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A jar of bread and butter pickles.

Bread and Butter Pickles

These bread and butter pickles are a sweet and sour pickle that can easily be canned for extended storage, or made into a batch of delicious refrigerator pickles.
4.43 from 33 votes
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Course: Canning Recipes
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours
Servings: 5 pint jars
Calories: 52kcal
Author: Dolly @ Little Home in the Making

Ingredients

  • 10 cups sliced cucumbers Approx. 3 ¼ lbs or 1.48 kg. (¼” slices)
  • 4 medium onions thinly sliced
  • ½ cup pickling salt
  • 3 ½ cups white vinegar minimum 5% acidity
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons whole mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon celery seeds
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric

Instructions

Cook Mode
  • Add the sliced cucumbers to a very large non-reactive bowl (glass, ceramic, stainless steel). Add in the onions, and sprinkle with the canning salt. Stir well to combine and coat the cucumbers and onions with salt.
  • Cover the bowl with a damp towel or plastic wrap and allow it to rest at room temperature for 2 hours.
  • With about 45 minutes left before the time is up, you can start preparing your jars, lids, and canner for canning. This includes washing all of your equipment (jars, rings, jar lifters, funnels, etc) and your canner if needed.
  • Fill your canner with water and bring it to a boil, placing your jars inside carefully (5-6 pint jars). Bring the canner up to a boil with the lid in place, and maintain a boil for 5-10 minutes. Then remove the canner from the heat and set it aside until it is time to process the jars.
  • Add the canning lids to a small saucepan filled with water and bring to a low simmer. Keep the lids warm until they are needed for processing the jars.
  • Once the time is up for the cucumbers and the onions, transfer the mixture to a colander placed over the sink to drain off any excess liquid. Rinse with cool running water, aiming to rinse off much of the salt from the vegetables.
  • Once the cucumbers and onions are thoroughly rinsed and drained, set them aside.
  • Add the vinegar, sugar, mustard seeds, celery seeds, and turmeric to a large stainless or nonreactive saucepan. It should have a volume of at least 16 cups (4 quarts) to give you adequate space for your brine and cucumbers.
  • Whisk the brine ingredients together and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring often to dissolve the sugar.
  • Once the brine has come to a boil, stir in the drained cucumbers and onions and return to a boil.
  • Remove the jars from the hot water of the canner, and empty them of any water. Pack the vegetables into the hot jars, leaving a generous ½ headspace at the top of the jar. Then, ladle in the liquid brine to cover the vegetables. Use a butter knife or de-bubbler to remove any air bubbles and add liquid if needed to maintain a ½” headspace at the top of the jar.
  • Wipe the rims with a clean towel or paper towel, and place a lid on each jar. Then, secure each jar with a canning ring and secure until fingertip tight (tighten with your fingertips, stopping when you get resistance).
  • Place each jar back into the canner, ensuring that they are covered by 2 inches of water. If the water level is not high enough, add enough hot water to cover the jars (I like to keep a kettle handy). Add the lid to the canner and bring it to a boil.
  • Once the canner has returned to a rapid boil, the processing time begins. Keep the lid in place and allow the jars to process for 10 minutes.
  • Once the processing time is up, turn the heat off and remove the canner from the heat source. Remove the lid and allow the canners to rest in the canner for 5 minutes.
  • Once the 5 minutes are up, remove the jars and place them in a location where they can go undisturbed for at least 24 hours.
  • As the jars seal, you should hear a “pop” from each jar. Allow up to 24 hours for each jar to seal, but in my experience, if they are going to seal, it’s going to be within the first few hours.
  • After 24 hours, check the seals and remove the canning rings. Wipe down the jars and label them. Any jars that have not been sealed should be moved to the fridge to be eaten right away.
  • I recommend waiting for 1-3 weeks before opening and enjoying your pickles, as they are so much better when the flavors have had the opportunity to mingle.

Notes

Yield: 5 pint jars
Refrigerator pickles: Prepare the pickles up to adding the drained cucumbers and onions to the brine. Return to a boil, then turn off the heat and transfer to jars. Place a lid on and allow to cool. Store in the refrigerator for 3-5 weeks. Cut the recipe in half if needed.

Variations

British Bread and Butter Pickles: Substitute the white vinegar for cider vinegar, the white sugar for brown sugar, and add 1 teaspoon of ground ginger.
Zesty Bread and Butter Pickles: Omit the celery seeds and turmeric. Use 2 tablespoons of prepared horseradish and 2 tablespoons of grated fresh ginger in the brine.
Garlic Bread and Butter Pickles: Add 1 clove of peeled garlic to each jar before adding the pickles and brine.
Adapted From: The Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving
Note on USDA Safety: I can according to the USDA safety standards. This recipe was adapted from a USDA approved source (Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving) and follows their safe canning recommendations.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 52kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Sodium: 16mg | Sugar: 11g
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