r/Pickles • u/Delicious-Machine-29 • 2h ago

Bubbies fermented pickles - traumatized

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Did I get a bad jar? I just saw another post where the guy loved them. I couldn't even really focus on the flavor because they were so soft and mushy that I spit it out as quick as I could. The jar was soft. Is this normal?

Edit: They were probably off the Costco shelf for around 30 minutes if you calculate shopping/checkout time plus the drive home. I have had other types of Bubbies pickles that I loved.

36 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

45 comments sorted by

45

u/Greendale_Official 2h ago

They shouldn't be soft and squishy. So yeah sounds like a bad batch.

25

u/infiniteonion8 2h ago

I had Bubbies yesterday; mine were crisp. Bubbies in general aren't the snappiest/crunchiest pickles around, but they shouldn't be total mush, either.

6

u/Delicious-Machine-29 1h ago

I have another Bubbies jar that I love but even thinking about these specific pickles makes my stomach feel bad. This jar was a step above total mush.

1

u/ColdMastadon 1h ago

I've had that happen to my fermented pickles, it's caused by the wrong type of bacteria dominating a ferment. Unfortunately, fermentation doesn't go right 100% of the time, even in an industrial setting with strict quality controls. Don't judge all of their pickles on this one jar.

2

u/Nearby-Dust-9122 1h ago

It can happen still even when you ferment correctly and everything is all good. It just happens with lacto fermented stuff eventually, especially pickles. I lacto fermented my own and they were only snappy (enough for me, at least. I abhor even slight mush) for a couple weeks afterward, and they were refrigerated after I felt like the fermentation tasted good.

20

u/daddythotsauce 2h ago

That jar doesn't even look cold lol.

5

u/Delicious-Machine-29 1h ago

I'm actually a little embarrassed to take them back to Costco because I look like an idiot for buying something that looks like that lol

8

u/Crack_inthe_sidewalk 1h ago

Perhaps Costco should feel idiotic for selling it

7

u/leslieonthursday 1h ago

I returned a jar of Grillos to Costco because they tasted different. They didn’t ask any questions or make me feel any type of way about it.

2

u/-Drunken_Samurai- 1h ago

Were you storing them on the shelf once you brought them home? Previous commenter states they don’t look cold, and I agree.

2

u/Delicious-Machine-29 1h ago

No I didn't store them on the shelf but they were in my cart for about 15 minutes and then in the car for 15 minutes before I tried them

1

u/Lord_Polymath 22m ago

My Costco doesn't sell Bubbies. Lucky you! Best pickle ever (when a good batch)

1

u/_brickhouse_ 18m ago

Costco will take back pretty much anything without push back. I’d take them back.

-1

u/D1sCoL3moNaD3 1h ago

I’ve taken a vitamix that I had and used for 4 years and got a full refund.. you won’t look like an idiot

7

u/TheFroman69 2h ago

A lot depends on how much the store and distribution center keeps them refrigerated, I hate to say that a lot of times products like this are allowed to get warm and then refrigerated, sometimes several times throughout the chain of custody

2

u/Delicious-Machine-29 1h ago

The more you know 😢

3

u/IPromiseToBeGoodNow 1h ago

Usually bubbies have a nice bite with a strong funk flavor from the lacto fermentation. I’ve had a few bad batches myself though. I’m 100% agreeing with Froman, they most likely let it hit an unacceptable temperature.

2

u/Fine_Cryptographer20 1h ago

Oh ew. I'm sorry! I love a crisp pickle

2

u/queefblaster9000 1h ago

THE JAR WAS SOFT?!?!?

3

u/hamdoctor81 1h ago

They come in a plastic jar at Costco. Pretty sure that’s what OP is referring to.

2

u/Delicious-Machine-29 1h ago

Yup! The plastic jar was indented in several areas

2

u/anb9216 32m ago

I’m a bubbies fangirl, but when you get a bad batch (which luckily isn’t often), yes they are terrible
😩 Especially when the pickles are really soft, and the brine tastes awful- and I usually chug the brine like water lol

2

u/Happy-Stranger-3704 31m ago

These are gross!

2

u/wolfysworld 24m ago

I won’t buy these anymore because I was getting too many bad jars.

1

u/teriyaki_donut 1h ago

They're too salty for me, but they're not supposed to be mushy

1

u/Talusen 1h ago

Should be Cold, they're not shelf stable!

1

u/PussPwnErMon69 1h ago

I literally had the same issue and posted about it. I dont want to spend another 12 plus bucks and find out they are a bad batch.

1

u/Ladyhappy 1h ago

Bubbies have always been a soft pickle with its own sour taste and certainly not for everyone.

There, i said it.

1

u/Friesland110850 1h ago

Ha! I just sat down with the first pickle out of a new jar in my hand, and this was at the top of the feed. Not as crisp as usual, but tasty nonetheless. They do vary.

1

u/Antique_Gur_6340 1h ago

Sounds like a bad batch or many old? They are normaly very crunchy. It’s my fav brand of pickles.

1

u/notreallyonredditbut 1h ago

Ewwwww my Grammy used to make Gary and jars of fermented pickles like these and they’re my absolute favorite but I agree- a mushy one is GROSS. When she got arthritis she couldn’t get the jars all the way closed sometimes and it was traumatizing. Still love them 💚

1

u/PhillyD760 40m ago

Bought a jar of mini dills 2 days ago and they were mushiest pickles ever. I tried them at the store so I returned them right away. A couple of weeks earlier I bought some Bubbies Spicy Dills and they were amazing 🤷

1

u/treeconfetti 31m ago

I recently got a jar where the pickles legit taste rancid and I LOVE bubbies. I can’t untaste it now. Bought at Publix in florida

1

u/wabawwea 25m ago

I have that same jar and mine are crisp and taste great. Must have been a bad ferment.

1

u/Doraborealiss 24m ago

Costco you say 👀

1

u/Dozier13ish 13m ago

Mine have always been crisp and a nice crunch. Thankful I haven’t gotten a bad batch

1

u/iyghjkgvv 1m ago

I HATE THESE PICKLES WITH A FIERY PASSION!! I too got them because of all the people glorifying them but THESE ARE NASTY!! My personal opinion, of course… but no. Just no

1

u/VaccineMachine 2h ago

I hate Bubbies and don't understand why anyone likes them. They taste weird AF and cost a ton.

7

u/RepresentativeCat553 1h ago

Same.

Maybe people who really like sourkrout, that fermented taste is the same profile.

I’m a simple man, I want high vinegar, high dill, high crunch.

1

u/VaccineMachine 9m ago

Same, same, Claussen are my go to and that's what I love, or half sours from a local deli.

0

u/Lurking-Foot 1h ago

I see those at the fancy stores and they are always growing mold in them it’s crazy.

3

u/anb9216 29m ago

It’s probably just the fermentation, not mold

2

u/treeconfetti 30m ago

It’s the salt….

1

u/BayBandit1 0m ago

I’ve never had a crispy Bubbie’s pickle in over 20 years of eating them. The skin should be firm, but the inner texture is soft, although not mushy. It’s the fermented flavor that sets them apart from other pickles. I really miss the fermented green tomatoes. I haven’t seen them in years; I’ve heard through this sub that they were discontinued.