Basically anything can be pickled. So yes any cucumber can be pickled and you will make pickles. However, not all cucumbers taste the same or have the same texture so the pickled cucumbers that you wind up with at the end will be different.
Can I use regular cucumbers instead of pickling cucumbers?
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.
What is a good substitute for pickling cucumbers?
If you can’t find fresh cukes, please don’t make dill pickled cucumbers, instead, make dill pickled:
- Cauliflower, or.
- Asparagus, or.
- Vidalia Onion, or.
- Giardinieri (mixed vegetables.)
Can you use any cucumber for pickling?
If you love pickles, you’ve noticed the varying pickling cucumber varieties. Some may be large and sliced lengthwise or in rounds and some are small and pickled whole. Pretty much any type of cucumber can be used for pickling, but true “pickling” cucumbers are different than heirlooms, slicers, or Japanese cukes.
Can you use store bought cucumbers for pickling?
Choose burpless cucumbers over waxy coated cucumbers if buying store-bought and making quick pickles. Burpless cucumber have smaller seeds and thinner skins. If making fermented pickles, burpless cucumbers won’t work, however.
Do pickling cucumbers taste different than regular cucumbers?
Certain varieties of cucumbers have been bred specifically for use in pickling. By using these varieties, the home pickling enthusiast will end up with a crisper and more flavorful result.
How long does it take for cucumbers to 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.
Are mini cucumbers pickling cucumbers?
Only about four inches long, the Fresco® Mini is the English cucumber’s understudy. Beautiful texture and splendid crunch make these ideal for pickling adventures.
How can you tell if a cucumber is pickling?
Pickling cucumbers are usually shorter than slicing cukes, 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cm.) long with thin skins and spines. They often have striated skin coloration with gradations of dark green to light green at the blossom end.
Can I use zucchini instead of cucumber for pickles?
Zucchini (aka courgettes) can be used interchangeably usually for cucumber in sliced pickle recipes such as bread and butter, sweet mix, etc. This is a good tip to keep in mind if you are making pickles at a time of the year when cucumbers are very expensive and zucchini are not.
Can I just put cucumbers in pickle juice?
Cucumbers in Pickle Juice – This recipe hack couldn’t be easier and it’s a great way to use up leftover pickle juice too. You prepare fresh cucumbers, and just drop them into the pickle juice, cover, and allow to marinate, and then enjoy!
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!
Can I use big cucumbers for pickles?
Yes, large cucumbers are perfect for sliced pickles and cucumber relish.
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 cucumbers are best for pickling from the grocery store?
Oh, you like pickles? Then you also like kirby cucumbers. These cukes are the most widely-pickled variety of cucumbers. They’re short like Persians but a little fatter, with bumpy skin and a dense interior that can hold up up to an assertive brine—big crunch, big flavor, convenient package.
Should you refrigerate cucumbers before pickling?
Use Them ASAP: The shorter the time between picking and pickling, the crisper your pickle will be. Store them Properly: Store your cucumbers in the refrigerator if you are not going to process them straight away. Chill Your Cukes: Chill your cukes in the refrigerator to make them cold and crisp before processing.
Are pickles just cucumbers in vinegar?
Pickles are 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.
Why do cucumbers make you burp but not pickles?
Cucumbers naturally contain the chemical compound cucurbitacin. This is said to be the reason behind gas inducing burps. By breeding cucumbers with low or no cucurbitacin, the theory goes that you will have cucumbers that do not cause burping. Cucurbitacin produces a bitter taste in cucumbers.
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.
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.
Is it OK to reuse pickle juice?
To be on the safe side, we wouldn’t recommend reusing it more than once, although some say you can safely reuse it 2 or 3 times. Again, watch for changes in the clarity of the brine. BONUS! Refrigerator pickles aren’t the only use for pickle juice.