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Easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles: The Best No-Canning Recipe

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These quick refrigerator dill pickles are crunchy, garlicky, and tangy, with no canning required. Ready in 24 to 48 hours with just 15 minutes of hands-on time, they’re perfect for snacking, burgers, or potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ pounds Kirby cucumbers (or Persian cucumbers)
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
  • 4 sprigs fresh dill (or 2 teaspoons dried dill weed)
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 bay leaf (optional)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup white vinegar (5% acidity)
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt (or 2 teaspoons pickling salt)
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Instructions

  1. Wash cucumbers thoroughly. Trim off the blossom end (about ¼ inch). Slice into spears, rounds, or leave whole if small.
  2. Place smashed garlic, dill sprigs, peppercorns, red pepper flakes (if using), and bay leaf (if using) at the bottom of a clean 1-quart mason jar. Pack cucumber slices tightly into the jar, leaving about ½ inch headspace.
  3. In a small saucepan, combine water, white vinegar, kosher salt, and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve salt and sugar. Remove from heat immediately.
  4. Pour hot brine over cucumbers, ensuring they are completely submerged. Use a chopstick or spoon handle to release air bubbles.
  5. Let the jar cool to room temperature (about 30 minutes to 1 hour). Once cool, screw the lid on tightly.
  6. Refrigerate for at least 24 hours before tasting. For best flavor, wait 48 hours. Shake the jar gently once or twice during the first day to redistribute spices.

Notes

Don’t skip the salt—it helps maintain crunch. Use cold cucumbers for best texture. Keep pickles submerged in brine to prevent mold. Label jar with date. Pickles are at their peak between days 2 and 10. For longer fresh flavor, remove dill sprigs after 5 days.

Nutrition

Keywords: refrigerator pickles, dill pickles, no-canning pickles, quick pickles, homemade pickles, easy pickles

Find it online: https://cheerycrisp.com/easy-refrigerator-dill-pickles-the-best-no-canning-recipe/