8 Day Pickles
These homemade 8-day pickles offer a delightful balance of tangy, sweet, and spicy flavors. The process involves multiple soaking stages with alum, ginger, and vinegar, resulting in crisp, flavorful pickles perfect for enjoyments on sandwiches, charcuterie boards, or as a tangy snack. Ideal for those who love traditional fermented-style pickles with a unique twist.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Wash and cut up the cucumbers.
- Put the cucumbers in a churn or large container.
- Mix salt in 1 gallon of water and pour over the cucumbers.
- Let stand for 3 days.
- Drain off the salt water.
- Cover with alum water (1 tablespoon alum to 1 gallon water).
- Let stand for 1 day.
- Drain and cover with ginger water (1 tablespoon ginger to 1 gallon water).
- Let stand for 1 day.
- Drain and rinse the cucumbers once and drain well.
- Put the cucumbers back in the churn.
- Mix vinegar, sugar, and pickling spice and bring to a boil.
- Pour the hot vinegar mixture over the cucumbers.
- Let stand for 1 day.
- The next day, put the cucumbers into jars.
- Boil the remaining liquid and pour over the pickles.
- Seal the jars and store.
Tips & Substitutions
For best results, use small cucumbers for a crunchier texture. If you don't have alum, you can substitute with additional salt or skip it altogether, though the pickles may not have the same crispness. Be sure to rinse the cucumbers thoroughly after each soaking to remove excess salt and flavors. This recipe is a great way to use up extra cucumbers from your garden.
Serving Suggestions
These 8 Day Pickles make a fantastic condiment for barbecue dishes or as a crunchy side to sandwiches. Serve them alongside Mom'S Four Bean Salad for a colorful and flavorful meal. They also pair beautifully with grilled meats or can be chopped up and added to potato salad for a zesty twist. Enjoy them as part of a charcuterie board for added flavor variety.
Storage & Reheating
Store the pickles in sterilized jars in a cool, dark place. Once opened, keep them refrigerated and consume within a month for optimal freshness. The pickles can also be enjoyed straight from the jar or used as a tangy addition to sandwiches and salads. If you have leftovers after a gathering, they make a delightful snack on their own.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of 8 Day Pickles contains roughly 223 calories, with 1g protein, 43g carbohydrates, and 0g fat. It is a good source of iron (10% of the Daily Value). Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 947mg per serving (41% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use other vegetables for this pickling method?
Yes, this pickling method works well with various vegetables such as carrots, green beans, or even cauliflower. Just adjust the soaking times as needed based on the vegetable's size and texture to ensure they stay crisp.
How long do these pickles last once opened?
Once opened, these pickles can last for about a month when stored in the refrigerator. Be sure to keep them submerged in the brine to maintain their flavor and crunch. If you notice any off smells or mold, discard them immediately.
Is there a way to make these pickles spicier?
Absolutely! You can add crushed red pepper flakes or sliced jalapeños to the vinegar mixture before pouring it over the cucumbers. This will give the pickles a nice spicy kick. Experiment with the amount to find the right heat level for your taste.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).