Buzz
Pickled cucumbers with dill are a classic side dish commonly served with sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, and other dishes. Fresh herbs and flavors like dill, garlic, and chili are often used to add fragrance to the pickled cucumbers. When pickling cucumbers at home, we often face the challenge of ensuring the cucumbers stay as crispy as the ones bought from the store. The pickling and jar boiling process can be adjusted to maintain the crispiness of the cucumbers. Follow the steps below to learn how to pickle cucumbers crispy with dill.
Ingredients
- Pickling salt
- Cucumbers
- Fresh dill
- A few cloves of garlic, peeled
- Water
- White vinegar
Steps
Buy glass jars and pickling salt (specifically for pickling cucumbers) to prepare for pickling. Choose jars with a capacity of 0.5 liters or 1 liter depending on your preference; however, this recipe for pickled cucumbers with dill will make four 0.5-liter jars. You cannot substitute regular table salt for pickling salt.
Wash the cucumbers thoroughly. Make sure the cucumbers are firm and discard any that are not suitable, setting them aside for other uses. Dry the cucumbers and place them in the refrigerator overnight.
Decide how you want to arrange the cucumbers in the jar for pickling.- To keep the cucumbers crispy, you should pickle them within 24 hours of harvesting. Additionally, choose cucumbers that are about 10cm long or shorter. Avoid using cucumbers that have wax coating, often sold in supermarkets abroad.
Clean the pickling jars with soap and water to remove any leftover food from previous use. Rinse the soap off thoroughly.
Sterilize the jars by placing them in a large pot of warm water or a dedicated canning pot. Wait for the water to come to a boil. Boil the jars and their lids for about 10 to 15 minutes. Carefully remove the jars using oven mitts or tongs.
- At an altitude of 300 meters above sea level, you should boil the jars for about 10 minutes. For every additional 300 meters above this altitude, increase the boiling time by 1 minute.
Place four 0.5-liter jars on the kitchen counter to cool. Add three peeled garlic cloves to each jar.
Add a sprig of fresh dill to each jar. Be sure to wash and dry the dill thoroughly before placing it in the jars.
You can add half a teaspoon (1.5g) of whole peppercorns and one teaspoon (3g) of mustard seeds to each jar. Some people also like to add one teaspoon (2g) of onion powder or a small amount of fresh chopped onion.
For a spicy kick, add half a chili pepper or one teaspoon (3g) of ground red pepper.
Prepare the brine. In a pot, combine 2.5 cups of white vinegar, 2.5 cups of water, and 1/4 cup of pickling salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, then immediately remove the pot from the heat.
Pack the cucumbers or cucumber slices tightly into the jars. Fill the jar to the top, ensuring it is packed well.
Pour the brine over the cucumbers, filling the jar completely. Leave about 1.3 cm of space at the top of the jar.
Seal the jar by placing the lid on and fastening the locking ring tightly.
Submerge the jars in boiling water. Keep the jars in the hot water for about 5 minutes, then remove them once the time is up. Do not leave the jars in boiling water longer than 5 minutes, as the cucumbers will lose their crispness.
Wipe the jars with a clean towel and let them cool before storing them in your pantry.
- Many people prefer to pickle cucumbers with dill in the "fridge method." This means they do not boil them in hot water but instead store the jars in the refrigerator before eating. If you choose this method, make sure to seal the jars while they are still hot, leave them on the kitchen counter to cool, then refrigerate them.
- Boiling the jars with water prevents the growth of yeast and mold, keeping the pickles safe from spoilage.
Wait at least 1 week before eating to allow the flavors to fully infuse into the cucumbers.
Warning
- Never alter the ratio of vinegar and water in the recipe. Vinegar plays a crucial role in preventing foodborne illness, as it contains 4-6% acetic acid.
What You Will Need
- Glass jars
- Kitchen gloves
- Metal tongs
- Timer
- Boiling water for jar immersion
- Pot
- Clean towels
