Mushy Pickles?

Dace

Garden Ornament
Joined
Apr 28, 2008
Messages
192
Reaction score
0
Points
79
Location
So. Cal
I made my first batch of pickles using a mix from Walmart. The flavor is ok (will try from scratch next time) but the pickles are mushy.
How do I avoid that next time? Also anyone have a good dill pickle recipe?
 

blurose

Garden Ornament
Joined
May 25, 2008
Messages
313
Reaction score
0
Points
94
Adding Alum is supposed to help keep them crisp, I'm told, but I personally don't use it. You could also put in a grape leaf in each jar...same principal I guess. Make sure that your cucs are not soft before putting up the pickles. I posted my recipe on here previously. http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=23802
 

Cassandra

Garden Ornament
Joined
Apr 4, 2008
Messages
248
Reaction score
1
Points
88
Dace, same thing happened to me. I made some from scratch and the flavor was great, but the texture was GROSS. I mean, mushier than babyfood mushy.

Gotta keep trying, tho. :)

Cassandra
 

mirime

Garden Ornament
Joined
Jun 17, 2008
Messages
143
Reaction score
0
Points
88
Location
Northeast OH; Zone 5
Dace, did you soak them in an ice water bath first?

I'm not a big fan of those packages either - my first good batch of bread and butter pickles I used that mix, and they're kinda mushy too.
 

Dace

Garden Ornament
Joined
Apr 28, 2008
Messages
192
Reaction score
0
Points
79
Location
So. Cal
Good advice everyone :)
Pickling lime and ice bath will be happening in the next bath.
Part of my problem is that it takes so dang long to get my water up to boiling...I think they cooked for an additional 30 mins just trying to get up to a rolling boil.
Gotta work on that!
Where do I get pickling lime?
 

nccountrygirl

Garden Ornament
Joined
Nov 22, 2007
Messages
194
Reaction score
1
Points
94
Location
Sanford NC
Dace keep your lid on to bring your water to a boil faster, Then add your jars to the boiling water. Pickling Lime can be purchased at most grocery stores.
 

averytds

Chillin' In The Garden
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
77
Reaction score
0
Points
29
Location
KS
Just use cold water with the pickling lime. I got mine at Wal-mart. Try the Low-Temperature Pasteurization Treatment. I think while the process time is longer the pickles stay crispier as they aren't getting as hot/cooked during the processing. Might be better suited with you're slow to boil. I mostly kept the lid off with the thermometer hooked to the side so I could watch it. HTH
 

elnabelms

Leafing Out
Joined
Jul 5, 2008
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
Points
21
Location
Cottonwood, AZ
I learned the hard way the using tap water can create mushy pickles, especially in the west where there's a lot of minerals in the water. Using distilled water works much better. My mother-in-law makes amazing pickles, and she gave me that tip.
 

janetnjim

Garden Ornament
Joined
Jun 2, 2008
Messages
150
Reaction score
0
Points
84
Location
S.W. Pa.
elnabelms said:
I learned the hard way the using tap water can create mushy pickles, especially in the west where there's a lot of minerals in the water. Using distilled water works much better. My mother-in-law makes amazing pickles, and she gave me that tip.
Good tip Elaine, we went from city water last year to spring water now and that made a huge difference.
 

Latest posts

Top