How to Make Pickles With or Without a Canner
Updated: Jun. 07, 2019New to canning pickles? This step-by-step guide is a great place to start. We've rounded up our best canning techniques for every type of pickle. Ready, set, can!
Crunch, tang, garden freshness—that’s what you get when you know how to make homemade pickles. (Already popped open a can? Try these recipes reserved for pickle lovers.) Whether you’re canny at canning, prefer the ease of the refrigerator or don’t want to heat up the stove at all. we’ve rounded up the best methods for making those green goodies you’ll be sneaking downstairs to snack on. The Taste of Home Test Kitchen has rounded up their best behind-the-scenes tips. Read through this guide, then get canning!
Favorite Bread & Butter Pickles
I made these pickles while growing up and love them because you can eat them with just about anything. Now, both of my children love these pickles, too. I think you'll enjoy them as much as we do! —Linda Weger, Robinson, Illinois
Refrigerator Garden Pickles
Canning isn't necessary for these crisp-tender, tangy pickles. Keep them in the fridge and eat them up within a month. —Linda Chapman, Meriden, Iowa
Sweet 'n' Tangy Freezer Pickles
Now you can have all the goodness of crunchy sweet-sour pickles without going to the trouble of canning them. Even though these puckery slices can be stored in the freezer, they don't last long at my house. —Jean Vance, Charlotte, North Carolina
Christmas Pickles
A dear family friend made these pickles for decades. I've adapted the recipe a bit over the years, but in my heart they are still “Dr. Rhodes’ pickles.” These morsels are delicious any time of year, but the green, red and white hues of the pickles, cherries and onions make them ideal for Christmas gift-giving—and it's a tasty twist on the classic Christmas pickle tradition. —Patricia Martin, Shelby
Pickled Peaches
Fresh peach quarters soaked in vinegar, sugar and warm spices is a classic Southern treat. Serve with ice cream, pound cake, roasted meat and veggies or mix into your favorite salad greens.—Nick Iverson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Pickled Sweet Peppers
I love to can my homegrown produce. I call this recipe Summer in a Jar. The peppers have a nice combination of tart and spicy flavors. —Edna Clemens, West Branch, Michigan
Spiced Pickled Beets
With sweet, tangy and spiced flavors, these pickled beets are so good that they'll win over just about everyone in your house. Jars of colorful beets make great gifts, too! —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana
Pickled Green Beans
This recipe produces zippy little pickles, preserving my green beans for months to come...if they last that long. I crank up the heat a bit with cayenne pepper. —Marisa McClellan, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pickled Mushrooms for a Crowd
Serve tangy pickled mushrooms alongside a steak, as an appetizer with toothpicks, in a salad or as part of an antipasto platter. However you present them, you can’t go wrong! —John Levezow, Eagan, Minnesota
Pickled Sweet Onions
These slightly crunchy pickled onions are not only a great gift for Christmas, but also a terrific contribution to a backyard barbecue as a relish for burgers and hot dogs. —Laura Winemiller, Delta, Pennsylvania
Fire-and-Ice Pickles
These sweet and spicy pickles are great on a sandwich or all by themselves as a snack. The recipe is an easy way to dress up store-brought pickles and make them a special treat! —Myra Innes, Auburn, Kansas
Watermelon Rind Pickles
"Waste not, want not" has always been smart advice—especially when it produces picked watermelon rind that's so refreshing. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Chicago-Style Hot Giardiniera
I've been living in Chicago for the last 12 years and have grown to love the spicy giardiniera served at restaurants. So I developed my own to use at home. We love it on everything from eggs to sandwiches and even pizza! —Andrea Quiroz, Chicago, Illinois
Sweet & Spicy Pickled Red Seedless Grapes
Most people don't think about grapes when creating a canned pickle recipe. The pickling liquid for these grapes includes red wine, vinegar, and common pickling spices like coriander, mustard seeds and hot pepper; it also contains warm spices like cinnamon and star anise along with brown sugar. These flavor-packed grapes are unique and delicious on an antipasto, pickle or cheese tray. —Cheryl Perry, Hertford, North Carolina
Pickled Brussels Sprouts
This year, when I asked my brother what he wanted for his 31st birthday, he answered, "pickled Brussels sprouts." I had never even tasted a pickled Brussels sprout before. It's hard for me to say "no" to my younger brother, so he got his wish and thought the Brussels sprouts were delicious! —Heather King, Frostburg, Maryland
Grandma's Dill Pickles
This treasured dill pickle recipe is like an old friend. These crispy spears have a slightly salty, tart flavor with a good balance of dill, garlic and peppers. —Betty Sitzman, Wray, Colorado
Candied Jalapenos & Garlic
If you love spicy food like we do, then these tasty candied jalapenos and garlic bits are for you! You can save the syrup to baste roasted chicken or grilled salmon, or mix it into salad dressings. Jars of this dynamite condiment make a great gift. —Rita Ladany, Edison, New Jersey
Sweet and Sour Zucchini Pickles
To use up all those green beauties in your garden, make these unexpected zucchini pickles. Preserve them now to share as a holiday gift from your kitchen. —Tina Butler, Royse City, Texas
Refrigerator Jalapeno Dill Pickles
I’m passionate about making pickles. My husband is passionate about eating them. He's too impatient to let them cure on the shelf, so I found this quick recipe to make him happy. Add hotter peppers if you like. —Annie Jensen, Roseau, Minnesota
Belarus Pickled Carrots
My mom’s holiday buffet always included these pickled carrots. I kept the tradition going, then passed the recipe to my daughter. In our family, it isn't a party without this dish. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, GA
Pickled Green Tomato Relish
When I'm left with green tomatoes at the end of summer, I reach for this recipe. Friends and family are so happy to receive the sweet-sour relish that they often return the empty jar and ask for a refill! —Mary Gill, Florence, Oregon
Spicy Pickled Garlic
Here's a delicious condiment for the garlic lover on your list. You'll be pleasantly surprised how pickling mellows out the garlic, making it a tasty sandwich topper. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, WisconsinThings to Know Before You Start Pickling
Before you get started, there are a few important tips for best-ever pickles. Follow them and be sure not to make any of these common pickling mistakes.
1. Choose the Right Vinegar
Use white vinegar for a little more sharpness. If you’re going for a milder flavor, use cider vinegar. For extra-crunchy pickles, grab 10%-strength vinegar.
2. Know Your Cucumber
What kind of cucumbers make pickles: Cukes labeled as canning or pickling cucumbers are a shoo-in, but you can use traditional ones, too. It’s best to choose a cucumber with a thicker skin.
Organic vs. conventional: Either work. The key is to buy cucumbers without the shiny wax coating supermarkets use. The wax is edible, but it’ll change the texture of your pickles.
3. Don’t Use Table Salt
What is canning salt? It’s extra fine and doesn’t contain caking agents or additives like iodine. If you don’t have canning salt on hand (aka pickling salt), Kosher salt works, too.
4. Sterilize Your Jar
How to sterilize jars: Wash jars and caps in hot, soapy water; rinse thoroughly. Dry bands on a towel. Put jars in a large kettle with enough water to cover by at least 2 in.; boil for 10 minutes to sterilize. Turn off heat, but leave the jars in the water until they’re ready to be filled. Place lids in a separate small saucepan and cover them with water; bring water to 180° and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat until ready to use
The Canning Method
Ingredients
- 9 cups sliced pickling cucumbers
- 1 large sweet onion, halved and thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup canning salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons mustard seed
- 1 teaspoon celery seed
- 1/2 teaspoon whole peppercorns
- 4 bay leaves
- 12 garlic cloves, crushed
Equipment
- Large nonreactive bowl
- Crushed ice
- Dutch oven
- 4 wide-mouth, 1-pint jars with lids
- Steam canner—this one from Amazon makes the process so much easier ($56)
Step 1: Soak the cucumbers
In a large, nonreactive bowl, combine the cucumbers, onion and salt. Cover with crushed ice and mix well. Let stand 3 hours. Drain; rinse and drain thoroughly.
Step 2: Prepare the vinegar and cucumber mixture
In a Dutch oven, combine sugar, water, vinegars, mustard seed, celery seed and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add cucumber mixture; return to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 4-5 minutes or until heated through.
Step 3: Fill the jars
Carefully ladle hot mixture into four hot wide-mouth 1-pint jars, leaving 1/2-in. headspace. Add three garlic cloves and one bay leaf to each jar. Remove air bubbles and if necessary, adjust headspace by adding hot pickling liquid. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight.
Step 3: Can, can, can!
Place jars into a steam canner with simmering water. Bring to a boil; process for 10 minutes. Remove jars and cool.
If you don’t have a steam canner, no worries! Simply add the jars to your canner, ensuring that they are completely covered with water, and process for 10 minutes.
Test kitchen tip: Keep in mind that processing time depends on the size of the jar. Most recipes call for either 10 or 15 minutes. The bigger the jar, the longer the processing time.
The Refrigerator Method
Ingredients
- 14 pickling cucumbers
- 40 fresh dill sprigs
- 4 garlic cloves, sliced
- 2 quarts water
- 1 cup cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup salt
- 1 teaspoon mixed pickling spices
Equipment
- Large bowl
- Dutch oven
- Jars
Step 1: Prep the pickles
Cut each cucumber lengthwise into six spears. In a large bowl, combine cucumbers, dill and garlic; set aside.
Step 2: Heat up the mixture and pour over cucumbers
In a Dutch oven, combine remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil; cook and stir just until sugar is dissolved. Pour over cucumber mixture; cool.
Step 3: Refrigerate
Transfer to jars if desired and cover tightly. Refrigerate for at least 24 hours. Store in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks.
The No-Cook Method
Ingredients
- 4 lbs. pickling cucumbers, sliced
- 8 cups thinly sliced onions
- 1/4 cup salt
- 3/4 cup water
- 4 cups sugar
- 2 cups cider vinegar
Equipment
- 10 2-cup plastic containers and lids
- 2 Large bowls
Step 1: Sterilize containers and start prep work
Rinse ten 2-cup plastic containers and lids with boiling water. Dry thoroughly. Divide cucumbers, onions, salt and water between two large bowls. Let stand at room temperature 2 hours. Do not drain.
Step 2: Mix in sugar and vinegar, and freeze
Add 2 cups sugar and 1 cup vinegar to each bowl; stir until sugar is dissolved. Transfer to prepared containers, leaving 1-in. headspace for expansion; freeze up to 6 months.
Step 3: Thaw before eating
Thaw pickles in refrigerator 8 hours before using. Serve within 2 weeks after thawing.
Ready to take on another challenge? Try our best pickled recipes.
Easy Refrigerator Pickles
These refrigerator pickles are a great way to use cucumbers and onions from the garden. Here in Upstate New York, we have an abundance of cucumbers. —Catherine Seibold, Elma, New YorkSweet 'n' Tangy Freezer Pickles
Now you can have all the goodness of crunchy sweet-sour pickles without going to the trouble of canning them. Even though these puckery slices can be stored in the freezer, they don't last long at my house. —Jean Vance, Charlotte, North Carolina
Pickled Rainbow Chard
Pickling adds pop to fresh foods, especially Swiss chard stems. In this easy fridge method, sweet meets tart and it all balances out overnight. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Homemade Pickling Spice
I can every year and I love to use this pickling spice for my pickles. Everyone says they are the best they have ever had. —Olivia Miller, Memphis, TennesseePickled Brussels Sprouts
This year, when I asked my brother what he wanted for his 31st birthday, he answered, "pickled Brussels sprouts." I had never even tasted a pickled Brussels sprout before. It's hard for me to say "no" to my younger brother, so he got his wish and thought the Brussels sprouts were delicious! —Heather King, Frostburg, Maryland
Best Ever Sweet Pickles
I pack away homegrown cucumbers every summer. This recipe is based on the pickled veggies in Brown Eggs and Jam Jars by Aimee Wimbush-Bourque, but I’ve made it less mustardy and more garlicky to fit my family’s tastes. This method keeps them incredibly, refreshingly crunchy. —Ellie Martin Cliffe, Taste of Home Digital Deputy EditorPickled Peaches
Fresh peach quarters soaked in vinegar, sugar and warm spices is a classic Southern treat. Serve with ice cream, pound cake, roasted meat and veggies or mix into your favorite salad greens.—Nick Iverson, Milwaukee, WisconsinGrandma's Dill Pickles
This treasured dill pickle recipe is like an old friend. These crispy spears have a slightly salty, tart flavor with a good balance of dill, garlic and peppers. —Betty Sitzman, Wray, ColoradoPickled Sweet Peppers
I love to can my homegrown produce. I call this recipe Summer in a Jar. The peppers have a nice combination of tart and spicy flavors. —Edna Clemens, West Branch, MichiganSpiced Pickled Beets
With sweet, tangy and spiced flavors, these pickled beets are so good that they'll win over just about everyone in your house. Jars of colorful beets make great gifts, too! —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, IndianaPickled Green Beans
This recipe produces zippy little pickles, preserving my green beans for months to come...if they last that long. I crank up the heat a bit with cayenne pepper. —Marisa McClellan, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Microwave Pickles
You can enjoy a small batch of these sweet crunchy pickles anytime without the work of traditional canning methods. They're loaded with flavor and so easy to make. —Marie Wladyka, Land O'Lakes, Florida
So-Sweet Squash Pickles
These crisp crunchy slices, seasoned with celery seed and mustard seed, have a sweet-sour taste that everyone is sure to relish! The colorful blend of yellow squash, sweet red pepper and chopped onion makes a beautiful presentation. -Eleanor Sundman Farmington, Connecticut
Pickled Bell Peppers
Everyone around here knows me for this colorful, tasty dish. I serve the peppers with a lot of meals and other times I'll turn it into a salad for a weeknight cookout. —Heather Prendergast, Sundre, AlbertaFire-and-Ice Pickles
These sweet and spicy pickles are great on a sandwich or all by themselves as a snack. The recipe is an easy way to dress up store-brought pickles and make them a special treat! —Myra Innes, Auburn, KansasRefrigerator Garden Pickles
Canning isn't necessary for these crisp-tender, tangy pickles. Keep them in the fridge and eat them up within a month. —Linda Chapman, Meriden, IowaPickled Green Tomato Relish
When I'm left with green tomatoes at the end of summer, I reach for this recipe. Friends and family are so happy to receive the sweet-sour relish that they often return the empty jar and ask for a refill! —Mary Gill, Florence, Oregon
Tangy Pickled Mushrooms
Home-canned pickled mushrooms are a handy addition to your pantry. They’re ideal for cocktails, appetizers, salads and relish trays.—Jill Hihn, Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms, West Grove, PennsylvaniaChristmas Pickles
A dear family friend made these pickles for decades. I've adapted the recipe a bit over the years, but in my heart they are still “Dr. Rhodes’ pickles.” These morsels are delicious any time of year, but the green, red and white hues of the pickles, cherries and onions make them ideal for Christmas gift-giving—and it's a tasty twist on the classic Christmas pickle tradition. —Patricia Martin, ShelbySweet and Sour Zucchini Pickles
To use up all those green beauties in your garden, make these unexpected zucchini pickles. Preserve them now to share as a holiday gift from your kitchen. —Tina Butler, Royse City, TexasSpicy Pickled Garlic
Here's a delicious condiment for the garlic lover on your list. You'll be pleasantly surprised how pickling mellows out the garlic, making it a tasty sandwich topper. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, WisconsinRefrigerator Jalapeno Dill Pickles
I’m passionate about making pickles. My husband is passionate about eating them. He's too impatient to let them cure on the shelf, so I found this quick recipe to make him happy. Add hotter peppers if you like. —Annie Jensen, Roseau, MinnesotaWatermelon Rind Pickles
"Waste not, want not" has always been smart advice—especially when it produces picked watermelon rind that's so refreshing. —Taste of Home Test KitchenFavorite Bread & Butter Pickles
I made these pickles while growing up and love them because you can eat them with just about anything. Now, both of my children love these pickles, too. I think you'll enjoy them as much as we do! —Linda Weger, Robinson, IllinoisSweet & Spicy Pickled Red Seedless Grapes
Most people don't think about grapes when creating a canned pickle recipe. The pickling liquid for these grapes includes red wine, vinegar, and common pickling spices like coriander, mustard seeds and hot pepper; it also contains warm spices like cinnamon and star anise along with brown sugar. These flavor-packed grapes are unique and delicious on an antipasto, pickle or cheese tray. —Cheryl Perry, Hertford, North CarolinaNote: Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
