There are two types of people in this world, those who love pickles and those who don’t. 
I fall into the first group. My dad loves pickles and as a kid I remember eating pickles with everything. (Including our famous peanut butter and pickle sandwich, but I don’t want you to lose your appetite)
A few weeks ago when my friend gave me all those vegetables there were several cucumbers in the box. I am not a huge fan of cucumbers so I decided to try making my own pickles.
I was going to try the Sun Dills recipe that someone left in the comments but several days of rain made me wary of doing it that way. Problem Solvin’ Mom gave me her recipe for Cold Crock Pickles and the experiment began. I say experiment because I didn’t really think it would work- could making pickles be so easy?
After following the directions exactly, we put the pickle jar in the fridge and waited. After about a week I decided it was time to try the pickles. To my surprise they were delicious! So much better than store bought pickles and it only took a few minutes to make!
In my excitement I shared this with my mother and sister, and they in turn informed me that they had been making pickles for years. What?!?! Where have I been? My mom told me that she buys a jar of pickles and when they are gone she cuts up cucumbers and puts them in the pickle juice. In a few days she has her own pickles.
I am not really sure how I spent my whole life not knowing this, but now I do. I don’t think I will ever buy pickles again now that I have tasted the delicious homemade version. If you have a few cucumbers lying around you should really try this recipe. It is easy, cheap, and delicious!
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Yummy! My MIL makes some refrigerator pickles very similar to those and they are the best!!!
I had no idea it was so easy to make pickles! And I never would have thought of adding my own cucumbers to the leftover juice. I love Claussen pickles but they are kind of expensive. I’m going to try add cucumbers to the juice and see how it works. Thanks for the idea!
That looks yummy…I’ll have to try to make my own too. I am a HUGE pickle lover (and I share your love for pb & pickle sandwiches…had one just this week).
we made our own pickles this year as well. It has worked out great and so much better than store bought.
I made my own pickles a few weeks ago with a different method. Hands down they are so much better than the grocery store, and it’s not hard to process them yourself so you can have them all year long. Processed pickles aren’t so crunchy, but in mid-February…who cares?
I agree Tiffany, I love Claussen pickles too, but they are so expensive. I am glad I found a cheaper (and better tasting, imo) option.
Toni
The recipe looks great–but we have a family of 5 and a small fridge–no room for a big crock. Do you have any idea how to pare it down to say, the size of a large Claussen jar, or maybe 2? I could fit a couple of those in my fridge door, but shelf space is awfully tight on the big shelves….and I wouldn’t mind making pickles once or twice a week, it sounds very easy!
I LOVE pickles! The big giant dill deli pickles are my favorite. I used to dip pickles in sour cream, which apparently grossed other people out, I haven’t done it in a decade though. The cucumbers in the juice is a good idea…I think I might try that (it sounds so easy)!
We had pickles with m&ms when wer were growing up
I also love PB&P sandwiches, as do both of my sisters. I don’t remember what prompted us to try it when we were growing up, but we’re hooked. My hubby, on the other hand, won’t even try it because he says it grosses him out.
I would just use smaller jars and smaller cucumbers, or slice the cucumbers before you put them in the jar.
Toni
Toni, it was the recipe for the brine I wanted to cut down. It didn’t seem quite right to make over 3 quarts of brine to fill one or two (relatively) small jars.
I thought I was the only one who loved pickle and peanut butter! Everyone always looks at me like i’ve grown a second head or something.
Whoops! Sorry about that, I am on headache medicine today and am not 100%. I guess you could 1/2 it or even reduce to 1/4. I didn’t even use all the brine for my big jar.
This looks delicious! You’ll never go back now.
What beautiful pickles!!
Jusy so you know – I’m going out to the kitchen to make a pb and pickle sandwich right this instant.
Wow- I am really shocked at how many people eat pb and pickle sandwiches. I thought I was the only one!!!
Mmmm. These look so good. I have a really similar recipe only we slice the cucumbers to make homemade pickle chips. I love pickles, though. And that jar looks so pretty that it could be a gift.
The cold pack method also works for jalapenos and okra, something I always seem a few too many of.
PB and pickles? And beet smoothies? Hmmm. LOL
It’s amazing when you learn/discover something “new” that has been there/happening all along
I love the idea of cutting up cukes to fill up your pickle jar when you’re out of store-boughts.
Finally! Another person who gets the peanut butter-pickle sandwhich! lol
Can you use this recipe for pickled onions? I had those once in Brazil and I loved them I have always wanted to make them but didn’t know how.
Wait-where is that Sun Dill recipe? With temps in the 100s for at least another 7 days here in Texas, I have time!! That being said-I may try this as well…oh and cutting cucumbers in the pickle juice-SMART!
Just a suggestion: cutting 1/16″ off the blossom end of the pickles will help keep the pickles a bit crisper. Looks like this recipe would make some tasty pickles!