How to Make Pickles Without Canning

Pickles are more than a thousand years old. There is no definite date as to when they were discovered, but historians claim that their origin goes way back as 4000 years. It is said that in 2030 BC cucumbers which were only grown in India were brought to the Tigris Valley and were preserved and eaten as pickles. Cucumbers are also mentioned in the Holy Bible (11:5 and Isaiah 1:8) and according to many food critics they were used over 3000 years ago in Asia, ancient Egypt and Greece. Pickle recipes became world famous all around the world as many famous people like Aristotle, Cleopatra and Roman Emperor Tiberius started including pickles as an important item of their diet. Even today pickles are considered as a great accompaniment with many food items as they enhance the latter's taste.

A liking and fondness towards pickles have always been a famous characteristic of the Americans, the Polish and the Polish Americans. Not many people know that the founder of the US Amerigo Vespucci was a pickle merchant, so it's safe to say that the connection between the Americans and pickles is from the beginning. Step out in the departmental store and you will find many brands of pickles just lying there. Their popularity is increasing day by day and more and more people are becoming addicted to it. So if your family loves pickles, there's no need from buying it from the market. You can learn how to make pickles without canning at home.

Making Pickles from Scratch

Most delicious pickles are made from cucumbers and the recipe has been the same since people started eating them. The ingredients of the recipe might have changed but the basic method still remains the same. It's just that instead of earthen crockery, pressure cookers are used. To make pickles from scratch, you have to start by making a picking solution which is made from vinegar, water, pickling salt, herbs and pickling spices. For dill pickles dill is used and for garlic pickles garlic is used. For a much sweeter variety of pickles, sugar is used instead of salt.

Make sure you select a good variety of cucumbers. Remember that not all cucumbers can be used for pickles, take help from someone while selecting cucumbers for pickles. Remember to pick cucumbers that are small not large. Once you have picked the cucumbers wash them individually and check for cucumbers that are hollow from inside. If you're still not sure, place all the cucumbers in a bowl of water and the hollow ones will float. For a better taste take a hollow crock which is dried and cleaned from inside. To make pickles from scratch make sure you use the normal home water as soft water makes better pickles while hard water discolors them. If your pickle recipe needs to be boiled, make sure there's enough space in the container for the recipe to boil. Now place the mixture in a tight jar and allow it to cool it for a few hours and you can have these delicious pickles for lunch or snack. Canning pickles is not considered by many as an unhealthy option as it involves including lots of artificial preservatives.

How to Make Pickles Crisp

As popular as cucumbers have become among people, making a homemade pickle is a better option than buying it from a supermarket. So here's a recipe to make delicious homemade pickle.

Ingredients

• Cucumbers, 2 pounds
• Jalapeno, sliced
• Onions finely sliced
• Thyme or any herb 2 sprigs
• Bay leaves
• Mustard seeds, 2 tsp
• Coriander seeds, 1½ tsp
• Whole peppercorns, 1 tsp
• Cider vinegar, 1 tsp
• Sugar, 1 cup
• Kosher salt, 2 tbsp

Preparations
Slice the cucumbers and place into two quart size jars along with onions, jalapeno and garlic. Now add sugar, salt, water, herbs and spices in a saucepan and heat it till it boils. Now pour the heated mixture on the cucumber and let it cool. Close the crock and let it cool for at least 2 hours. Serve cold.

Making Pickles in a Crock

Now most people prefer their pickles old style and if you are one of them, here's a special recipe just for you.

Ingredients

• Cucumbers, 3 long
• Boiling water, 3 gallons equally divided in 3 containers
• Sugar, 14 cups
• Alum 1 tbsp
• Granulated salt, 2 cups
• Vinegar, 2 quarts
• Pickling spice, ½ cup

Preparation
Wash all the cucumbers well and put them in a large crock. add salt and pour the first gallon of boiling water. Cover the crock and store it in a cool place for a week. Now drain off the brine and add the second gallon of boiling water and let them stay overnight. Drain the second gallon also. Now add the third gallon and also dissolve the alum in it, let it stay for overnight and drain it. In a saucepan heat the sugar, vinegar and spice together and pour them over the pickles. Let them stay for few hours and keep the pickle to cool and serve it with your favorite food.

Other than these there are recipes like bread and butter pickles and green tomato pickles which are very popular among households. Do try the above recipe and share your experiences with me.