Why do recipes say to cut off the blossom end of the cucumber? The blossom end contains enzymes that can cause softening. Remove at least 1/16th inch from the blossom end.
Which end of cucumber do you cut for pickling?
blossom
There’s an enzyme in the blossom that can make the pickle soft and unsafe to eat. Who says so? The National Center for Home Food Preservation, that’s who. So go ahead and cut at least a 1/16-inch slice off the blossom end.
What end do you start cutting a cucumber?
Lay the Cucumber flat on this side and begin cutting thin slices lengthwise, making your way across the Cucumber until you have 6 to 8 thin slices. Stack these thin slices on top of each other and carefully begin cutting matchstick-shaped pieces of Cucumber.
What is the blossom end of a pickling cucumber?
When your cucumber is growing, the bottom end of it is called the blossom end (where the flower was). Trim this end off of your cucumbers, as it contains enzymes that soften pickles. Just a little sliver off the end takes care of those enzymes.
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.
Do I have to soak cucumbers before pickling?
You may remember Grandma soaking cucumbers in lime or alum before pickling. This is no longer recommended and, indeed, it isn’t necessary if you use freshly picked cucumbers, follow an up-to-date tested recipe, and heat process pickles for the correct length of time.
What is the end of a cucumber?
It is recommended to cut at least 1/16th inch off the blossom end, that is, the end of the cuke furthest away from the plant if you picked it or if you can determine the stem end. If you cannot tell which end is the blossom end, then cut BOTH ends.
Do you need to peel cucumbers for pickles?
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 should pickles sit in brine?
Wait anywhere from three days to a week for the flavor to develop, and the veggies will taste truly pickled. Keep in mind that the longer it brines, the better it tastes! You can also reuse the brine for your next batch. The quick-pickling process stops here.
Should you cut the skin off cucumber?
It is usually not necessary to peel a cucumber or remove the seeds if you plan to eat it raw. If the cucumber skin has been waxed (to make it look shiny) or if you plan to cook the cucumber, remove the skin with a vegetable peeler or sharp knife. Some large cucumbers have hard seeds.
Do you peel cucumbers before slicing?
Before you start slicing, you may want to peel the cucumber. Cucumber skin is edible, but some people prefer to remove it for textural or visual reasons. If the cucumber skin is waxy, you’ll want to peel the cucumber. A vegetable peeler will quickly remove the skin with ease.
What is the best way to cut a cucumber?
Chop off both ends of the cucumber. Holding the cucumber down on the cutting board, use long strokes from end to end with the peeler to create long, thin strips. Alternatively, for rounds: Hold the cucumber steady in one hand and run the peeler along one of the cut ends of the cucumber to create thin round slices.
Why do you cut ends off cucumbers?
Therefore, cutting off the end of a cucumber and stimulating the cut side draws out the cucurbitacin and cuts down on the bitterness. If you really hate bitter flavors, then you can also peel off the dark green skin.
Can you eat the end of a cucumber?
Fortunately, the predator-foiling cucurbitacins tend to gather in the peel and ends of a cucumber, and therefore should be easy to avoid: just don’t eat the peel and ends.
Why are my grown cucumbers 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.
Why do you put cucumbers on ice before pickling?
Firming agents: If good quality ingredients are used in pickling and up-to-date methods are followed, firming agents are not needed for crisp pickles. Soaking cucumbers in ice water for 4 to 5 hours before pickling is a safer method for making crisp pickles. Firming agents do not work with quick-process pickles.
Do pickles need to be completely covered in brine?
To make fermented pickles you completely submerge your produce under a salt-water brine, usually in a common fermentation vessel like a pickling crock or a fermentation kit like the Perfect Pickler.
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.
What vinegar is best for pickles?
distilled white vinegar
Most pickle recipes call for distilled white vinegar. This is the clear, colorless vinegar made by fermenting grains. It has a mellow aroma, tart acid flavor and does not affect the color of the light-colored vegetables or fruits.
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 is the ratio of salt to water for pickling?
Prepare a brine using the ratio of two tablespoons of salt to one quart of water. If it is over 85 degrees in your kitchen, use one extra tablespoon of salt. Stir well and set aside. Chop vegetables into sticks or bite-sized pieces.