Learn how to make the easiest refrigerator dill pickles! Refrigerator pickles are great because anyone can make them – no special skills or equipment required. These are garlicky, salty, and crisp, and are the perfect addition to a picnic or backyard barbecue.
Dill pickles are one of my favorite things to have on hand. I love the salty, cold, garlicky, crisp crunch of a refrigerator dill.
In the summer, we love to make refrigerator pickles often. They are so easy to make, and we’re always so happy to have a full stock of them in our refrigerator. They keep for a few weeks (although we usually eat them quicker than that).
I’ve been making refrigerator sweet pickles for years, and we love them. Then we decided we had to try to make our own zesty dills. Thankfully, it was just as easy as making the sweet version!
These pickles are super dilly and so zesty – we just love them! I also like to add onions and carrots for a little color, and for another way to use up some summer produce.
Jump to:
Ingredient Notes
- Cucumbers – Pickling cucumbers are the best choice to get that nice crisp, crunch when you bite into them! We’ve tried using English cucumbers before, and it wasn’t that successful for us. The pickles were too soft. We’ve also used regular cucumbers, and although they weren’t as bad as the English cukes, they were still a little too soft. Learn more about the different varieties of cucumbers in this post.
- Salt – You have to use coarse Kosher salt for this recipe. You cannot use fine salt, like table salt. They will be way too salty, and you will not be able to eat them.
- Dill – Fresh dill is necessary for the best flavor! You can usually find fresh dill at the Farmer’s Market in the summer.
Special Equipment
I like to put the pickles in glass jars, but if you don’t have jars, you can use plastic containers with lids, like Tupperware or even disposable plastic containers. As long as the container has a tight fitting lid, it will work!
Timing
It doesn’t take long to make the brine and prepare the pickles for the refrigerator. Once they are in the fridge, you can eat them after two days. They will get more flavorful if you let them sit in the fridge for a few extra days before opening.
Storage
Since they aren’t canned, refrigerator pickles aren’t going to last forever. You should be able to store them in the refrigerator for about 2-3 weeks before they start to get a little soft. Of course, ours don’t last that long, so we don’t usually have that problem! :)
Note: Since these are not canned, they are not shelf stable. These pickles do have to be stored in the refrigerator.
Step by Step Instructions
- You’ll want to start by rinsing your pickling cucumbers, and then soaking them to remove any dirt.
- Trim the ends, then slice the cucumbers into spears, or slices if desired.
- Mix up your brine in a large bowl.
- Place fresh dill and garlic in the bottom of Mason jars.
- Add your cucumbers, carrots, and onions, if using.
- Pour the brine over the vegetables, filling the jars to the top.
- Refrigerate for two days before eating.
FAQs
I’ve had this happen to me, it’s the worst! The first rule of thumb is to taste the brine before pouring over the pickles. Make sure it’s not crazy salty before you cover the cucumbers with it.
Make sure that you use coarse Kosher salt, NOT sea salt. Sea salt will make these super salty.
If you’ve already made the pickles, and they are too salty, you can try shaking the jar, pouring out half the brine, and adding more plain water. Refrigerate and try them again the next day. This should help the situation, but depending on how bad they are, you might not be able to salvage them.
I don’t think so. These instructions are specific for making them in the refrigerator.
Watch the video below to learn how to make refrigerator dill pickles:
Serving Suggestions
Try serving these alongside these lentil Sloppy Joes and this easy vegan potato salad. They would also be delicious on homemade turkey burgers.
Learn to make SAFE, tasty food for your family. Join my community today and start getting all my best tips, tricks, and allergy friendly recipes in your inbox.
Disclosure: This post contains paid affiliate links.
Recipe
Super Easy and Crisp Refrigerator Dill Pickles.
Ingredients
- 1 bunch fresh dill
- 6 cloves garlic peeled and chopped into large pieces
- ½ cup onion sliced
- 2 carrots peeled and sliced, optional
- 2 quarts pickling cucumbers I think any cucumbers would work, this is just what I’ve been buying from the Farmer’s Market
- 4 ½ cups water
- ⅝ cup white vinegar
- 3 Tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons whole peppercorns
Instructions
- Wash the pickling cucumbers and place them in a large bowl full of water to soak and remove the dirt.
- Trim the ends off the cucumbers, and slice them into spears.
- Make the brine: mix your water, vinegar, and salt in a bowl, and stir until salt dissolves.
- In the bottom of each jar, place some dill and garlic. I prefer these wide mouth jars, but any glass jar will do. This recipe will make about four 16 ounce jars of pickles.
- Stand the cucumber spears up in the jars. Slip some onions and carrots (if using) in between. The jars should be quite full.
- Take a ladle and pour the brine over the top of the cucumbers, making sure they are covered. Add the peppercorns and more dill on top. Put the lid on tightly.
- Keep in the refrigerator for two days, then open them up and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published in September 2013. It has been updated with new photos and more tips.
Katie
Delicious recipe!
Nicole Willard
Can you freeze these?
Kelly Roenicke
No, I don’t recommend that.
Kristin
Just made these! Turned out awesome! How long should they last in the fridge?
Kelly
Goodness, I don’t know because we eat them so fast! Lol. At least a week. Maybe two weeks!
Aimee
So thankful for this easy to make, tasty recipe! We made several batches last year, and I’m just getting ready to make my first batch for this year:) I love that I don’t have to worry about the whole canning process, something I haven’t ventured into yet.
Aimee
We just made a second (and third) batch, now that I have two jam jars to use. I got a fresh bunch of dill for $1, and the cucumbers from my garden, so the cost for two jards of pickles probably reaches under $2 total. My whole family of 7, kids 3-11 included, love them! Thank you!
Aimee
“jars” (it’s late) :)
Kelly
Thank you for letting me know, Aimee! I’m glad everyone loved them! We LOVE them here as well! My six year old can’t get enough! :)
Beth Goad
Yum! Homemade pickles are the best pickles! Maybe I’ll remember to grow cukes next summer so I can try this :) Tomatoes and blueberries are the only things our garden produced this year!
Kelly
Blueberries? Wow, that would be awesome to have in our garden!
Darryl
These are my favorite thing about summer! So good with burgers.
theartbug
looks yummy…just pinned it!
Kelly
Thank you for pinning!
Kim @ 2justByou
MMmmmmm….Marinera sauce! Four times in seven days! =0)
I’ve never made pickles, and hubby and I are the only ones to really eat pickles. They look really tasty!
~Kim
Kelly
We love pickles, and they are so easy to make! Which is a good thing, since we’ve been gobbling them up! :)