Pickling Vegetables

Safety Checklist

• Select tender vegetables without blemishes or mold.
• Use the amounts and types of ingredients specified in laboratory-tested recipes.
• Do not reduce the amount of vinegar or increase the amount of water in recipes.
• Follow instructions for conventional processing or use lower-temperature pasteurization.
• Do not process brined pickles before they taste tart.
• Look for signs of spoilage before using pickled products.

  Pickling Vegetables

  Pickling is one of the oldest methods of food preservation. The Chinese were fermenting vegetables as early as the third century BCE. By the first century CE, the Romans were pickling. Pickled products also appeared early in America, and the pickle barrel was common during the colonial days. Pickles even became part of our folklore, as children learned to recite the “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” tongue twister. By the early 1920s, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had published instructions on making pickles at home. Many of these procedures are still used today.

  Preservation by Pickling

  Microorganisms are always on vegetables. Proper home canning prevents the growth of the microorganisms that cause spoilage and illness. When the acidity of a canned food is high, harmful bacteria such as Clostridium botulinum cannot grow. That is why pickling (adding acid) prevents spoilage.

  There are two types of pickles:

  • Brined (fermented) pickles require several weeks of “curing” at room temperature. During this period, colors and flavors change. Acid is produced as lactic acid bacteria grow.

  • Quick (unfermented) pickles are made in 1 or 2 days by adding acid in the form of vinegar. It is critical to add enough vinegar to prevent bacterial growth (see
  “Vinegar”).

  Equipment for Fermenting

  Crock

  A 1-gallon container is needed for each 5 pounds of fresh vegetables. Therefore, a 5-gallon stoneware crock is an ideal size for fermenting about 25 pounds of fresh cabbage or cucumbers. Select a crock that is made for food use. Food-grade plastic and glass containers are excellent substitutes. Sauerkraut may be fermented in quart or half-
  gallon jars.

  Caution: It is not safe to use garbage cans or other containers that are not made to come into contact with food for humans.

  Weight

  A weight keeps fermenting food under the brine. When using a crock, select a dinner plate or glass pie plate that is slightly smaller than the container opening. Weigh it down with 2 or 3 quart jars that are filled with water and have closed lids.

  You also can use a large, food-grade plastic bag (either heavyweight or double-bagged) as a weight. Fill the bag with brine (1½ Tablespoons salt per 1 quart water) and close it. Place the bag in the fermentation container to cover and hold down the fermenting food. Using brine prevents dilution in case the bag leaks.

  Cabbage and cucumbers must be kept 1 to 2 inches under the brine while fermenting. After weighing down, cover the container opening with a clean, heavy bath towel to prevent contamination from insects and molds during fermentation.

  Other Equipment

  Utensils

  Do not use zinc, copper, brass, galvanized metal, or iron utensils. These metals may react with acid or salt and affect the quality (color changes) and safety of pickles.

  Jars

  Processing times are based on standard-sized, Mason-type jars designed for home canning use. Inspect jars for cracks and chips, and discard damaged ones.

  Lids

  Two-piece, metal canning lids and screw bands are recommended. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for preparing the lids. To prevent sealing failures, do not reuse lids. Wash the screw bands and discard any with dents or rust.

  Boiling Water Canner

  These canners, made of aluminum or porcelain-covered steel, have removable baskets and fitted lids. Any large container may be used if it has room for at least 1 inch of water to briskly boil over the tops of jars during processing. Place a metal rack in the bottom of the container to keep the jars from resting directly on the bottom, which can cause breakage.

  Ingredients

  Vegetables

  Select tender vegetables without blemishes or mold and thoroughly wash them in cold water. When you select cucumbers, keep the following points in mind:

  • Use varieties grown especially for pickling.

  • Avoid commercially waxed cucumbers; pickling liquid cannot penetrate the wax easily.

  • Pick cucumbers early in the morning and use within 24 hours, for best quality.

  • Select cucumbers of similar size: 1½ inches long for gherkins,
  4 inches for dills. Use oddly shaped and more mature cucumbers for relishes and bread-and-butter style pickles.

  • Trim off the blossom end of the cucumber; it may contain enzymes that soften the pickles.

  Salt

  • Pickling and canning salts are the best choices.

  • Table salt may be used, but the additive that prevents caking may make the brine cloudy.

  • Reduced-sodium salts (such as potassium chloride) may be used in quick pickle recipes; however, the pickles may have a slightly different taste.

  • Do not use flake salt or kosher salt because they vary in density. Do not use rock salt or sea salt, which have impurities.

  Caution: Do not use reduced-sodium salt in brined pickles or sauerkraut—these products need a specific amount of sodium to control bacterial growth and give a firm texture.

  Vinegar

  Vinegar is the most important ingredient in quick-pickle recipes. Without an adequate amount, the pickles will not be safe to eat. Use any vinegar with 5% acidity.

  Caution: Do not reduce the amount of vinegar or increase the amount of water in a recipe. For a less sour taste, add a small amount of sugar.

  • White distilled vinegar has a pungent taste. Use it when pickling light-color foods such as cauliflower and onions.

  • Cider vinegar has a milder flavor. It will make a darker brine.

  Caution: Do not use homemade vinegar. It varies in acidity.

  Flavorings

  • Spices should be fresh. Whole spices are best. Powdered spices may cause the pickles to darken and the brine to become cloudy.

  • Dill may be used fresh, or as seeds or oil. The flavor of dill seeds may not be as good as fresh dill (1 teaspoon seeds equals 1 dill head). To use dill oil, substitute one drop for each head of dill. Fresh dill freezes well.

  • Garlic should be fresh and at the peak of maturity. Immature or sprouting garlic can turn blue in the jar.

  • Sugar may be either white or brown. Brown sugar may give a darker color to the brine. Corn syrup and honey may give an undesirable flavor.

  Water

  • Soft water makes the best brine for pickles.

  • Hard water may cause cloudiness in the brine and discolor pickles. If only hard water is available, boil and let it sit for 24 hours. Skim off scum and use water from the top of the container without disturbing any sediment.

  Firming Ingredients

  If fresh, good quality ingredients are used and up-to-date procedures and processes are followed, you should not need firming agents to make crisp pickles. Soaking cucumbers in ice water for 4 to 5 hours prior to pickling is a safe method for making crisp pickles. If you choose to use firming agents, be sure to use food-grade products and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

  • Pickling lime contains calcium. Cucumber or vegetable slices are sometimes soaked in a lime and water solution for 12 to 24 hours before pickling. Be sure to remove excess lime by rinsing and soaking the cucumbers for 1 hour in fresh, cold water and then repeating the process two more times. The excess lime must be removed.

  Caution: Do not use lime sold at garden centers or lumberyards.

  • Calcium chloride for pickling is often sold where you buy canning supplies. It is usually added directly to the jars of pickles. Follow the instructions on the package for use.

  • Alum may also be used to firm fermented cucumbers. However, it is not necessary and is not included in this publication. Alum does not improve the firmness of quick pickles.

  Packing the Jars

  1. Wash the jars in hot, soapy water and rinse well. Keep them hot until ready for use by placing them in the canner filled with hot water or in a hot dishwasher. Jars that will be filled with food and processed for less than 10 minutes should be sterilized by boiling them for 10 minutes. Follow manufacturer’s directions for preparing lids.

  2. Prepare ingredients.

  3. Follow instructions for packing hot (vegetables preheated in brine) or raw ingredients into hot jars.

  4. Pack food and liquid to within ½ inch from the top of the jar, unless otherwise specified. If the jars are too full, some contents could siphon out of the jar during heat processing, stick to the rim, and prevent sealing. All air may not be exhausted during processing if the space between the packed food and liquid and the top of the jar (headspace) is too large.

  5. Run a plastic spatula around the inside of the jar to remove air bubbles. Adjust headspace, if needed.

  6. Wipe jar rims and threads with a clean, damp cloth to remove any bits of food that might prevent a seal.

  7. Adjust lids and screw bands.

  Processing

  Pickles are processed to stop fermentation and the growth of bacteria that cause spoilage.

  Use either conventional boiling water canner processing or lower-temperature pasteurization, if a firmer result is desired and the recipe allows for this method.

  Caution: It is extremely important to wait until fermented pickles taste tart before processing.

  Conventional, Boiling Water Canner Processing

  1. Arrange the filled jars on the rack of a canner filled halfway with very hot water (140°F for raw-packed foods, 180°F for hot-packed foods). Add more very hot water, if needed, to bring the water level up to 1 to 2 inches above jar tops. Place a tight-fitting cover on the canner.

  2. Turn heat to the highest setting and wait for the water to come to a full, rolling boil. When the water boils, set a timer for the recommended time. Increase processing times for higher altitudes, as directed, to make up for the lower boiling point of water. Keep water boiling gently and steadily. Add boiling water, if necessary, to keep jars covered.

  3. At the end of the processing time, turn off the heat and remove the canner lid. Wait 5 minutes before removing the jars. Spoilage could occur if jars are left in hot water.

  4. Using a jar lifter, remove the jars, being careful not to tilt them. Put jars on a rack or heavy towel so air can move freely around them. There should not be a cold draft or fan blowing on the jars. Let the jars sit undisturbed while they cool for 12 to 24 hours. Do not tighten the screw bands or press down on the center of the flat metal lid until the jars are completely cool.

  Pasteurization at Lower Temperatures

  Processing at temperatures lower than the boiling point of water may result in a firmer or more crisp, final pickled product. Follow directions carefully to avoid possible spoilage.

  Caution: Use this method only when the recipe indicates that it
  is an option.

  Use an instant-read thermometer or a candy, jelly, or dial thermometer that registers in the 120°F to 185°F range.

  1. Place filled jars on a rack in a canner half filled with warm water (120°F to 140°F). Add hot water to a level of 1 inch above jars.

  2. Heat the water to 180°F to 185°F and start a timer. Process for
  30 minutes, checking with a candy or jelly thermometer to be certain that the water temperature stays at least 180°F (temperatures higher than 185°F may soften pickles).

  3. Immediately remove jars from the canner at the end of processing time.

  4. Using a jar lifter, remove the jars, being careful not to tilt them. Put jars on a rack or heavy towel so air can move freely around them. Let the jars sit undisturbed while they cool for 12 to 24 hours. Do not tighten the screw bands or press down on the center of the flat metal lid until the jars are completely cool.

  Testing the Seals

  Test each jar within 12 to 24 hours. Jars with flat, metal lids are sealed if:

  • The lid has popped down in the center and does not move farther down when you press on it.

  • The center of the lid gives a clear, ringing sound when you tap it with a spoon. Note: This is not as reliable as the first method.

  Jars that have not sealed can be either refrigerated or reprocessed. To reprocess, start by removing the lid. Check and clean the sealing surface (the rim) of the jar. The brine in the jar must be reheated to boiling before reprocessing. Use a new lid and process again for the full time. The quality of the pickled food will not be as good after reprocessing.

  Caution: If jars unseal during storage, do not consume.

  Storing

  Remove screw bands for storage so that the liquid under them will not cause rusting.

  Wipe the jars and label them with the date, contents, and processing information.

  Store jars in a cool, dark, and dry place.

  After processing and cooling, store jars of pickles 4 to 5 weeks to develop ideal flavor.

  Use within 1 year for best eating quality and nutritive value. Exposure to heat, freezing, or light decreases the quality and shelf life of canned food.

  Using Pickles

  As you select each jar for use, examine it for signs of spoilage. Check the lid for tightness and vacuum seal. With the jar at eye level, examine for streaks of dried food on the outside of the jar. Inside of the jar, look for cloudy canning liquid, rising air bubbles, or any unnatural color. While opening the jar, watch for spurting liquid or cotton-like mold growth on food surfaces or the underside of the lid. Smell for unnatural or off odors.

  Caution: Never taste food from a jar with an unsealed lid or food that shows signs of spoilage.

  Carefully discard any jar of spoiled food to prevent possible illness to you, your family, or your pets. Any pickles not prepared according to these or other laboratory-tested recipes should be treated as having botulism and handled in one of two ways:

  • If the suspect jars are still sealed, write on the jar

  Danger: Poison.

  Do Not Eat.

  Place the jars in a heavyweight garbage bag. Close and place the bag in a regular trash container or dispose of in a nearby landfill.

  • If the suspect jars are unsealed, open, or leaking, they should be detoxified before disposal (see below).

  Detoxification Process

  Wear rubber or heavy plastic gloves when handling suspect foods and cleaning up. Remove the jar lids and carefully place the suspect jars on their sides (along with the lids) in a stockpot, pan, or boiling water canner (8-quart volume or larger). Carefully add water to the pot until the level is 1 inch above the jars. Put a lid on the pot and heat the water to boiling. Boil for 30 minutes to detoxify the food. Cool and discard the food and lids. Wash jars and pot.

  Spray or wet contaminated surfaces (such as counters and cutting boards) with a room-temperature household chlorine bleach solution (1 part unscented 5% to 6% sodium hypochlorite bleach to 5 parts clean water) and let stand for 30 minutes. Wipe up treated spills with paper towels and put them in a plastic bag before discarding in the trash. Rinse surfaces. Soak metal utensils in a mild chlorine solution
  (1 teaspoon bleach to 1 quart room-temperature water) for 30 minutes. Rinse. Wash your gloved hands well.

  Recipes

  Most of the recipes in this publication for brined and quick pickles are from the USDA’s Complete Guide to Home Canning. For additional laboratory-tested recipes, contact your local Extension office. If you want to use pickle recipes from other sources, see the suggestions below to ensure your recipes are safe.

  Current Pickle Recipes

  Pickle recipes, ingredients, and processing recommendations have changed over the years. To ensure that your pickles are safe and successful, check your recipe with these pointers in mind:

  • Use up-to-date recipes from reliable sources.

  • Make sure to use vinegar that is 5% acidity.

  • Fresh or quick-pack pickle recipes should have at least as much vinegar as water.

  • If lime is included, the recipes must have a rinsing step.

  • Brined pickles or sauerkraut must include salt.

  • Processing instructions must be correct. Quick pickles must be processed as soon as they are made. Fermented pickles must not be processed until they have a sour taste.

  Brined (Fermented) Foods

  Dill Pickles

  Ingredients

  4 pounds pickling cucumbers (4-inch)

  2 Tablespoons dill seed, or 4 to 5 heads fresh or dry dill weed

  8 cups water

  ¼ cup vinegar (5% acidity)

  ½ cup salt

  2 cloves garlic (optional)

  2 dried red peppers (optional)

  2 teaspoons whole mixed pickling spices (optional)

  Procedure

  Wash cucumbers. Cut ¹⁄₁₆ inch off blossom end but leave ¼ inch of stem at the other end. Place half of the dill and half of the other flavorings on the bottom of a clean, suitable container (see page 3). Add cucumbers, remaining dill, and desired spices. Dissolve salt in vinegar and water, and pour over cucumbers. Add suitable weight and cover.

  Store for about 3 to 4 weeks in a location where temperature is 70°F to 75°F. Temperatures of 55°F to 65°F are acceptable, but the fermentation will take
  5 to 6 weeks. Pickles will become too soft if temperatures are above 80°F during fermentation.

  Check the container several times a week and promptly remove surface scum or mold.

  Caution: If the pickles become soft or slimy, or if they develop a disagreeable odor, discard them.

  Fully fermented pickles may be stored in the original container for 4 to 6 months, provided you refrigerate them and remove surface scum and molds regularly.

  Canning is a better way to store fully fermented pickles. To can them, pour the brine into a pan, heat slowly to a boil, and simmer 5 minutes. Filter brine through paper coffee filters to reduce cloudiness, if desired. Fill hot pint or quart jars with pickles and hot brine, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if needed. Wipe rims and adjust lids. Process as follows or use the
  lower-temperature pasteurization treatment described on page 7.

  Hot Pack Processing Times for Dill Pickles

  Jar size	Altitude
  	0– 1,000 ft	1,001– 6,000 ft	above 6,001 ft
  Pint	10 min.	15 min.	20 min.
  Quart	15 min.	20 min.	25 min.

  Sauerkraut

  Ingredients

  Use the following quantities for each gallon of your container’s capacity.

  5 pounds cabbage

  3 Tablespoons canning or pickling salt

  Quality

  For the best sauerkraut, use firm heads of fresh cabbage. Start sauerkraut within 24 to 48 hours after harvest.

  Yield

  About 4 to 6 pints or 2 to 3 quarts

  Procedure

  Work with about 5 pounds of cabbage at a time. Discard outer leaves. Rinse heads under cold running water and drain. Cut heads in half and remove cores. Shred or slice to the thickness of a quarter. Put shredded cabbage into an extra-large bowl or food-safe tub, and add salt.

  Using clean hands, thoroughly mix in salt until juices are drawn from cabbage and salt is dissolved. Pack firmly into a suitable fermenting container (see page 3). Repeat shredding, salting, and packing with additional cabbage, if desired. Be sure that the container is deep enough so that its rim is at least
  4 or 5 inches above the cabbage.

  If juice does not cover cabbage, add boiled and cooled brine (1½ Tablespoons of salt per quart of water). Add plate and weights, and cover container with a clean bath towel.

  Store at 70°F to 75°F while fermenting. At temperatures between 70°F and 75°F, sauerkraut will be fully fermented in 3 to 4 weeks; at 60°F, fermentation may take 5 to 6 weeks. At temperatures lower than 60°F, kraut may not ferment; above 75°F, kraut may become soft.

  If you use a plate and jars as weight, check the sauerkraut two or three times each week and remove scum if it forms. If you weigh the cabbage down with a brine-filled bag, you will not need to disturb the crock until normal fermentation is complete (when bubbling ceases).

  Fully fermented sauerkraut may be kept tightly covered in the refrigerator for several months, or it can be frozen or canned as directed below.

  Hot Pack

  Bring sauerkraut and juice to a boil, and pack into hot jars leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust for headspace if needed. Wipe rims, adjust lids, and process in a boiling water canner as follows:

  Hot Pack Processing Times for Sauerkraut

  Jar size	Altitude
  	0– 1,000 ft	1,001– 6,000 ft	above 6,001 ft
  Pint	10 min.	15 min.	20 min.
  Quart	15 min.	20 min.	25 min.

  Raw Pack

  Fill hot jars with sauerkraut and juices, leaving
  ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust for headspace if needed. Wipe rims, adjust lids, and process in a boiling water canner as follows:

  Raw Pack Processing Times for Sauerkraut

  Jar size	Altitude
  	0– 1,000 ft	1,001– 3,000 ft	3,001– 6,000 ft	above 6,001 ft
  Pint	20 min.	25 min.	30 min.	35 min.
  Quart	25 min.	30 min.	35 min.	40 min.

  Quick (Unfermented) Foods

  Caution: It is not safe to reduce the amount of vinegar in recipes. If the flavor is too tart, add a little sugar.

  Quick Kosher Dills

  Ingredients

  4 pounds pickling cucumbers (4-inch)

  3 cups water

  3 cups vinegar (5% acidity)

  ¼ cup pickling salt

  14 garlic cloves, split

  14 heads fresh dill

  28 peppercorns

  2 teaspoons hot red pepper flakes (optional)

  Yield

  6 to 7 pints or 3 to 4 quarts

  Procedure

  Wash cucumbers. Cut ¹⁄₁₆ inch off blossom end but leave ¼ inch of stem on the other end. Cut in half lengthwise. Heat salt, vinegar, and water to boiling. Pack cucumbers into hot pint or quart jars, adding 4 garlic halves, 2 heads dill, and 4 peppercorns per jar. Add ¼ teaspoon hot red pepper flakes per pint, if desired.

  Pour hot vinegar solution over cucumbers leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if needed. Wipe rims and process as follows or use the lower-temperature pasteurization treatment described on page 7.

  Raw Pack Processing Times for Quick Kosher Dills

  Jar size	Altitude
  	0– 1,000 ft	1,001– 6,000 ft	above 6,001 ft
  Pint	10 min.	15 min.	20 min.
  Quart	15 min.	20 min.	25 min.

  Quick Sweet Pickles

  Ingredients

  8 pounds pickling cucumbers (3- to 4-inch)

  1∕³ cup canning or pickling salt

  Ice

  4½ cups sugar

  3½ cups vinegar (5% acidity)

  2 teaspoons celery seed

  1 Tablespoon whole allspice

  2 Tablespoons mustard seed

  Yield

  About 7 to 9 pints or 3 to 4 quarts

  Procedure

  Wash cucumbers. Cut ¹⁄₁₆ inch off blossom end but leave ¼ inch of stem at other end. Slice or cut in strips, if desired. Place in bowl and sprinkle with
  ⅓ cup salt. Cover with 2 inches of crushed or cubed ice. Refrigerate 3 to 4 hours, adding more ice as needed. Drain well. Combine sugar, vinegar, celery seed, allspice, and mustard seed in 6-quart kettle. Heat to boiling.

  Hot Pack

  Add cucumbers to vinegar solution and heat slowly until it returns to a boil. Stir occasionally to make sure mixture heats evenly. Fill hot pint or quart jars, leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if needed. Adjust lids and process in a boiling water canner as follows:

  Hot Pack Processing Times for Quick Sweet Pickles

  Jar size	Altitude
  	0– 1,000 ft	1,001– 6,000 ft	above 6,001 ft
  Pint	5 min.	10 min.	15 min.
  Quart	5 min.	10 min.	15 min.

  Raw Pack

  Fill hot pint or quart jars with cucumbers and add hot pickling syrup, leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if needed. Wipe rims and adjust lids. Process as follows or use the lower-temperature pasteurization treatment described on page 7.

  Raw Pack Processing Times for Quick Sweet Pickles

  Jar size	Altitude
  	0– 1,000 ft	1,001– 6,000 ft	above 6,001 ft
  Pint	10 min.	15 min.	20 min.
  Quart	15 min.	20 min.	25 min.

  Variation: Onions

  Add 2 slices of raw onion to each jar before filling with cucumbers.

  Storage

  After processing and cooling, store jars 4 to
  5 weeks to develop ideal flavor.

  Variation: Firmer Pickles

  Wash cucumbers. Cut ¹⁄₁₆ inch off blossom end but leave ¼ inch of stem attached. Slice or cut in strips. Mix 1 cup pickling lime and ½ cup salt to 1 gallon water in a 2- to 3-gallon crock or enamelware container.

  Caution: Avoid inhaling lime dust while mixing the lime-and-water solution.

  Soak cucumber slices or strips in lime water solution for 12 to 24 hours, stirring occasionally. Remove from lime solution, rinse, and resoak for 1 hour in fresh, cold water. Repeat the rinsing and resoaking two more times in fresh water. Handle carefully—slices or strips will be brittle. Drain well. Follow hot or raw pack instructions after draining.

  Bread-and-Butter Pickles

  Ingredients

  6 pounds pickling cucumbers (4- to 5-inch)

  8 cups thinly sliced onions (about 3 pounds)

  ½ cup canning or pickling salt

  Ice

  4 cups vinegar (5% acidity)

  4½ cups sugar

  2 Tablespoons mustard seed

  1½ Tablespoons celery seed

  1 Tablespoon ground turmeric

  Yield

  About 8 pints or 4 quarts

  Procedure

  Wash cucumbers. Cut ¹⁄₁₆ inch off blossom end and discard. Cut into ³⁄₁₆-inch slices. Combine cucumbers and onions in a large bowl. Add salt. Cover with 2 inches crushed or cubed ice. Refrigerate 3 to 4 hours, adding more ice as needed. Drain. Combine remaining ingredients in a large pot. Boil 10 minutes. Add cucumbers and onions to the vinegar solution and slowly reheat to boiling. Fill hot pint or quart jars with slices and cooking syrup, leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if needed. Adjust lids and process in a boiling water canner as follows or use the lower-temperature pasteurization treatment described on page 7.

  Hot Pack Processing Times for Bread-and-Butter Pickles

  Jar size	Altitude
  	0– 1,000 ft	1,001– 6,000 ft	above 6,001 ft
  Pint	10 min.	15 min.	20 min.
  Quart	10 min.	15 min.	20 min.

  Variation: Firmer Pickles

  Wash cucumbers. Cut ¹⁄₁₆ inch off blossom end and discard. Cut into ³⁄₁₆-inch slices. Mix 1 cup pickling lime and ½ cup salt to 1 gallon water in a 2- to 3-gallon crock or enamelware container.

  Caution: Avoid inhaling lime dust while mixing the lime-and-water solution.

  Soak cucumber slices in lime water for 12 to 24 hours, stirring occasionally. Remove from lime solution, rinse, and resoak for 1 hour in fresh, cold water. Repeat the rinsing and soaking steps two more times in fresh water. Handle carefully—slices will be brittle. Drain well. With this option, the onions are not limed.

  Variation: Squash Instead of Cucumbers

  Substitute slender (1- to 1½-inch diameter)
  zucchini or yellow summer squash for cucumbers.

  Storage

  After processing and cooling, store jars 4 to
  5 weeks to develop ideal flavor.

  Sweet Gherkin Pickles

  Ingredients

  7 pounds cucumbers (1½-inch or less)

  ½ cup canning or pickling salt

  6 cups vinegar (5% acidity)

  8 cups sugar

  ¾ teaspoon turmeric

  2 teaspoons celery seeds

  2 teaspoons whole mixed pickling spice

  2 cinnamon sticks

  ½ teaspoon fennel (optional)

  2 teaspoons vanilla (optional)

  Yield

  6 to 7 pints

  Procedure

  Wash cucumbers. Cut ¹⁄₁₆ inch off blossom end and discard but leave ¼ inch of stem attached. Place cucumbers in large container and cover with boiling water. Six to 8 hours later, drain and cover with
  6 quarts of fresh boiling water containing ¼ cup salt. Repeat on the second day.

  On the third day, drain and prick cucumbers with a table fork. Combine and bring to boil 3 cups vinegar, 3 cups sugar, and spices. Pour over cucumbers. Six to 8 hours later, drain and save pickling syrup. Add another 2 cups each of sugar and vinegar to the syrup and reheat to boiling. Pour over pickles.

  On the fourth day, drain and save syrup. Add another 2 cups sugar and 1 cup vinegar. Heat syrup to boiling and pour over pickles. Let sit 6 to 8 hours and then drain, saving the pickling syrup. Add 1 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla, and heat to boiling. Fill hot, sterilized pint jars with pickles and cover with hot syrup, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if needed. Wipe rims, adjust lids, and process in a boiling water canner as follows or use lower-temperature pasteurization treatment.

  Hot Pack Processing Times for Sweet Gherkin Pickles

  Jar size	At an altitude of
  	0– 1,000 ft	1,001– 6,000 ft	above 6,001 ft
  Pint	5 min.	10 min.	15 min.

  Pickled Asparagus

  Ingredients

  8 pints asparagus spears

  6 cups water

  6 cups white vinegar (5% acidity)

  6 Tablespoons salt

  2 teaspoons pickling spice (remove cloves)

  Garlic (1 clove per jar)

  Yield

  8 pints or ten 12-ounce jars

  Procedure

  Wash asparagus well in cool water. Cut into jar-length spears. Combine water, vinegar, and salt. Mix pickling spices and tie into a cheesecloth bag; add spice bag to vinegar solution. Heat to boiling. Remove spice bag.

  Pack asparagus into hot pint or 12-ounce jars (with tip ends down for easier removal). Put 1 clove garlic in each jar. Cover with boiling brine, leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if needed. Wipe rims, adjust lids, and process in a boiling water canner as follows:

  Hot Pack Processing Times for Pickled Asparagus

  Jar size	Altitude
  	0– 1,000 ft	1,001– 6,000 ft	above 6,001 ft
  Pint	10 min.	15 min.	20 min.
  12 oz	10 min.	15 min.	20 min.

  Pickled Dilled Beans

  Ingredients

  4 pounds fresh tender green or yellow beans (5- to 6-inch)

  8 to 16 heads fresh dill or basil sprigs

  8 cloves garlic (optional)

  ½ cup canning or pickling salt

  4 cups water

  4 cups white vinegar (5% acidity)

  1 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes (optional)

  Yield

  About 8 pints

  Procedure

  Wash and trim ends from the beans and cut to 4-inch lengths. In each hot, sterilized pint jar, place one to two dill heads or basil sprigs and, if desired, one clove of garlic. Place whole beans upright in hot, sterilized pint jars, leaving ½ inch headspace. Trim beans to ensure proper fit, if necessary.

  Combine salt, vinegar, water, and, if desired, pepper flakes. Bring to a boil. Add hot brine to beans, leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if needed. Adjust lids and process in a boiling water canner as follows:

  Hot Pack Processing Times for Pickled Dilled Beans

  Jar size	Altitude
  	0– 1,000 ft	1,001– 6,000 ft	above 6,001 ft
  Pint	5 min.	10 min.	15 min.

  Pickled Three-Bean Salad

  Ingredients

  1½ cups cut and blanched green or yellow beans (prepared as below)

  1½ cups canned, drained red kidney beans

  1 cup canned, drained garbanzo beans

  ½ cup peeled and thinly sliced onion (about
  1 medium onion)

  ½ cup trimmed and thinly sliced celery (about
  1½ medium stalks)

  ½ cup sliced green peppers (about ½ medium pepper)

  ½ cup white vinegar (5% acidity)

  ¼ cup bottled lemon juice

  ¾ cup sugar

  1¼ cups water

  ¼ cup oil

  ½ teaspoon canning or pickling salt

  Yield

  5 to 6 half-pints or 2 to 3 pints

  Procedure

  Wash and snap off ends of fresh beans. Cut or snap into 1- to 2-inch pieces. Blanch in boiling water for 3 minutes and cool immediately. Rinse kidney beans with tap water and drain. Prepare and measure all other vegetables. Combine vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, and water, and bring to a boil. Remove from heat.

  Add oil and salt to the vinegar solution and mix well. Add beans, onions, celery, and green pepper and bring to a simmer. Marinate for 12 to 14 hours in the refrigerator, then heat entire mixture to a boil. Fill hot half-pint or pint jars with the vegetables. Add hot liquid, leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if needed. Wipe rims, adjust lids, and process in a boiling water canner as follows:

  Hot Pack Processing Times for Pickled Three-Bean Salad

  Jar size	Altitude
  	0– 1,000 ft	1,001– 6,000 ft	above 6,001 ft
  Half-pint	15 min.	20 min.	25 min.
  Pint	15 min.	20 min.	25 min.

  Pickled Beets

  Ingredients

  7 pounds beets (2- to 2½-inch diameter)

  4 cups vinegar (5% acidity)

  1½ teaspoons canning or pickling salt

  2 cups sugar

  2 cups water

  2 cinnamon sticks

  12 whole cloves

  4 to 6 onions (2- to 2½-inch diameter) (optional)

  Yield

  About 8 pints or 4 quarts

  Procedure

  Trim off beet tops, leaving 1 inch of stem and roots to prevent bleeding of color. Wash thoroughly. Sort beets for size. Cover similarly sized beets with boiling water and cook until tender (25 to 30 minutes). Drain and discard the liquid.

  Cool beets. Trim off roots and stems and slip off skins. Cut into ¼-inch slices. Peel and thinly slice onions. Combine vinegar, salt, sugar, and fresh water. Put spices in cheesecloth bag and add to vinegar mixture. Bring to a boil.

  Add beets and onions. Simmer 5 minutes. Remove spice bag. Fill hot pint or quart jars with beets and onions, leaving ½ inch headspace. Add hot vinegar solution, leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if needed. Wipe rims, adjust lids, and process in a boiling water canner as follows:

  Hot Pack Processing Times for Pickled Beets

  Jar size	Altitude
  	0– 1,000 ft	1,001– 3,000 ft	3,001– 6,000 ft	above 6,001 ft
  Pint	30 min.	35 min.	40 min.	45 min.
  Quart	30 min.	35 min.	40 min.	45 min.

  Variation: Whole Baby Beets

  Follow same directions but use beets that are
  1 to 1½ inches in diameter. Pack whole; do not slice.

  Pickled Hot Peppers

  Ingredients

  4 pounds hot, long red, green, or yellow peppers (e.g., Hungarian, banana, chile, or jalapeño)

  3 pounds sweet red and green peppers, mixed

  5 cups vinegar (5% acidity)

  1 cup water

  4 teaspoons canning or pickling salt

  2 Tablespoons sugar

  2 cloves garlic

  Yield

  About 18 half-pints or 9 pints

  Caution: To prevent burns, wear rubber gloves when you handle hot peppers, or wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching your face.

  Procedure

  Wash peppers. If small peppers are left whole, slash two to four slits in each. Quarter large peppers. Blanch in boiling water or blister skin to peel. To blister, place peppers in a 400°F oven or under the broiler for 6 to 8 minutes or until skins blister. Allow peppers to cool by placing in a pan and covering with a damp cloth. Peel after several minutes. Flatten small peppers. Combine and heat other ingredients to boiling and simmer 10 minutes.

  Remove garlic.

  Fill hot half-pint or pint jars, leaving ½ inch headspace. Add hot pickling solution over peppers, leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if needed. Wipe rims, adjust lids, and process in a boiling water canner as follows:

  Hot Pack Processing Times for Pickled Hot Peppers

  Jar size	Altitude
  	0– 1,000 ft	1,001– 6,000 ft	above 6,001 ft
  Half-pint	10 min.	15 min.	20 min.
  Pint	10 min.	15 min.	20 min.

  Marinated Whole Mushrooms

  Ingredients

  7 pounds small whole mushrooms

  ½ cup bottled lemon juice

  2 cups olive or salad oil

  2½ cups white vinegar (5% acidity)

  1 Tablespoon dried oregano leaves

  1 Tablespoon dried basil leaves

  1 Tablespoon canning or pickling salt

  ½ cup finely chopped onion

  ¼ cup diced pimento

  2 cloves garlic, cut in quarters

  25 black peppercorns

  Yield

  About 9 half-pints

  Procedure

  Select very fresh unopened mushrooms with caps less than 1¼ inches in diameter. Wash. Cut stems, leaving ¼ inch attached to cap. Add lemon juice and water to cover. Bring to boil. Simmer
  5 minutes. Drain mushrooms.

  Mix olive oil, vinegar, oregano, basil, and salt in a saucepan. Stir in onions and pimento and heat to boiling. Place ¼ clove garlic and 2 to 3 peppercorns in each half-pint jar. Fill half-pint jars with mushrooms and hot, well-mixed oil and vinegar solution, leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if needed. Wipe rims, adjust lids, and process in a boiling water canner as follows:

  Hot Pack Processing Times for Marinated Whole Mushrooms

  Jar size	Altitude
  	0– 1,000 ft	1,001– 3,000 ft	3,001– 6,000 ft	above 6,001 ft
  Half-pint	20 min.	25 min.	30 min.	35 min.

  Sweet Pickle Relish

  Ingredients

  12 cups chopped cucumbers

  3 cups chopped sweet green peppers

  3 cups chopped red peppers

  1 cup chopped onions

  ¾ cup canning or pickling salt

  5 cups crushed ice

  8 cups water

  2 cups sugar

  4 teaspoons mustard seed

  4 teaspoons turmeric

  4 teaspoons whole allspice

  4 teaspoons whole cloves

  6 cups white vinegar (5% acidity)

  Yield

  About 18 half-pints or 9 pints

  Procedure

  Add cucumbers, peppers, onions, salt, and ice to water and let stand 4 hours. Drain and re-cover vegetables with fresh ice water for another hour. Drain again.

  Combine spices in a cheesecloth bag. Add spice bag to sugar and vinegar. Heat to boiling and pour mixture over vegetables. Cover and refrigerate
  24 hours.

  Heat mixture to boiling and fill hot half-pint or pint jars, leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if needed. Wipe rims, adjust lids, and process in a boiling water canner as follows:

  Hot Pack Processing Times for Sweet Pickle Relish

  Jar size	Altitude
  	0– 1,000 ft	1,001– 6,000 ft	above 6,001 ft
  Half-pint	10 min.	15 min.	20 min.
  Pint	10 min.	15 min.	20 min.

  Dill Pickle Relish (Hot Dog Relish)

  Ingredients

  14 cups chopped pickling cucumbers (about
  5 pounds whole pickling cucumbers)

  2 cups chopped red bell pepper

  5½ cups cider vinegar (5% acidity)

  3 teaspoons dill seed

  6 cloves garlic, minced

  5 Tablespoons pickling or canning salt

  Yield

  About 7 pints or 14 half-pints

  Procedure

  Wash cucumbers and peppers well. After washing the cucumbers, slice a thin piece from both the stem and blossom ends, and discard. Cut into 1-inch pieces and chop in a food processor (using about 3 to 4 short pulses on “chop”) to yield ¼-inch or smaller pieces. Measure 14 cups of the chopped cucumber.

  After washing the peppers, remove the stem, seeds, and white membranes. Cut into 1-inch pieces or slices and then chop in a food processor (using about 3 to 4 pulses on “chop”) to yield about ¼-inch or slightly smaller pieces. Measure 2 cups of the chopped pepper. Combine chopped cucumbers and bell peppers, and set aside.

  In a large stockpot, stir together the cider vinegar, dill seed, minced garlic, and pickling salt, until the salt dissolves. Add the chopped vegetables and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.

  Fill hot pint jars with hot relish, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if needed. Make sure liquid covers the top of the food pieces. Wipe rims, adjust lids, and process in a boiling water canner as follows:

  Hot Pack Processing Times for Dill Pickle Relish

  Jar size	Altitude
  	0– 1,000 ft	1,001– 6,000 ft	above 6,001 ft
  Pint	15 min.	20 min.	25 min.

  Developed at The University of Georgia, Athens, for the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

  Summer Squash Relish

  Ingredients

  4 pounds fresh, firm yellow and/or zucchini summer squash (as purchased)

  ½ cup diced sweet onion

  2 cups cider vinegar (5%)

  2¼ cups white sugar

  2 teaspoons celery seed

  2 teaspoons turmeric

  4 teaspoons mustard seed

  Yield

  About 5 pint jars or 10 half-pints

  Procedure

  Rinse squash well, remove blossom and stem ends, and shred in a food processor. Peel onions, remove stem and root ends. Dice or shred in a food processor.

  Combine vinegar, sugar and spices and bring to a boil. Carefully add squash and onions. Return combined ingredients to a boil; boil gently for
  5 minutes, stirring often.

  Pack hot vegetables with liquid into hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace if needed. Make sure liquid covers the top of the food pieces. Wipe rims, adjust lids, and process in a boiling water as follows:

  Hot Pack Processing Times for Summer Squash Relish

  Jar size	At an altitude of
  	0– 1,000 ft	1,001– 6,000 ft	above 6,001 ft
  Half-pint	15 min.	20 min.	25 min.
  Pint	15 min.	20 min.	25 min.

  Note

  Recipe may use all yellow squash, all zucchini squash, or a combination of both. Celery salt may be used in place of celery seed as taste preference.

  Developed at The University of Georgia, Athens for the National
  Center for Home Food Preservation.

  Pickles for Special Diets

  Reduced-Sodium Sliced Sweet Pickles

  Ingredients

  4 pounds pickling cucumbers (3- to 4-inch)

  Canning syrup

  1²∕³ cups distilled white vinegar (5% acidity)

  3 cups sugar

  1 Tablespoon whole allspice

  2¼ teaspoons celery seed

  Brining solution

  1 quart distilled white vinegar (5% acidity)

  1 Tablespoon canning or pickling salt

  1 Tablespoon mustard seed

  ½ cup sugar

  Yield

  4 to 5 pints

  Procedure

  Wash cucumbers and cut ¹⁄₁₆ inch off blossom end and discard. Cut cucumbers into ¼-inch slices. Combine all ingredients for canning syrup in a saucepan and bring to boiling. Keep syrup hot until used.

  In a large kettle, mix the ingredients for the brining solution. Add the cut cucumbers; cover and simmer until the cucumbers change color from bright to dull green (5 to 7 minutes). Drain the cucumber slices. Fill hot pint jars with cucumber slices, and cover with hot canning syrup, leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if needed. Wipe rims, adjust lids, and process in a boiling water canner as follows:

  Hot Pack Processing Times for Reduced-Sodium Sliced Sweet Pickles

  Jar size	At an altitude of
  	0– 1,000 ft	1,001– 6,000 ft	above 6,001 ft
  Pint	10 min.	15 min.	20 min.

  No-Sugar-Added Sweet Cucumber Slices

  Ingredients

  3½ pounds of pickling cucumbers

  Boiling water to cover sliced cucumbers

  4 cups cider vinegar (5% acidity)

  3 cups Splenda

  1 Tablespoon canning salt

  1 cup water

  1 Tablespoon mustard seed

  1 Tablespoon whole allspice

  1 Tablespoon celery seed

  4 one-inch cinnamon sticks

  Yield

  About 4 or 5 pint jars

  Procedure

  Wash cucumbers. Slice ¹⁄₁₆ inch off the blossom and stem ends and discard. Slice cucumbers into ¼-inch thick slices. Pour boiling water over the cucumber slices and let stand 5 to 10 minutes. Drain off the hot water and pour cold water over the cucumbers. Let cold water run continuously over the cucumber slices or change water frequently, until cucumbers are cooled. Drain slices well.

  Mix vinegar, 1 cup water, Splenda, and all spices in a large stockpot. Bring to a boil. Carefully add drained cucumber slices to the boiling liquid. Return to a boil.

  Place one cinnamon stick in each jar, if desired. With a slotted spoon, fill hot pickle slices into hot pint jars, leaving ½ inch headspace. Cover with boiling hot pickling syrup, leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if needed. Wipe rims, adjust lids, and process in a boiling water canner as follows:

  Hot Pack Processing Times for No-Sugar-Added Cucumber Slices

  Jar size	At an altitude of
  	0– 1,000 ft	1,001– 6,000 ft	above 6,001 ft
  Pint	10 min.	15 min.	20 min.

  Developed at The University of Georgia, Athens, for the National Center for Home Food Preservation.