solution and soak your cucumbers for a minimum of 12 hours (up to 7 days). The beauty of soaking your cucumbers is that you don’t need to be ready to make pickles right when you pick your cucumbers (or bring them home from the market).
How do you keep pickles crisp when canning?
5 Secrets for Crispy and Crunchy Pickles
- Use small, firm cucumbers. This is, hands-down, the most important!
- Jar them immediately after picking, or as soon as possible.
- Soak cucumbers in an ice water bath for a couple hours.
- Cut off the blossom end of cucumber.
- Add tannins to the jar.
Why do you boil vinegar when pickling?
Some people have found that boiling the vinegar brine helps meld the flavors together and can help speed up the pickling process. If you add the brine into the jar while it’s still hot, it can allow the pickling process to take only about an hour instead of about a day.
Do you need to boil jars for pickling?
Keep the jars in the hot water until you fill them with pickles. If the recipe calls for presterilized jars, boil the jars completely submerged in water for 10 minutes before turning down the heat. In a separate small container, heat the lids (flat discs) in hot, but not boiling water.
How long will pickles last without canning?
Pickled veggies will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. Find step-by-step instructions for canning your homemade pickles so they can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 year here.