Pretty much any type of cucumber can be used for pickling, but true “pickling” cucumbers are different than heirlooms, slicers, or Japanese cukes.
What happens if you use regular cucumbers for pickles?
Slicing cucumbers, which includes English cucumbers, can be used for pickles, but you might get a softer pickle. Slicing cucumbers though always can be used in relish with no hesitation, where any softness won’t matter near as much. To help, you can make sure to chill cucumbers well before starting.
Are all cucumbers pickling cucumbers?
So the secret’s out, pickles are a type of cucumber. Of the many varieties of cucumber, the pickling cucumber is just one of them. Any type of cucumber can be pickled, of course. However, pickling cucumbers were purposely cultivated to make them smaller and thinner.
Do you need a specific kind of cucumber for pickles?
Be sure to choose pickling cucumbers and not slicers. (In stores, they’re often labeled as Kirbys. At the market, ask the farmer!) Make sure they’re all the same size, and choose smaller ones from the bin to be sure they’re not bitter.
Can I use garden cucumbers for pickles?
Kirby, Persian and garden-variety cucumbers will also work great. For pickle spears, use two Kirby or small garden cucumbers (about 6 ounces each). Or, use one longer garden cucumber (about 12 ounces) as shown here—you’ll just need to slice the spears in half through the middle so they’re not too tall for your jar.
Can I use salad cucumbers for pickling?
They are cucumbers especially suited to making pickles as their skins are especially tender. Grow them or buy them as they will give you the best results for your pickling efforts. Salad cukes are very much darker than pickling cukes.
What kind of cucumbers are 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.
How do I know if my cucumbers are pickling cucumbers?
There are two main types of cucumber. Slicing varieties are meant to be eaten fresh, while pickling types are bumpy, rough, and require blanching and pickling for the best flavor.
Can you substitute regular cucumbers for pickling cucumbers?
as long as a cucumber is not yellow or orange, you can make pickes with any type of cucumber, the consistency of the pickle may vary depending on the size. pick ’em small.
What are considered pickling cucumbers?
Kirby or Persian cucumbers are often used for pickling. After they are picked they are washed and then soaked in a pickling solution often made with water, salt, spices and vinegar.
What kind of cucumbers are best for dill pickles?
Kirby cucumbers are the classic pickling cucumber — they hold up better than English cucumbers during pickling, remaining firm and crunchy instead of becoming overly soft. I’ve also found that Persian cucumbers make very nice pickles — they have thinner skin and are the perfect size for packing into pint jars.
Are baby cucumbers good for pickling?
The summer baby cucumbers are out; but with summer heat will turn them to giant cukes almost right before your eyes. These tiny cucumbers, about 2 to 4 inches long and very narrow, are the best for the simple method of cold pickling.
Should I peel cucumbers before pickling?
1. Trim and discard the blossom end of the cucumbers, then peel the cucumbers and cut them into rounds about 1/4-inch thick. In a nonreactive bowl, toss them with the salt, then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 or up to 24 hours (I like them after 12).
How long does it take for a cucumber to become a pickle?
Cucumbers can be fermented in a crock to produce genuine dill pickles. Fermenting genuine dill pickles takes 3 to 4 weeks at 70°F. The fermentation process allows bacteria to produce lactic acid, which preserves the cucumbers and produces the characteristic color and texture of genuine dills.
Do I need pickling salt?
Do You Really Need Pickling Salt for Pickling? While pickling salt is ideal for pickling, because it has fine granules (finer than even table salt) and no additives, it is not the only salt that can be used. Kosher salt is a great alternative, as long as it is pure salt without any additives.
Why do pickles taste different from cucumbers?
Some of you might mistake which one is pickle or cucumber because they have some analogous and distinct characteristics. Pickles and cucumbers are the same if pickles are not fermented. However, the fermentation somehow makes pickles sour and salty, while fresh cucumbers have a mild and slightly sweet flavor.
Why do you soak cucumbers in salt water before pickling?
You will need a recipe, most of which will tell you to salt your sliced cucumbers and let them sit for about 3 hours (more is better). This salt treatment draws water out of the cucumbers and flavors them, so it’s critically important.
Why do pickling cucumbers taste bitter?
The actual cause of bitterness in cucumbers and other gourds, like zucchini, is due to a compound known as cucurbitacin. This compound is always present in cucumbers, but the levels change based on the growing process of the vegetables. The higher the level of cucurbitacin, the more bitter the cucumber.
How do you crisp cucumbers for pickling?
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.
Can you cut up cucumbers and put them in pickle juice?
To make quick pickles from leftover brine, toss cucumber slices in a colander with salt (1 1/2 teaspoons per pound of cucumbers) and let them sit for 1 hour; then transfer them to a jar. Bring the brine to a boil and pour it over the pickles. Seal the jar and refrigerate the pickles for 24 hours before eating.
Why are my pickled cucumbers 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.