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    You are here: Home / Seasonal / Summer Recipes / Refrigerator Pickles

    Refrigerator Pickles

    July 8, 2019 By Sam 47 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
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    Refrigerator pickles

    A simple old-fashioned recipe for easy homemade Refrigerator Pickles! My  mom makes this recipe every year as a way to use up our surplus of fresh cucumbers from the garden. This recipe take only 15 minutes to make and yields sweet and tangy homemade pickles and onions!

    Homemade refrigerator pickles in glass jar

    The Easiest Refrigerator Pickles

    How is everyone’s garden coming along this year?

    As I mentioned, I’m garden-less over here in the new house so I’m relying on friends, family, and roadside produce stands to make my favorite summertime staples like homemade salsa, bruschetta, zucchini bread, and now these refrigerator pickles. Send me all of your produce!

    Today’s recipe is one that I got from my mom (like so many favorites around here). She would make these refrigerator pickles every summer as a way to use up extra cucumbers from the garden, though we often requested it in the winter as well so I know that grocery store cucumbers will work just fine in a pinch.

    Refrigerator pickles are quite different from classic dill pickles that you might be used to. Rather than savory, these are tangy and sweet, closer to a bread and butter pickle than a kosher dill.

    Making the brine for refrigerator pickles

    How to Make Refrigerator Pickles

    1. Start by making your brine (see image above!). Combine vinegar, sugar, salt, celery seed, mustard seed, and turmeric in a small saucepan over medium heat and stir until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil.
    2. Pour brine over thinly sliced pickles and onions. Stir so that all pickles and onions are completely coated with brine.
    3. Cover and refrigerate for several hours.

    How to make refrigerator pickles: stirring cucumbers and onions in brine

    How Long Do Refrigerator Pickles Last?

    These refrigerator pickles will keep for up to several weeks in the refrigerator. I imagine that they can be canned and would last much longer that way, but having never canned anything in my life I can’t advise here. Make sure to store your pickles in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

    Tips for Making Refrigerator Pickles

    • Slice your pickles and onions as thin as you possibly can! I like to get mine as close to paper thin as is possible; it helps them to absorb the flavor of the brine faster.
    • If you hate onions, you can leave them out of this recipe, but they do add a little extra something in terms of flavor so I recommend including them!
    • While I ultimately like to store my refrigerator pickles in mason jars, when I am making them I almost always first let the cucumbers/onions/brine sit overnight in a large bowl (rather than putting them directly into a mason jar). I’ve found that the bowl makes it possible to ensure that all of the cucumbers and onions are coated in the brine, while the mason jar sometimes leaves the top layer brine-less (and therefore flavorless!).

    I’d also like to note that I don’t recommend using these refrigerator pickles for making my fried pickles. These are a sweet & tangy pickle, almost like bread and butter pickles, and I recommend sticking to dill pickles when frying.

    Pickled cucumbers and onions in glass jar

    Enjoy!

    More Recipes You Might Like:

    • Caprese Salad
    • Corn Salad
    • Texas Caviar
    • Broccoli Salad
    • Or find more of my favorite Summer Recipes here!

     

    refrigerator pickles in mason jar

    Refrigerator Pickles

    A simple old-fashioned recipe for easy homemade Refrigerator Pickles! This recipe takes only 15 minutes to make and yields sweet and tangy homemade pickles and onions! 
    Be sure to check out my quick how-to VIDEO just below the recipe!
    4.91 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Chilling Time: 4 hours
    Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
    Servings: 12 ⅓ cup servings
    Calories: 106kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups thinly sliced¹ cucumbers this was about 2 cucumbers for me (300g)
    • 1 cup thinly sliced white or yellow onion this was about 1 small onion for me (80g)
    • 1 ½ cups white vinegar (355ml)
    • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar (300g)
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon celery seed
    • ½ teaspoon mustard seed
    • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Place cucumber and onion slices in a medium-sized heat-proof bowl and set aside.
    • Combine all remaining ingredients (vinegar, sugar, salt, celery seed, mustard seed, and ground turmeric) in a small saucepan and stir well.
    • Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until sugar is dissolved.
    • Bring to a boil and remove from heat.
    • Pour vinegar mixture over cucumbers and onions, stir so that all cucumbers and onions are coated with brine.
    • Allow to cool at room temperature for about 10 minutes, then cover and transfer to refrigerator.
    • Allow to chill overnight (or at least for 4-6 hours, so the flavor can fully develop) before enjoying.

    Notes

    ¹The thinner the better! I like to get my cucumbers and onions sliced as close to paper thin as possible.
    Refrigerator pickles will keep for up to several weeks in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving (⅓ cup) | Calories: 106kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Sodium: 50mg | Potassium: 41mg | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 50IU | Vitamin C: 2.5mg | Iron: 0.2mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Maureen Thompson

      August 23, 2020 at 11:20 am

      I have just made my first batch of bread and butter pickles, thanks to my sister in law, very easy to do. I will let you know the outcome.
      I am now looking for other pickle recipes, I mean we bought 13 pounds of them

      Reply
      • Sam

        August 23, 2020 at 4:18 pm

        I think you are going to love these, Maureen! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Tanya

      August 20, 2020 at 10:19 am

      5 stars
      I made these, they were perfect! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Sam

        August 20, 2020 at 12:06 pm

        I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the pickles, Tanya! Thank you for commenting! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Petra Bain

      August 06, 2020 at 4:16 pm

      5 stars
      I love this recipe and make these before I can any other recipe. (So i can munch on these while canning my dill pickles.)
      These are like chips. You can’t eat just one!
      I love your site. My next project is my first attempt at baking bread using your recipe.
      Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and making such easy to follow videos. You inspire many. Bless you and your family. ♥️🙂
      Petra

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        August 06, 2020 at 8:44 pm

        Thank you so much for your kind words, Petra. I am so glad that you enjoyed the pickles and I hope that your bread turns out perfectly too. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Silke

      July 14, 2020 at 5:03 pm

      hello from germany, i just put the pickles in the fridge, and they are already so yummy. can’t hardly wait for tomorrow. i have planed a quick trip to the netherlands in the morning, i might as well buy some more cucumbers there. thanks for another great recipe!

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 15, 2020 at 9:41 pm

        I am so glad you enjoyed it so much! 🙂

        Reply
        • Karen James

          August 17, 2020 at 3:13 pm

          could you use the English Cucumbers with no seeds?

        • Sam

          August 17, 2020 at 8:13 pm

          Hi Karen! I think that should be fine, just make sure they are sliced nice and thin. 🙂

    5. Lisa

      July 12, 2020 at 5:24 pm

      Can you reuse the brine?

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 13, 2020 at 10:16 pm

        I don’t see why not! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Connie

      July 07, 2020 at 11:09 am

      5 stars
      Yummy delicious!!
      Easy to make.
      Family loves them!

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 07, 2020 at 11:24 am

        I am so glad you enjoyed them so much, Connie! 🙂

        Reply
    7. Kay Pickering

      April 16, 2020 at 5:40 pm

      ANOTHER winner Sam!!! I am from hot hot hot already Phoenix Arizona and these are soo good and refreshing I can not keep enough in fridge….I use the 3-pack english cucs from Costco and it is great. I love all your recipes Making carmel cake for my Grandaughter’s 14th. birthday. The video’s really are helpful keep it up!!! The BABY is adorable love, love, love, him!!!

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        April 16, 2020 at 10:08 pm

        Thank you! I am so glad that you enjoyed this recipe, Kay! This is one of my favorite summer snacks too, perfect on a hot day! Thanks so much for trying my recipe. I hope that you enjoy the caramel cake just as much and that your granddaughter has a wonderful birthday. Keep me posted on how it turns out. Happy Baking! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Noviceljm

      March 05, 2020 at 11:51 pm

      Do you fill the jar with brine also? If so, do you need to fill the jar or can you use less brine? What if there is not enough brine to fill all the jars you have?

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        March 06, 2020 at 9:01 am

        Hi! You can leave the pickles in the bowl or put them into a jar with our without brine. I typically fill the jar with the brine. If you do not have enough brine to fill the jar, not to worry, they will be fine. I hope that you enjoy them! 🙂

        Reply
    9. Pris

      August 20, 2019 at 3:33 pm

      Could not be any easier!! Great pickles!!

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        August 20, 2019 at 3:40 pm

        I am so happy you liked the pickles, Pris! 🙂

        Reply
    10. Gail

      August 03, 2019 at 1:16 pm

      Thanks can’t wait to try

      Reply
      • Sam

        August 03, 2019 at 10:15 pm

        Hi Gail! I hope you love the pickles! 🙂

        Reply
    11. Nancy Perine

      July 18, 2019 at 5:08 am

      5 stars
      Hi there! I had so much fun cruising around your website/blog. Your recipe for Refrigerator Pickles caught my eye. It had been years since I’d made there and have even misplaced the recipe, so I was so glad to find yours. These were fun to make … and oh, soooo yummy! It’s neat that the recipe makes lots, too. Thanks for sharing. I’ll be back!

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 18, 2019 at 4:24 pm

        Thank you so much, Nancy! I am so glad you have enjoyed everything. 🙂

        Reply
    12. Debbie in California

      July 10, 2019 at 11:20 pm

      Hello,

      These pickles look delicious.

      I hope no one laughs..but..is it O.K. to use regular old pickle jars from shop bought pickles that have been well washed or do I need special canning jars?

      Obviously I am not an expert in the kitchen !

      Thank you

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 11, 2019 at 9:02 pm

        Hi Debbie! You could certainly reuse those jars. I don’t know how well you could can them with those jars, but the pickles will be good for several weeks in the refrigerator without going through the canning process. 🙂

        Reply
    13. Jeff Stone

      July 08, 2019 at 4:27 pm

      Why don’t you use self rising? Why add the extra ingredients?

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 08, 2019 at 4:50 pm

        Hi Jeff! This recipe uses no self rising flour (or self rising anything) so I’m not sure what you mean.

        Reply
    14. Cindy W

      July 08, 2019 at 2:49 pm

      looks good but how would I make dill pickles??
      Is it the same recipe but just adding dill seeds??

      please help — I am a freak for dill pickles (and I will make the sweet ones for my hubby)

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 08, 2019 at 5:37 pm

        Hi Cindy! Unfortunately, I have not tried making a dill version so I wouldn’t be able to give good advice on making dill pickles. I’m sorry. 🙁

        Reply
      • Cheri

        July 28, 2019 at 12:42 pm

        Look online, there’s a great recipe for refrigerator dill pickles. Uses garlic, white vinegar and mustard seed, corriander and celery seed. Use fresh dill.

        Reply
    15. Cricket

      July 08, 2019 at 12:56 pm

      Do you have to add celery seed and mustard seed? Is there a substitute if possible?

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 08, 2019 at 1:00 pm

        I’m sorry but I don’t really have any recommendations for substitutes, it would alter the flavor if you leave them out.

        Reply
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