Homemade Refrigerator Garlic & Dill Pickles
Anyone can make these easy homemade refrigerator pickles. Fresh cucumbers and a flavorful brine create a crisp delicious pickle with no canning required. No special canning equipment needed. They are very easy to make—no cooking experience necessary.
They take only a few minutes to make and you’ll never want to buy the store-bought kind again. Because these are refrigerator pickles, you simply brine the cucumbers in the refrigerator and they last a really long time. If you love a pickle with an unbelievable crunch and great flavor, you’ll love these. Enjoy in sandwiches, on salads, and as a snack.
How to Make Garlic & Dill Pickles
Yield: 3
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
Produce
- 10-12 pickling (or 5 English hothouse) cucumbers
- 1 bunch of dill, fresh
- 1 head of garlic (skins removed, cloves smashed but whole)
Baking & Spices
- 1 Tbsp. mustard seed
- 10 black peppercorns, whole
- 1 Tbsp. pickling (or Kosher) salt
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
Oils & Vinegars
- 2 cups white distilled vinegar
Liquids
- 4 cups (32 oz.) water
Directions
- Slice cucumbers into ¼ inch slices or spears (or leave whole). Set aside
- To make brine, combine water, vinegar, salt, and sugar in medium sauce pan. Bring to a boil and swirl to make sugar and salt dissolve. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
- Add cucumbers to jars. Do not pack them super tight as you you’ll want room for the brine. Add the fresh dill, smashed garlic, and peppercorns to the jars. Finish by adding enough brine to cover the cucumbers. Seal with an airtight lid and store in the refrigerator for at least one week. Pickles should be good for at least 4-6 weeks after that.
Note: This recipe made enough for 3 quart jars.
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe uses very few ingredients. No special pickling salt or hard-to-find spices needed.
Where to Find Pickling Cucumbers
I’ve always found pickling cucumbers at the farmers market. Grocery stores will carry them as well, but they are definitely a seasonal item (look for them toward the end of the summer). Some stores might try to convince you that other types of cucumbers are pickling cucumbers, but don’t be fooled. Pickling cucumbers have a unique look and taste which is why they make the perfect pickle.
These Are Not Canned In A Water Bath Or Pressure Cooker
These are refrigerator pickles, which means that you just put everything in a jar, refrigerate, and wait. No canning. No sealing. Easy.
How Long Will These Keep
The salt and vinegar keeps them safe for a short while at room temperature, but to preserve them you will need to keep them refrigerated. I recommend storing these refrigerator dill pickles no longer than two months in the refrigerator. Be sure to always use a clean utensil to pull them out as you do not want to contaminate the liquid with dirty hands. Once you eat all the pickles, you can reuse the brine by adding more fresh cucumbers, garlic and dill.
Notes
- Makes 3 quart sized jars
- The amount of dill and garlic can vary depending on taste. I prefer to pack my jars with a ton of fresh dill which is why I don’t specify a specific quantity, but you can add as little or as much as you prefer.
- The intensity of the garlic will impact the intensity of the pickles. If your garlic is particularly strong, use less if you are sensitive to the taste.
- I use a very small amount of red pepper flakes because I do not like spicy things. But here, again, you can add more if you prefer spicy pickles.
- Since refrigerator pickles are not preserved with the traditional canning method, they cannot be left in the pantry like grocery store pickles. Keep them in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Information
| Serving Size: | 1 |
| Amount Per Serving | |
| Calories: | 12 (26kcal) |
| Carbohydrates: | 3g |
| Sodium: | 781mg |
| Potassium: | 226mg |
| Fiber: | 1g |
| Sugar: | 2g |
| Total Fat: | 0g |
| Saturated Fat: | 0g |
| Trans Fat: | 0g |
| Unsaturated Fat: | 0g |
| Cholesterol: | 0mg |
| Protein: | 0g |
| Vitamin A: | 120IU |
| Vitamin C: | 5.4mg |
| Calcium: | 27mg |
| Iron: | 0.4mg |
This recipe can be made…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, paleo, dairy-free and gluten-free.
Have you tried this recipe? Have your own recipe to share? I’d love you to leave a comment below.
Sources:
EASY REFRIGERATOR DILL PICKLES
https://selfproclaimedfoodie.com/easy-refrigerator-dill-pickles/
Published:July 17, 2019 Updated: December 5, 2020 by Krissy
Easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles
http://www.yummymummykitchen.com/2016/06/easy-refrigerator-dill-pickles.html