Easy Home Cooking Recipes

How to Make Old Fashioned Cucumber Pickles

Sharing is caring!

Old fashioned cucumber pickles are one of the best uses for slightly overgrown garden cucumbers. This is a perfect no canning method for sweet, crisp, colorful pickles. Prepared in about an hour and brined for two weeks, these old fashioned pickles are worth the wait.

Cucumber pickles in mason jar.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure HERE.

Summer is winding down. The kids and I squeezed in one last creek day and the last summer BBQ for the season. And just in time. Cooler mornings and shorter days are proof that Autumn is upon us and I couldn’t be happier!

However I’m not quite ready to give up all the fresh flavors of summer so quickly. I’ve been devouring fresh salsa, Margherita pizza on the grill, and my favorite bruschetta.

garden cucumbers on cutting board

Thankfully the garden hasn’t given up on summer just yet either and cucumbers are in abundance. I recently got my hands on a big box of slightly too large cucumbers, I knew exactly what to do with them.

onion, peppers, and cucumbers on cutting board with knife

So in an attempt to bottle up the taste of summer I made a batch of the best ever refrigerator pickles. Made with just a handful of ingredients these pickles come together in about an hour.

What do I need to make old fashioned cucumber pickles?

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure HERE.

I prefer to use the mini sweet ‘snack’ peppers for this recipe. The thinner flesh of the peppers keeps its crunch longer than larger peppers. But in a pinch they all work and the most important thing is to get colorful peppers for that beautiful end result.

On the other hand the onions should be white or yellow onions. Purple onions taste just fine in this recipe, but lose their color and look less than beautiful.

sliced cucumbers on cutting board

What makes a good pickling cucumber?

The best cucumbers for pickling are small to medium cucumbers with a good thick skin. This allows them to remain crisp after pickling without additional additives. However these pickles do not get heated in anyway, so even thinner skinned cucumbers can be perfect for this.

This is my favorite method to use up too large cucumbers as they are sliced thin. If you have bad spots or blemishes on the skin feel free to cut those out or shave them off. Just don’t peel your cucumbers as the skin helps keep the crunch for longer!

sliced peppers and cucumbers on cutting boards

Do I need to seal the lid for refrigerator pickles?

No, that’s what I love about these pickles. They are super beginner friendly and don’t require any special tools. If you have a jar with a tight fitting lid you can make these refrigerator pickles.

How long do refrigerator pickles need to sit before eating?

This recipe for fridge pickles takes about two weeks to reach maximum flavor, though I often catch my husband breaking into them as early as 72 hours after preparing. Don’t be afraid to sample as you go and find the timeline that you prefer.

sliced cucumbers and peppers in large bowl

Do refrigerator pickles have to be refrigerated?

Yes. Don’t confuse refrigerator pickles with fermented pickles. These pickles are brined in vinegar, but require refrigeration to prevent spoiling as they also contain sugar. They also taste so good nice and cold.

How long will refrigerator pickles last?

Typical refrigerator pickles are good for up to two months in the fridge. I would imagine they could be good for even longer, but they just don’t last that long in my house. I would say the longer they sit the less crisp they become. Just be sure you’re closing the lid tightly after each use and using proper hygienic food handling.

refrigerator pickles in jar on cutting board

How to best enjoy my refrigerator pickles?

We love to enjoy these old fashioned refrigerator pickles as a quick summer snack all on their own. They also make a delicious addition to a burger or a BBQ pork sandwich. Use these just like any other pickle.

They also make a great gift! Bring these to your next get together for the host or share them with a neighbor or friend. The colorful confetti like appearance means you don’t need to wrap these, but you could add a sticker or tie a gift tag around the lid.

Recipe Variations

Once you’ve made these pickles once you can play around with the flavors and seasonings to get exactly the taste you like. I’ve added about 1-2 tablespoons of minced garlic to get a sweet garlic pickle. You could also add a couple hot peppers or pepper flakes to get a sweet and spicy pickle that would be so good with stir-fry.

Cucumber pickles in mason jar.

Old Fashioned Cucumber Pickles

Blue Silo Road
The perfect quick pickle recipe for all of those extra garden cucumbers. Plus this recipe makes 2 quarts which is perfect for sharing with a neighbor or friend.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Additional Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Easy Home Cooking Recipes
Servings 2 quarts
Calories 62 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 7 cups unpeeled cucumbers sliced thin
  • 1 cup of onion sliced thin
  • 1 cup of bell peppers sliced thin red, yellow and orange work best
  • 1 T salt
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 2 c sugar
  • 1 t celery seed
  • 1 t mustard seed

Instructions
 

  • Mix cucumbers, onion, peppers and salt. Set aside.
  • Put vinegar, sugar, celery seed and mustard seed in a pot and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour.
  • Pour mixture over cucumber mixture. Mix until all coated well and then put into quart jars. Pour any excess liquid into the jars. Cover with lid.
  • Store in the fridge for two weeks before enjoying.

Notes

These pickles will keep in the fridge for up to two months… if you don't eat them first!
Keyword old fashioned cucumber pickles

Products Used

Join the neighborhood...

Get more home cooking and casual living inspiration from our family farm.