This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
When you have a surplus of cucumbers, look no further than this easy recipe for Refrigerator Pickles. You can make them with just 10 minutes of prep and 6 hours to brine. You don’t even need to turn on the stove!
If I’d known how ridiculously easy it was to make crispy, salty, dilly, tangy pickles, our refrigerator would never have been without them – especially in summer months. No cooking required. Zero. You don’t even have to boil water.
Table of Contents
Ingredients You Need to Make Refrigerator Pickles
Fresh Kirby Cucumbers: or other pickling cucumber or English cucumber
White Vinegar: or apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
Kosher Salt: I used Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt – if using Morton brand, use half the amount called for in this recipe (Morton’s Kosher salt is finer and saltier.)
Fresh Dill: dried dill is not a good substitute here
What are Refrigerator Pickles?
Refrigerator Pickles are made without the typical steps of canning, made instead with raw Kirby cucumber slices, brine and lots of fresh dill – very little effort and they’re ready to eat within hours. The upside of this is that they easy to make and incredibly crispy and delicious. The downside is that they are not shelf stable, i.e., but will last several weeks in the refrigerator. (Good luck on them lasting that long!)
Why Kirby cucumbers?
Kirby cucumbers are those odd shaped cucumbers, covered in sharp little bumps. They aren’t the most attractive of cucumbers, but they do stay crunchy in brine.
Kirby cucumbers and fresh dill sprigs look to me like pickles. But pickles require a whole canning process, right? A variety of spices, sterilized canning jars, boiled brine, and achieving a proper seal. So what’s a lazy girl to do?
So I looked around at some of my favorite food blogs and came across this recipe from Deb of Smitten Kitchen. Ironic as Deb is the antithesis of lazy. Could it really be this simple? Yes.
FAQ
Store refrigerator pickles in the refrigerator (they’re not shelf stable) and plan to enjoy them within one month.
These will be ready to enjoy in just 6 hours, but will be even more delicious (and stronger) the longer they stand in the refrigerator.
Use any clean (ideally sterilized) canning jar with a tight fitting lid.
Refrigerator pickles are quick and easy to make, but they don’t go through the typical canning process and are not shelf stable. Where traditionally canned pickles can be stored at room temperature, refrigerator pickles must be stored in the refrigerator.
No. Just remember that they must be store in the refrigerator.
Why these aren’t for everyone. (BIG flavor.)
I’ll warn you that these homemade pickles are intensely flavorful. If you’re on the fence about liking vinegary, piquant dill pickles, these aren’t for you. But should you be in the piquant pickle loving camp, you’ll find these addictive.
Recipe Options
- For a milder vinegar flavor, use apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar instead of standard white vinegar.
- To add a bit of spice, stir a teaspoon of whole black peppercorns, raw jalapeño slices, or 1/4 teaspoon or more of red pepper flakes. You can also add celery seed, mustard seed, and/or whole garlic cloves for added depth of flavor. For a touch of sweetness, stir in a teaspoon or more of granulated sugar or honey.
More Pickling Recipes to Try
- Pickled Asparagus (there’s a secret to protecting the spear tips. Can you guess what it is?)
- Pickled Beets (honey sweetened)
- Pickled Red Onions
- Pickled Banana Peppers
- Giardiniera (Italian pickled vegetables like cauliflower, bell pepper, carrots, and celery – perfect for snacking!)
[Updated: a couple of commenters found the original recipe for these too salty. Upon review of the recipe, I agreed! I’ve adjusted it accordingly.]
How to Make Refrigerator Pickles:
Step 1: Fill clean jar with thinly sliced cucumbers (ideally Kirby).
Step 2: Stir brine ingredients together (kosher salt, vinegar and chopped fresh dill) and pour over cucumber slices.
Step 3: Close jar lid and shake to distribute brine. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours then enjoy!
Easy Refrigerator Pickles
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups thinly sliced Kirby cucumber
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
Instructions
- Add cucumber slices to a clean 1-pint jar.
- Add vinegar, salt and dill. Close the lid and shake to distribute ingredients. (Liquid will not cover cucumber slices. Don’t worry. The salt will draw liquid from the cucumbers in a couple of hours.)
- Place the jar in the refrigerator and remember to shake it once or twice in the next few hours.
- In about 6 hours, you’ll have delicious, crispy pickles.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gahhhh! We LOVE pickles over here at the SuBourbon Country Cottage, Marissa! Like, we ALWAYS have a jar in our refrigerator for snacking. Dill pickles are my favorite and it’s been AGES since I made my own, so clearly I need to get on making these, ESPECIALLY since they are easy-peasy! I’ve got no excuse not to right?! I’m going to add a bunch of garlic to mine (because I like to have vampire repellent breath), but I’m going to make a batch of these as is for Boy. Can’t wait! PINNED! Cheers, sweets! I hope you are having a weekend as wonderful as you! XO
Heck yeah! Love the addition of garlic…I’ll have to try that next time. xo
Refrigerator dills are one of my favorite summertime treats – it’s been way too long since I’ve made them! They are just so easy and delicious, I’m feeling inspired. Beautiful shots, my friend!
Thank you so much, Faith! xo
I am definitely making pickles next year!! I contemplated growing cucumbers but didn’t end up doing it. I love how easy this looks – everyone in my family loves pickles!
Thank you, Katherine! I hope you give them a go…so good, I promise!
Hi Marissa! I have been making refrigerator pickles for years, so easy and so good! I always add a clove of smashed garlic to each jar (just because, well garlic) and if my dill had headed out I would add one to the top of each jar.. One year our squash crops went wild so I turned small yellow summer and patty pan squash into pickles and they were as good, if not better!
Hi Dorothy! I love addition of a smashed garlic clove because, as you said, garlic! Also love the idea of pickling summer squash. Definitely a must try.
How long will these keep in the refrigerator for?
Hi Kristy – Ours usually don’t last very long.. 😉 I’ve seen several sources say they’re safe up to one month.
I had a TON of dill that I needed to use and this was a great and easy way! Thanks for the recipe!
What a happy problem! 😉 I’m so glad you like the recipe. I can’t get enough of them this time of year.
Just out of curiosity, how long will these stay fresh? I love this simple recipe and I planted some pickling cucumbers this year and plan on using this recipe.
Hi Amy! That’s great…let me know how they turn out. 🙂 On refrigerator life, I’m no expert but from what I’ve seen at a few websites that I trust, you should eat them within a month.
Can you use a whole pickle instead of slices? I eat a whole pickle almost every day. It’s easier if it’s whole because i work on a boat and have dirty hands.
Hi Chloe, I don’t see why not. It may take a bit longer for the brine to flavor it, but should work. Let me know how it goes. 🙂
They were so delicious! I made 2 jars and now about to make more because I ate them too fast. I couldn’t find pickling salt so I used kosher salt & also fresh dill….THANK YOU for sharing 🙂
Hi Marissa! I’m delighted to have come across this recipe as I am looking at many cucumbers in the making – (their yellow flowers are teasing me!). It’s going to be hard to keep these around. xx
Hi Danielle! Oh yes, those little yellow flowers are such a tease! 😉 I’ve been making these this summer with some crushed red pepper, garlic and Thai peppers – spicy goodness…
Can you use dry dill? Just made Bread and Butter Pickles and have sliced cucumbers left.
Hi Bill,
Sure you can use dried dill. Use 2 teaspoons instead of 2 tablespoons and it should turn out just fine.
People ask ‘sweet or salty’ and I say ‘vinegary’… so pickled everything for me! These are sensational! Need to make them asap
I love dill so these pickles are really on my must make list! 😀
never thought of making my own pickle before.. love how easy this is. definitely will be trying it out in my kitchen!
I just sent this recipe to my mother who has tons of cucumbers growing in her garden, I know she will love it!
That’s great! I hope she enjoys them.