How long until refrigerator pickles are ready

They taste good after 24 hours and are fully flavored by 48. The longer they sit, the more sour and firm they get.

Do I need to boil the brine

No. For quick fridge pickles, just stir the vinegar, water, salt, and sugar until dissolved. Skipping the boil keeps them crunchier.

How do I keep them crisp

Use firm Kirby cucumbers, trim the blossom end, use a cold brine, and keep them refrigerated the whole time.

Is a gallon bag too big for pickles

For a big batch it is just right, since it holds a whole haul of cucumbers and brine at once. For a small jar's worth you can scale down, but the see-through bag is also handy for marinades and produce the rest of the week.

Easy Refrigerator Pickles

Name: Easy Refrigerator Pickles
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 24 h
Yield: about 1 gallon
Ingredients: 2 pounds cucumbers; 1.5 cups vinegar; 1.5 cups water; 2 tablespoons kosher salt; 2 tablespoons sugar; 4 garlic cloves; Dill, peppercorns, pepper flakes

Home / Silicone Bag Recipes / Easy Refrigerator Pickles

Brine & Marinate

Easy Refrigerator Pickles

A big batch of refrigerator pickles needs a vessel that holds a lot of sliced cucumbers and brine and lets the slices sit fully submerged. The XXL Clear bag does both, and because it is see-through you can literally watch the cucumbers turn from bright green to pickle-green over a day or two. No giant jar required, and the bag lays flat so the slices stay under the brine. The large size is the feature here: you can pickle a whole haul of cucumbers at once.

Pickle24-48 h

Active15 min

Makes~1 gallon

Bag1 gallon

What you need

2 pounds cucumbers (Kirby or Persian), sliced into spears or coins
1.5 cups white or apple cider vinegar
1.5 cups water
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons sugar
4 garlic cloves, smashed
1 tablespoon dill seed or a big handful of fresh dill
1 teaspoon peppercorns
Optional: 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 XXL Silicone Food Storage Bag (Clear)

Directions

Slice the cucumbers into spears or coins and pack them into the Clear bag with the garlic, dill, peppercorns, and pepper flakes.
In a bowl, stir the vinegar, water, salt, and sugar until the salt and sugar dissolve. No need to boil for a quick fridge pickle.
Pour the brine over the cucumbers until they are submerged.
Press out the extra air, seal the airtight zipper, and lay the bag flat in the fridge.
Chill 24 to 48 hours, flipping once. Watch through the Clear bag as the slices darken and firm up.
Once they taste right, keep them in the bag or transfer to jars. They stay crisp for about two weeks in the fridge.

Tips and notes

For extra crunch, use small firm Kirby cucumbers and trim off the blossom end, which contains a softening enzyme.
A quick room-temperature brine keeps the cucumbers crisper than a hot one; just stir until dissolved.
Lay the bag flat so every slice stays under the brine and pickles evenly.
These are fridge pickles, not canned. Keep them cold and eat within two weeks.

Get the XXL Silicone Bag

The Clear XXL bag holds a full batch of sliced cucumbers and a gallon of brine, and the see-through silicone lets you watch the color change. The leakproof seal keeps it flat and tidy in the fridge.

See the Clear Bag

Albino Monkey XXL Silicone Food Storage Bag (Clear)

Common questions

How long until refrigerator pickles are ready: They taste good after 24 hours and are fully flavored by 48. The longer they sit, the more sour and firm they get.
Do I need to boil the brine: No. For quick fridge pickles, just stir the vinegar, water, salt, and sugar until dissolved. Skipping the boil keeps them crunchier.
How do I keep them crisp: Use firm Kirby cucumbers, trim the blossom end, use a cold brine, and keep them refrigerated the whole time.
Is a gallon bag too big for pickles: For a big batch it is just right, since it holds a whole haul of cucumbers and brine at once. For a small jar's worth you can scale down, but the see-through bag is also handy for marinades and produce the rest of the week.