Refrigerator Dill Pickles

We love these homemade refrigerator pickles! I can’t eat store bought pickles (except my favorite Whole Foods bread and butter pickles) anymore. There is another brand of sweet and spicy pickles that my mom buys that are delicious too. Maybe next summer, I’ll try to master sweet and spicy. These though are really good, crisp and fresh tasting dill pickles. This same recipe can be used for banana peppers.

*This is DAIRY FREE and GLUTEN FREE*

Supplies

• large pot for boiling liquid mixture
• clean and sanitized quart sized ball jars, lids and tops (pint size will work too, just adjust accordingly)
• clean towel
• canning funnel
• ladle or glass measuring cup with spout

Ingredients

• cucumbers sliced as snack sticks, chips or baby whole
• 1 teaspoon dill weed per quart jar
• 1 teaspoon dill seed per quart jar
• 1 teaspoon mustard seed per quart jar
• 1 bay leaf per quart jar

For liquid (to fill 3-4 quart jars), double for 6-8 jars

• 3 3/4 cups water
• 3 3/4 cups distilled white vinegar
• 6 tablespoons canning salt

Directions

Slice cucumbers to desired shape. Place in jars and fill to top, leaving a 1 inch headspace. Place jars on a towel next to your stove.

Add 1 teaspoon each dill weed, dill seed and mustard seed to each quart size jar. Add 1 bay leaf to each jar.

Bring water, vinegar and salt to a boil. Continue to boil until salt dissolves. Once salt dissolves, liquid is ready, but continue the boil.

Place funnel in first jar.

Using a ladle or glass measuring cup with a spout, put boiling mixture into the first cucumber/spice filled jar. Wipe rim with a clean towel and place lid and top on the jar. Repeat with each jar.

Each jar will pop when sealed. You won’t be able to push the indentation when sealed properly. Let cool on towel. Place cooled and sealed jars in refrigerator. Let sit at least 24 hours before opening and eating. These will last about 3 months in the refrigerator.

If jar doesn’t pop and seal, it’s ok, just eat them sooner.

This same recipe can be used for banana peppers. Just slice banana peppers and place in jars like the cucumbers.