Amish Refrigerator Pickles
Introduction
Amish Refrigerator Pickles are a crisp, tangy, and sweet snack that requires no canning or special equipment. The flavor-packed brine infuses fresh cucumbers in just a matter of days, offering a perfect balance between tartness and sweetness. These pickles make an excellent side or topping, and their ease of preparation means you can enjoy homemade pickles whenever the craving strikes—no heat or fuss required.
Deliciously Unique Amish Refrigerator Pickles
This recipe stands out for its simplicity and unique balance of flavors. Amish Refrigerator Pickles combine cucumbers with onions, spices, sugar, and vinegar, producing a brine that’s both zesty and sweet. The result is a crunchy, addictive pickle that’s perfect for sandwiches, burgers, or simply snacking straight from the jar—a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for barbecues and picnics alike.
Perfecting the Pickling Brine
The secret to authentic Amish Refrigerator Pickles is the brine: a blend of distilled vinegar, sugar, salt, and classic pickling spices. To maximize flavor, bring the vinegar, sugar, and salt to a simmer before pouring over the raw cucumber and onion slices. Letting the brine cool before chilling ensures the vegetables remain vibrantly crisp. Add mustard seeds, celery seeds, or a touch of turmeric for extra color and aroma.
Assembling and Storing Amish Refrigerator Pickles
Layer crisp cucumber slices and onions in clean glass jars, then pour the cooled brine over them until completely covered. Seal and refrigerate for at least 24 hours (ideally 3 days) before tasting to allow flavors to develop. Because they aren’t processed in a water bath, these pickles must stay refrigerated, but their fresh crunch and vibrant flavor are worth the wait.
Serving Suggestions for Amish Refrigerator Pickles
Amish Refrigerator Pickles are incredibly versatile. Serve them alongside grilled meats, pile them onto pulled pork sandwiches, or dice them into potato salads for a pop of flavor. Their sweet-and-sour profile also makes them a refreshing snack right out of the jar or a standout on any appetizer platter.
Nutritional Information and Serving Size
This recipe yields about 2 quarts of pickles, with each serving (roughly 4-5 pickle chips) containing approximately 30-40 calories. The low-calorie content and abundance of flavor make these pickles a great choice for healthy snacking.
Deliciously Unique Amish Refrigerator Pickles (Recap)
Amish Refrigerator Pickles deliver crisp, tangy, and sweet perfection with little effort and no canning. Their crowd-pleasing flavor and no-fuss preparation make them an essential refrigerator staple for home cooks.
Ingredients
💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically create a shopping list with every ingredient sorted by grocery store section—making meal planning and shopping efficient and stress-free.
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, layer sliced cucumbers and onions.
- In a saucepan, combine sugar, vinegar, salt, mustard seeds, celery seed, turmeric, and red pepper flakes (if using). Bring to a simmer, stirring until sugar and salt dissolve. Remove from heat and let the brine cool to room temperature.
- Pour the cooled brine over the cucumber and onion mixture, mixing well to coat all pieces.
- Transfer pickles and brine to clean glass jars or storage containers, pressing down vegetables to submerge them fully in brine.
- Seal jars and refrigerate at least 24 hours before serving. For best flavor, allow pickles to marinate 2-3 days before eating. Store in refrigerator and enjoy within 2 months.
Weekly Meal Planning
Amish Refrigerator Pickles are ideal for weekly meal prep, adding brightness and crunch to lunches, salads, and dinner plates. Save and schedule this recipe as part of your weekly plan to automatically generate a consolidated shopping list across all your meals.
Planning Benefits:
– Instantly calculates exact ingredient amounts needed for the week.
– Groups all grocery items by store section.
– Identifies overlapping ingredients to prevent waste.
– Keeps you organized and ensures no staples are forgotten.
Pro tip: When prepping multiple pickled or side recipes, schedule your recipes in CookifyAI to optimize shared ingredients—so if you’re already buying onions for these pickles, you’ll know exactly how many more you need for other recipes.
Cook and Prep Times
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes (plus 24 hours chilling)
