Description
Homemade bread & butter refrigerator pickles deliver a tangy, sweet crunch that elevates summer sandwiches and snacks. Quick cucumber preservation without complex canning techniques lets home cooks enjoy crisp, zesty pickles you can savor within days.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (452 g) kirby or other pickling cucumbers
- 0.5 large onion, thinly sliced
- 0.75 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (240 g) white vinegar
- 0.5 cup (119.5 g) cider vinegar
- 0.5 cup (120 g) filtered water
- 2 tablespoons (36 g) fine sea salt or pickling salt
- 1 tablespoon (11 g) whole yellow mustard seeds
- 1 tablespoon (10 g) whole black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon celery seed
Instructions
- Sanitization: Thoroughly cleanse glass jars with boiling water to eliminate bacterial risks, creating a sterile environment for pickle preparation.
- Cucumber Preparation: Slice cucumbers into uniform spears or rounds with precision, maintaining consistent thickness for optimal texture and pickling.
- Layering Foundation: Arrange cucumber segments and delicate onion slices within sanitized jars, creating a strategic flavor-building base for the pickling process.
- Spice Integration: Distribute peppercorns, mustard seeds, and celery seed evenly throughout the vegetable layers, ensuring balanced aromatic infusion.
- Brine Creation: Combine vinegar, water, salt, and sugar in a saucepan, heating gently until all ingredients dissolve into a smooth, transparent liquid that will preserve and flavor the pickles.
- Pickling Immersion: Pour the hot brine over the prepared vegetables, completely covering them and minimizing air pockets to facilitate thorough flavor absorption and preservation.
- Preservation Process: Seal jars tightly and refrigerate, allowing the pickles to develop their signature tangy profile over 24-48 hours, during which the ingredients will meld and intensify their flavor characteristics.
Notes
- Sterilize Smartly: Wash glass jars with boiling water to prevent bacterial growth and ensure pickle safety.
- Cut with Precision: Slice cucumbers into uniform spears or rounds for consistent texture and aesthetic appeal.
- Layer Strategically: Arrange cucumber segments and onion slices carefully to maximize flavor distribution and visual attractiveness.
- Spice Generously: Sprinkle peppercorns, mustard seeds, and celery seed evenly to create a robust, aromatic pickle experience.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 54
- Sugar: 10.6 g
- Sodium: 446 mg
- Fat: 0.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13.5 g
- Fiber: 0.7 g
- Protein: 0.4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg