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Recipe compliments of www.ITISAKEEPER.com

A jar of Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles in brine, featuring sliced pickles with visible mustard seeds, spices, and onion slices.

Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles

5 from 1 vote
Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles are crisp, sweet and tangy. This is a great recipe to make if you're new to making pickles because it's not canned. Just pour the brine over the pickles and toss them in the fridge.
Prep Time : 35 minutes
Chill Time : 1 day
Total Time : 1 day 35 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Condiment, Snack
Calories: 69kcal
Author: Christina Hitchcock

Equipment

Ingredients
 

  • 2 pounds Cucumbers
  • 1 small Onion, sliced
  • 3 tablespoons Kosher salt
  • 1 cup White distilled vinegar
  • ⅓ cup Apple cider vinegar
  • ⅓ cup Brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Coriander seeds
  • 6 cloves Garlic , peeled
  • 1 teaspoon Mustard seed
  • ¼ teaspoons Red pepper flakes, optional

Instructions
 

  • Use a crinkle cutter to cut cucumbers into ¼” slices.
  • Using a sharp knife, slice onion into ¼” slices and place in the bowl with the cucumber slices.
  • Toss the onions and cucumbers with the salt and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, place the white vinegar in a bowl, set aside.
  • Combine the remaining ingredients in a saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
  • Once the brown sugar is dissolved, remove from heat and pour into the white vinegar.
  • Once the cucumbers and onions have set for 30 minutes, rinse and place in a bowl.
  • Pour the vinegar mixture over the cucumbers.
  • Refrigerate for 24 hours.

Christina's Notes

  • Use Fresh, Firm Cucumbers: The quality of your cucumbers will greatly impact the final texture of your pickles. Choose small to medium-sized, firm cucumbers with no soft spots.
  • Slice Evenly: Try to slice your vegetables evenly for consistent pickling. A mandolin can be helpful for this, but be careful!
  • Pack Jars Snugly: Pack the sliced vegetables tightly into clean jars, but don't overpack. Leave about 1/2 inch of headspace.
  • Allow Time for Flavors to Meld: While you can technically eat them after a few hours, the flavor of refrigerator pickles really develops after 24-48 hours in the refrigerator.
  • Don't Boil the Brine Too Long: Heating the brine helps dissolve the sugar and salt, but boiling it for an extended period can alter the flavor. A gentle simmer until dissolved is usually sufficient.
  • Store in the Refrigerator: Refrigerator pickles are not shelf-stable and must be stored in the refrigerator.
  • Serve With: I love bread and butter pickles with Cast Iron Burgers or Sweet and Spicy Pickles.

MY NOTES