Nitrate & Nitrite Free Classic Dill Pickles
Crunchy, garlicky, and fragrant with fresh dill, these homemade pickles are the kind of thing that makes you wonder why you ever bought a jar from the store. The brine is a simple combination of distilled white vinegar, water, kosher salt, and a touch of sugar — no curing agents, no preservatives, and nothing you can't pronounce. That matters because many commercial pickles rely on sodium nitrate or nitrite-based preservatives to extend shelf life, while this recipe keeps things clean with nothing but heat, acid, and refrigeration doing the work. Smashed garlic, dill seeds, black peppercorns, and optional red pepper flakes pack serious flavor into every spear, and the optional grape or horseradish leaves are a clever touch that helps keep the cucumbers genuinely crisp. The technique is straightforward — pack your jars, pour over the hot brine, cool, and refrigerate — so even first-time pickle makers will feel confident. After 48 hours in the fridge, you've got tangy, snappy pickles that are perfect alongside sandwiches, chopped into potato salad, or eaten straight from the jar.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 2 lbs kirby or persian cucumbers (about 8–10 small cucumbers)
- 1 ½ cups distilled white vinegar
- 1 ½ cups water
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
- 4 sprigs fresh dill
- 1 tsp dill seeds
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ tsp mustard seeds
- 2 grape leaves or 2 horseradish leaves (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Trim about 1/8 inch off the blossom end (the end opposite the stem) of each cucumber — this removes enzymes that can soften the pickles. Cut the cucumbers into spears by halving lengthwise, then halving again, or slice into 1/4-inch rounds.
- 2
Divide the garlic, fresh dill sprigs, dill seeds, black peppercorns, mustard seeds, and red pepper flakes (if using) evenly between two clean wide-mouth quart mason jars. If using grape or horseradish leaves, place one in each jar against the inside wall.
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