Company’s Best Pickles
Just like my Grandma Zella used to make. (Recipe courtesy of Jill’s mom.)
Crispy Sweet Pickle Timeline:
Day 1: Make salt brine, be sure to make enough solution to cover all cucumbers completely.
Cover whole cucumbers with solution leaving at room temperature. You may try placing a weighted plate over cucumbers to ensure submersion.
Salt Brine: 1/2 cup salt 1 quart water
Day 2: don’t touch Day 3: don’t touch
Day 4: Drain salt brine and rinse cucumbers, cover cucumbers with ice water Day 5: Drain cucumbers and cover with fresh ice water Day 6: Drain cucumbers and cover with fresh ice water
Day 7: Drain cucumbers, cut into 1/4”-1/2” slices. Make pickling brine, be sure to make enough solution to cover all cucumbers completely. Cover cucumber slices with solution leaving at room temperature. You may wish to continue using a weighted plate to ensure submersion.
Pickling Brine: 2 cups brown vinegar 4 cups water 2 tsp alum *Heat to boiling point, pour over pickles.
Day 8: don’t touch
Day 9: Drain cucumbers. Make second pickling brine, be sure to make enough solution to cover all cucumber slices completely. Cover cucumber slices with solution leaving at room temperature.
Second Pickling Brine: 2 cups white sugar 2 cups white vinegar 1 tsp mixed pickling spice *Heat to boiling point, pour over pickles.
Day 10: Pour liquid from cucumber slices into appropriate size sauce pan. Bring liquid to a boil, pour back over cucumber slices. Day 11: Pour liquid from cucumber slices into appropriate size sauce pan. Bring liquid to a boil, pour back over cucumber slices. Day 12: Pour liquid from cucumber slices into appropriate size sauce pan. Bring liquid to a boil, pour back over cucumber slices. Day 13: Pour liquid from cucumber slices into appropriate size sauce pan. Bring liquid to a boil, pour back over cucumber slices.
Day 14: Pour liquid from cucumber slices into appropriate size sauce pan.
Distribute cucumber slices into canning jars.
Bring liquid to a boil, pour liquid over cucumber slices to cover in canning jars.
Place heated canning lid over jar to seal.
*If canning is not preferred, pickles can be stored in refrigerator up to 6 months in brine.
