Customize these easy refrigerator pickles to any flavor you like, from classic dill pickles to garlic or spicy! With just 5 minutes of hands-on work, you’ll never run out of juicy pickles again.
I couldn’t finish our pickling series without including the mother of all pickles…the classic refrigerator pickle recipe!
This is the perfect recipe to use if you find yourself with more cucumbers than you can eat, and it’s perfect for keeping on hand to enjoy alongside sandwiches (and grilled cheeses) (and tacos) (and on their own).
It involves pickling without boiling, instead requiring a no cook method of heating water and vinegar and adding it to a jar. Complete the recipe with some spices, and the cucumber slices are ready to marinate!
I personally love to use garlic and red pepper flakes for an end result that packs a slight punch. However, you can use whichever seasoning combo you’d prefer! Classic dill, spicy, garlic… whatever suits you! Let’s make some pickles!
Ingredients for quick pickles
This recipe requires only four main ingredients: cucumbers, vinegar, water, and non-iodized salt. It can easily be doubled if you’re looking to keep a larger stash, or just particularly love to munch on pickles!
- Cucumbers: To make pickles, either 2 pickling cucumbers or one large English cucumber will work.
- Water: The base of the pickling mixture! If you don’t water down the vinegar, your pickles will be too tart.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: We prefer apple cider vinegar to marinate cucumber pickles, but you can also use white vinegar.
- Non-Iodized Salt: 1 tsp of non-iodized salt will help to add flavor to the pickles. Avoid iodized salt, which can cause discoloration.
- Optional Flavorings: Flavor options include 10 sprigs of fresh dill (equal to about 2 tsp chopped), 4 cloves of crushed garlic, 1 bay leaf, 1 tsp of whole black peppercorns, and/or a pinch of crushed red pepper (more for an extra spicy flavor).
How to make easy refrigerator pickles
As with all of my pickling recipes, the directions include a simple 3-step process that’s ready in as little as 5 minutes.
After preparing the jars and letting them cool at room temperature, all you do is transfer them to the refrigerator, and wait! As the cucumber slices sit in the water, vinegar, and spices, they take on that delicious tangy pickle taste that we all love.
- Prep the cucumbers: Cut the cucumber(s) into spears or rounds. Whichever shape you prefer is fine. Add your chosen optional flavors to a lidded non-reactive container (like a glass jar or ceramic vessel – I used a 32-oz mason jar), then pack in the cucumber.
- Heat the liquid: Heat the water in either a kettle, the microwave, or on the stove until steaming hot. Stir in the salt until it dissolves, and then stir in the vinegar.
- Combine the ingredients: Pour the vinegar mixture over the cucumbers in the jar so that they’re covered (you may not need all of the liquid). Let them cool to room temperature, and then seal the jars shut and transfer them to the refrigerator. Let them pickle for at least one hour before digging in, optimally waiting a full 24 hours.
How To Make Pickles Without A Recipe
FAQ
Do you have to boil to make pickles?
Can you pickle without boiling the jars?
Does pickling require heat?
What are no Cook refrigerator pickles?
No cook refrigerator pickles, aka quick pickles, take minutes to make, are crispy, tangy, and are full of garlicky dill flavor! Once you try making refrigerator pickles there is no going back. OUR ETSY SHOP IS NOW OPEN! This post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you.
Does pickle juice need to be refrigerated?
Pickle juice does not need to be refrigerated, but most people find that the drink tastes much better chilled than at room temperature. It must be stored away from excessive heat in a cool, dry place. Pickle juice remains safe and stable at room temperature as long as it is still sealed. Once unsealed, you will need to refrigerate it.
How do you make cucumber pickling without boiling?
It involves pickling without boiling, instead requiring a no cook method of heating water and vinegar and adding it to a jar. Complete the recipe with some spices, and the cucumber slices are ready to marinate! I personally love to use garlic and red pepper flakes for an end result that packs a slight punch.
Can you make pickles at home?
That’s the beauty of making pickles at home. You can tailor them to suit your tastes, making them sweet or sour, and adding as much or as little flavoring as you wish. The trick with pickling is to create an environment that is inhospitable to harmful bacteria while preserving the integrity of the vegetables.