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uaskigyrl

Difference between 'fridge Pickles and Regular

uaskigyrl
12 years ago

Hello!

I'm quite new to canning but I have been a very active canner so far (I've put up about 100 jars since May - which is a lot considering it's just little ol' me) and as one knows, there are refridgerator pickles and then regular pickles.

I'm wondering what the difference is between a refridgerator pickle and a regular canned pickle? What's stopping me from just boiling water bath a recipe that is a fridge pickle?

(I haven't done it, so don't worry, I'm just curious as to the difference!)

Thanks,

uaskigyrl

Comments (18)

  • Linda_Lou
    12 years ago

    Most times a refrigerator pickle has a weaker brine, not strong enough to be used to process for safety reasons.
    With the refrigerator pickles a person needs to be sure they are using a current, up to date recipe and method. Some of the older ones can allow listeria to grow.
    The ones that are not recommended will say to let sit at room temp. for a couple days, then put in the fridge. There is not enough acid in these to keep them safe, even in the fridge. Listeria can grow in the fridge.
    The others are fresh pack pickles and have a brine that will be at least half 5 % acidity vinegar to water ratio.
    There are also fully fermented pickles, like you would ferment sauerkraut.
    The quick pack are the fastest to make and those are the type my family likes.

  • digdirt2
    12 years ago

    What's stopping me from just boiling water bath a recipe that is a fridge pickle?

    There are exceptions of course but usually fridge pickle recipes are make-and-eat recipes and aren't intended for long-time fridge storage much less acidic enough for shelf storage.

    Dave

  • btbarbara
    12 years ago

    Like the others said, my understanding is that "fridge" or "freezer" recipes aren't actually processed in the canner so they have to be kept in the fridge or freezer and won't keep as long. Whereas canned recipes can be kept on the shelf long-term without requiring refrigeration. I have a glass-top stove and don't have smooth-bottom stockpot big enough to boil the jars so I have to stick with the "fridge" recipes for now. :(

  • chartim
    12 years ago

    I would like to have a quick pack recipe but can't find one in search, could someone help please?
    Tim

  • digdirt2
    12 years ago

    Both the Ball Blue Book and NCHFP have several. I linked one Dill one below.

    Dave

    Here is a link that might be useful: NCHFP - Quick Pack Dill Pickles

  • chartim
    12 years ago

    Thanks Dave

  • Linda_Lou
    12 years ago

    I use the Heinz dill pickle recipe. It should come up in a search.

  • hcoon
    12 years ago

    In that pickle recipe, what is a "head of fresh dill"?

  • Linda_Lou
    12 years ago

    One of the big flower type parts on top of fresh dill.

  • digdirt2
    12 years ago

    Pictures of heads of dill.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Head of dill pictures

  • hcoon
    12 years ago

    Awesome! Thanks -- it's what I thought, but got different information on another site. My dill has those heads, so I'm all set!

  • terrybull
    12 years ago

    dave why does that recipe say to leave a 1/4 inch of the stem? is it a handle?

  • dgkritch
    12 years ago

    Not Dave, but the 1/4" of stem just keeps the head together.
    Otherwise you'll have a bunch of tiny stems with one seed on each floating around in your pickles.
    Much easier to remove later if it's all together.

    Not a safety issue, just pretty and convenient.

    Deanna

  • terrybull
    12 years ago

    Procedure: Wash cucumbers. Cut 1/16-inch slice off blossom end and discard, but leave 1/4-inch of stem attached.

    anyone, this is in the recipe dave posted. why do you do that?

  • terrybull
    12 years ago

    someone anyone. got cucs and no plan.

  • terrybull
    12 years ago

    bump

  • 2ajsmama
    12 years ago

    Terry, you remove the blossom end b/c there is an enzyme there that causes softening. You can leave a little stem as a "handle" if you want but not mandatory. Of course for slices you probably want to remove both ends, for spears it's your call. HTH

  • digdirt2
    12 years ago

    Yep - spoilage from enzymes there.

    Dave

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