Canning Dill pickles, using my Grandma Ella’s recipe, was just one of the many items I canned during the summer months, many years ago. I don’t do much canning anymore… due to time and expense.
However, it’s September, the canning feeling is in the air and I was at Farmer Grant’s produce stand day- before-yesterday… and a peck of cucumbers spoke to me.
In fact, before I knew it… the peck of cucumbers and two bags of fresh dill were in my car before I even had time to think about it. “What the…. I don’t have time for this and there is not one earthly nutritional benefit for having dill pickles in my food storage,” I said to myself.
Then I said, “I want to do this… just for me… for fun.” I never thought I would ever say that canning would be fun after “putting up” hundreds of bushels of produce in the past. But, at this moment in time… it’s fun.
So here we go. I want to share with you, my Grandma Ella’s Homemade Dill Pickle recipe. Mmmmm… they’re so good!
Here’s what you need:
A. 1 peck of cucumbers. Now I never buy the ones the farmer says are “Dills.” I go the next size smaller. They fit better in the bottle and are “cruncher.”
B. 1 gal. of white vinegar.
C. Fresh dill. You need a dill head for each bottle which should include stems and pieces. (this recipe will do between 12 and 14 quarts.)
D. Alum (that’s for the pucker.)
E. Salt ( don’t use iodized salt, it will cause the solution to become cloudy.)
F. 1 garlic bud or clove for each bottle.
G. One grape leaf for each bottle. (They say it keeps the pickles crisp. I don’t know if that’s true but Grandma Ella did it… so who am I to argue with success.) I raid my neighbors grape leaves, since I don’t grow grapes.
H. You will need clean wide mouth jars, rims and lids. (12 -14)
Make your vinegar solution: 1 Qt. Vinegar. 3 Qt’s water. 1 C Salt. (This recipe is solution for 6 or 7 quarts.
In each jar, place a grape leave in the bottom. Add one peeled garlic clove, 1 pinch of alum (that’s what grandma said.) but it equates to about 1/8 tes. of alum. At least one dill flower head and a bunch of stems and pieces. It looks like weeds in there but it’s okay. (This is a lousy photo… but you get the drift.)
Now, put the cucumbers in the jar. With these smaller cukes…I can get about 5 or 6 in a jar… just force them in there tight.
I place my bottles on top of my canner bottom and let the steam rise up around them. Or, you can just place the jars in a large frying pan with boiling water and let the steam come up around them. My lids and rims are in a little pan of water… boiling away… and my solution is boiling too. Everything needs to be hot!
Fill one hot jar with the solution.
Take from the boiling water, one lid and rim.
Place it on the filled jar. Tighten the hot jar rim and set your bottle aside.
Repeat the process until you have all the jars filled.
It’s important for you keep everything hot… cause we’re not going to process these bottles. Nope.. No way.. makes the cucumbers soft… and Grandma Ella didn’t do it… and it works… and we’re not dead from any little micro bug. Besides… with all that vinegar and salt… anything bacteria that would have been alive is now… long gone.
There you have it….Homemade Dill Pickles. It’s not hard and they’re so good… BUT…HERE’S THE DEAL… you can’t open a jar until THANKSGIVING. Nope… keep your mitts off until Thanksgiving day. I know it’s tempting. Another reason to celebrate Turkey Day!
It takes that long for the pickles to cure in the brine… but it’s well worth the wait.
Till Later,
Kathy Griffiths
Insightful Nana
P.S. I wonder what else is going to end up in my car… so I can do a bit of canning… just for fun.
P.P.S. If you want a printable recipe for your files, fill in the box below so I can send you the link.
Besides… once you sign in… You’ll be on my freebie list and I’ll be sending you all kinds of fun things… especially for the holidays. You won’t have to sign in again.
FAQs
Label and date your jars and store them in a clean, cool, dark, and dry place such as a pantry, cabinet, or basem*nt. Don't store in a warm spot! To allow pickles to mellow and develop a delicious flavor, wait at least 3 weeks before eating! Keep in mind that pickles may be ready to enjoy earlier.
What is the easiest way to can pickles? ›
How to Can Pickles, Step by Step
- Fill a large pot with hot water. ...
- Submerge canning jars in the hot water and bring to a boil. ...
- Gather and trim the cucumbers. ...
- Make the pickle brine. ...
- Remove jars from hot water. ...
- Fill jars with pickle ingredients. ...
- Add extra spices (if you'd like) ...
- Prep jars for sealing.
Work Clean
Jars should be sterilized by keeping them in simmering water (greater than 180ºF, but not boiling) for no less than 10 minutes; this is most easily done in your canning pot. In a separate pot or bowl, submerge the lids in hot, but not boiling, water for at least five minutes to soften the gaskets.
How long do canned pickles last? ›
Pickles can go bad, but even so, they are rarely a cause for food safety concerns. Try and use up your pickles within three months of purchase, if you can. And be on the look out for any off colors, tastes, smells or textures—let your senses be your guide!
What makes pickles stay crisp when canning? ›
Tannins work against softening enzymes and help keep pickles crunchier. They can be found in various sources, such as grape leaves, oak leaves, raspberry leaves, black tea, etc. Add some directly to your jars!
How to keep pickles crunchy when canning? ›
Soak Cucumbers In Ice Water Beforehand
Doing this before you start canning them will give you the crunchiest pickles you've ever had!
Do you have to boil jars when canning pickles? ›
Keep the jars in the hot water until you fill them with pickles. If the recipe calls for presterilized jars, boil the jars completely submerged in water for 10 minutes before turning down the heat. In a separate small container, heat the lids (flat discs) in hot, but not boiling water.
Do you have to soak pickles before canning? ›
Common Crunchy Pickle Tips
Use the freshest cucumbers possible. Add tannins such as grape leaves or horseradish leaves. Cut off the blossom end of the cucumber before pickling. Keep your pickles cold or soak them in ice water before canning.
Is apple cider vinegar good for canning pickles? ›
Apple cider vinegar made from fermented apple juice is a good choice for many pickles. It has a mellow, fruity flavor that blends well with spices. But it will darken most vegetables and fruits. Cider vinegar may be substituted for white vinegar of the same acidity.
How long do I boil jars for canning pickles? ›
STERLIZING EQUIPMENT: Place a rack in the bottom of a pot, add canning jars, and fill with water to cover jars by 1"-2". Bring water to a boil, add rings and lids, and boil for at least 10 minutes (leave equipment in water until needed).
Fill with the brine, ensuring one inch of headspace. Process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes. Remove from hot water bath and allow to cool overnight to ensure a good seal. Pickles are good for one year with a good seal, stored in a cool, dry place.
Why do you have to boil jars after canning? ›
Boiling removes the oxygen remaining in the jar, which helps to form a tight seal between the lid and the rim. The heat used for this method of canning is sufficient to kill vegetative bacterial cells found in the food. Only high-acid food with a pH of 4.6 or less can be processed using the boiling water bath method.
Can you eat 2 year old canned pickles? ›
It's typically safe to eat food that's past its expiration date, with a few exceptions. If the can in question contains a higher-acid food such as tomatoes, fruits, pickles, sauerkraut, or a food in a vinegar-based sauce, the USDA recommends discarding these items after 18 months from date of purchase.
How to tell if homemade canned pickles are bad? ›
Check for any signs of leakage around the lid or along the rim of the jar. Discoloration, cloudiness, or the presence of strange growths like mold are strong indicators of spoilage. Trust your instincts; if anything looks off, it's better to be cautious.
How to tell if canned pickles are bad? ›
If the pickles have gone bad, both the pickles themselves and the brine will be discolored and/or cloudy. Murky-looking brine and dull, brown, or faded-looking pickles are not safe to eat. Visible mold on pickles: If you see any mold on the pickles or floating in the brine, they have gone bad and are unsafe to consume.
Do you have to refrigerate pickles after canning? ›
Store the sealed jars in a cool, dark, dry place—you're just using up precious space if you keep them in your refrigerator. But once you open them, or if they fail to seal, treat them like refrigerator pickles (see below). How to store: In their Mason jar with a sealed canning lid—but remove the ring.
How long does it take for canned pickles to seal? ›
Place packed cans into the canning pot and cover with 1-2 inches of water. Bring to a boil and process 15 minutes. Remove from the pot and leave at room temperature undisturbed for 12-24 hours. You may hear a pop when the jars fully seal.
How long does it take pickles to seal after water bath? ›
After processing is over, gently remove each jar and place on a clean dish towel. Leave undisturbed for 12-24 hours to cool down. Jars will take a while to seal. After your jars are cool, remove your rings, wipe your jars clean, and label each jar with contents and year canned.
Why are my pickles mushy after canning? ›
It may be a normal reaction during fermentation caused by bacteria. If the pickles are soft, they are spoiled from the yeast fermentation. Don't use them. Using too weak a salt brine or vinegar solution may cause soft or slippery pickles, as can using moldy garlic or storing the pickles at too warm a temperature.
