There are 4 main types of pickles: fresh pack, fermented, fruit pickles, and relishes. The key ingredients for making pickles include cucumbers, water, salt, vinegar, sugar, and spices. Proper preparation of ingredients is important, such as using canning salt, 5% acidity vinegar, and fresh whole spices. Additional items like grape leaves, alum, lime, or Pickle Crisp can be used as firming agents. Special equipment may also be needed for making and storing different pickle varieties.
4. Pickling variety
1 -2 inch cucumbers
for gherkins, 3 5
inch for dills
Unwaxed
Process within 24
hours of harvest
Sort and wash well
Trim 1/16 inch slice
from blossom end
6. Pickling or canning salt
Anti-caking materials can
make brine cloudy
Do not alter amounts for
fermented products
Concentrations can be
altered for quick pack
pickles
SALT
7. 5% acidity
White or cider
No homemade
Do not dilute or
decrease amount
VINEGAR
8. White or brown
Substitutes not
recommended
SUGAR
9. Use fresh whole
spices
Powdered spices
will cloud brine
Tie loosely in
clean cheesecloth
bag
Garlic and dill
SPICES