Anyone try making pickles?

[livinzoo]

I'm wanting to make pickles, but want to know if I can cut the cucumbers up. Anyone try that?

[Cuau]

I made some a few weeks ago, I cut them on the long side.

they are yummy!

[momto5girls]

I made some several weeks ago that I cut in slices. They're good, but a bit salty. I wonder if the brine soaked into them more because of so much surface area exposed?

[HerbanGirl]

Funny...I made some whole and some sliced a few weeks ago, and the whole ones turned out saltier! But re: OP question, slice away!

[Denvergirlie]

This year we have made two batches of bread & butter - sliced in circles
and
two batches of dill and made them into spears.

[Taedareth]

I've made pickle spears using the NT recipe. But they always turn out mushy.

[Tigeresse]

I made bread and butter pickles from Eat Fat Lose Fat. Sliced everything in circles or half moons. They turned out very yummy! One jar even bubbled quite a bit when I opened it....some good fermentation going on there!

Does anyone know if it's OK to reuse the brine? I'm trying this now, just added some more whey.

[3sapphires]

I used the recipe on the WF website. I sliced them the long way, and they are fabulous!

I must admit - I was not patient enough to leave them long enough. . . They taste like "half sours" now, and they will be gone soon. Must get more cukes tommorrow, lol. I just bought a whole flat of canning jars, so hopefully *some* will make it to full sours.

Mine are a bit less crisp than they could be, but not mushy, if that makes sense. Remember the old vlassic commercials where the pelican bends the one pickle, but the vlassic snaps? Well, mine bend, but DH, the kids and I are not complaining, they are so good.

[Tanzie]

sure,i have cut them up for bread and butter pickles but for dill and others i cut them into spears.there is nothing better than fresh homemade pickles!
good luck!

[JElaineB]

DH made the bread & butter pickles from EFLF and he sliced them. They came out very good, after sitting in the fridge a few weeks.

For those of you getting mushy pickles - did you slice off the blossom end of the cucumbers? I have heard if you leave it on it can cause mushy pickles. DH took off the blossom end and the pickles are very crisp.

[spughy]

Originally Posted by Taedareth

I've made pickle spears using the NT recipe. But they always turn out mushy.

Put some grape leaves in with them (as per Sandor Katz). I did this and my pickles were super-crunchy and deeeelicious! I love my pickles. I wish I had more.

[425lisamarie]

Originally Posted by JElaineB

DH made the bread & butter pickles from EFLF and he sliced them. They came out very good, after sitting in the fridge a few weeks.

For those of you getting mushy pickles - did you slice off the blossom end of the cucumbers? I have heard if you leave it on it can cause mushy pickles. DH took off the blossom end and the pickles are very crisp.

Yes I think there is truth to that, I always do. When I buy really good expensive pickles they always have one end you can tell was cut off.