Can You Use Hot House Cucumbers For Pickling?

But you don’t need to break out the enormous stock pot or heat-seal your jars to enjoy pickles. Even the most basic quick-pickles will keep for a few weeks to a month or two in the fridge. Pass over long, thin-skinned varieties, like English hothouse cucumbers.

Can I use any kind of cucumber for pickling?

Pretty much any type of cucumber can be used for pickling, but true “pickling” cucumbers are different than heirlooms, slicers, or Japanese cukes.

What is the difference between hot house cucumber and regular cucumber?

English (or hothouse) cucumbers are long, narrow and are sold wrapped in plastic to protect their thinner, unwaxed skin. English cucumbers are sometimes billed as seedless but the truth is they do have seeds. They’re just smaller and thinner than regular cucumber seeds so you can chew right through them.

What are hothouse cucumbers used for?

They can be sliced in salads, cut into spears and served with a dip, or used in sandwiches in place of lettuce. Combined with yogurt or sour cream and served with curry dishes, Melissa’ s Hot House Cucumbers may be cooked briefly and added to soups and sauces.

What type of cucumbers are best for pickling?

When it comes to delicious pickling cucumber varieties, the Boston Pickling cucumber is near the top of the list! A seedless cucumber, this heirloom variety has incredible flavor and crispness.

How do you tell a pickling cucumber from a regular cucumber?

Pickling cucumbers are shorter and bigger around than slicing cucumbers. They are bred to have thinner skins and black spines so the pickled product will look better. Pickling varieties can be eaten fresh and slicing varieties can be pickled, but the differences can be discerned by the average consumer.

Can you use store bought cucumbers to make pickles?

Yep, every jar of store-bought pickles is also basically a do-it-yourself pickle kit. And if you’re like me and are never quite motivated enough to embark on a full-on pickle-all-the-produce effort, this super-simple method of making pickles from leftover pickle brine might be your tipping point.

Do hothouse cucumbers need to be peeled?

The hothouse cucumber has a much more delicate skin and is virtually seedless. Peeling is not necessary since the green coating is so thin.

Are hot house cucumbers healthy?

Nutritional Value
Hot House cucumbers are an excellent source of vitamins A, K, C, and potassium.

Can English cucumbers be used for pickling?

Pickling cucumbers are best because they stay firm and crunchy in the brine. English cucumbers will also work, though they will become softer the longer they remain in the brine. Do not use iodized salt, which can cause your pickled products to turn dark.

Do English cucumbers taste different than regular cucumbers?

The flavor of an English cucumber is sweeter than the standard cucumber, and it doesn’t need to be peeled or seeded before eating! Because the thin skin is so fragile, it’s sold with a plastic covering in the grocery store. Standard slicing cucumbers are shorter, with thick, dark green skin and very large seeds.

What’s the difference in an English cucumber and a regular cucumber?

These are longer and more narrow than Slicer cucumbers. Most of the time they are not waxed and, instead, wrapped in plastic. Their seeds are much smaller and easier to eat so they do not require de-seeding.

Why do you soak cucumbers in ice water before pickling?

For a quick and easy way to help ensure crisp pickles: soak cucumbers in ice water for 4 to 5 hours before pickling. This is a safer method for making crisp pickles. Using lime, or calcium hydroxide, in solution for soaking cucumbers changes the amount of acid in the cucumber tissue.

How do you keep cucumbers crisp when pickling?

5 Secrets for Crispy and Crunchy Pickles

1. Use small, firm cucumbers.
2. Jar them immediately after picking, or as soon as possible.
3. Soak cucumbers in an ice water bath for a couple hours.
4. Cut off the blossom end of cucumber.
5. Add tannins to the jar.

Can you use overripe cucumbers for pickles?

You can use overripe cucumbers even when they’ve ripened to the point where they’ve turned fully yellow.

Are mini cucumbers the same as pickling cucumbers?

Gardeners who desire a mini-cucumber for pickling should plant pickling cucumbers, then harvest them when they have reached the desired size. The main difference between pickling and regular cucumbers is in the skin. Pickling cucumbers have thinner skin than that of standard cukes, and it tends to be less bitter.

Why are my pickling cucumbers growing round?

The major cause of the cucumber’s undeveloped or round shape is pollination. The cucumber will only be slightly developed if it is not thoroughly pollinated. Cucumbers are plants that require a lot of nourishment as they grow. The cucumber will get round due to a lack of nutrition.

Can I put fresh cucumbers in pickle juice?

You want to start with clean, fresh veggies. Cucumbers are great, but so are green beans, cauliflower, carrots, radishes, turnips, beets or shredded cabbage.

Can you reuse pickle brine to make more pickles?

You’re only using it to make refrigerator pickles. Once a brine has been used to can something, that’s it. You can’t do it again because you can’t guarantee the acidity level once it has been heated up, hot water processed, absorbed by vegetables and refrigerated for an unknown amount of time.

Can you reuse pickling vinegar?

So it is not a good idea to re-use the vinegar as you may bring about fermentation in the ensuing batch. Once you’ve eaten all the pickles, you could use the remaining vinegar to start a mayonnaise, brine a chicken, flavour a potato salad or liven up a dip.

Why are English cucumbers wrapped in plastic?

Plastic wrap serves as an extra layer of protection for cucumbers that have particularly thin skin, like English cucumbers. This snug seal reduces and prevents rehydration and potential damage that can occur during packing and transit, and continues to play an important role even once you get them home.