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Servings: 1 jar

Easy Homemade Pickles Recipe

Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 days
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds pickling cucumbers
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups white or apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp pickling salt or sea salt
  • 2 tbsp sugar not necessary, but recommended
  • 4 cloves garlic peeled and smashed
  • 2 tsp dill seeds or fresh dill
  • 1 tsp black peppercorns
  • t tsp mustard seeds, red pepper flakes, coriander seeds Optional, but great for flavor

Instructions

  1. Wash the cucumbers thoroughly and slice them into desired shapes (slices, spears, or whole).
  2. In a saucepan, combine the water, vinegar, pickling salt, and sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring until the salt and sugar are dissolved.
  3. In each sterilized jar, place the smashed garlic cloves, dill seeds (or fresh dill), black peppercorns, and any additional spices you desire.
  4. Pack the cucumber slices or spears tightly into the jars, leaving about 1/2 inch of headspace at the top.
  5. Pour the hot brine over the cucumbers, ensuring they are fully submerged and leaving 1/2 inch of headspace.
  6. Let the jars cool to room temperature.
  7. Once cooled, place the lids on the jars and refrigerate them. It is recommended to can the extra jars. Learn more about that here.
  8. Allow the pickles to sit in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours before enjoying to allow the flavors to develop.
  9. The pickles can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks. The longer they sit, the more the flavors will meld together.