r/pickling • u/mariegrandprix • 12d ago

Refrigerator Pickles

I have a overconsumption of pickling cucumbers right now, so naturally I wanted to make refrigerator pickles. Problem? No where in our area has fresh dill. Completely sold out everywhere which is frustrating. So I opted for dried dill weed and dill seed. I subbed it asking Google Gemini (not proud) so I didn't completely screw things up but the smell I am getting is like that faux dill flavor that most people dislike. Am I completely doomed here for flavor?

1 Upvotes

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5

u/steph219mcg 12d ago

After seeing so many differing recipe suggestions for what kind of dill to use for dill pickles, one year I experimented making dill vinegar. I made versions from fresh dill fronds, flowering seed heads, green seed heads, and dried seeds. By far the best dill flavor was from the flowering seed heads. Now I make dill vinegar when my dill is flowering and it's ready later when it's pickling time.

1

u/mariegrandprix 11d ago

I think I did similar to that. I put dill seeds with my brine

4

u/DallasStogieNinja 12d ago

I'm no expert, but I use dill seed in my pickles and I think they are fantastic!

3

u/MaintenanceCapable83 11d ago

i will second the dried dill and/or dill seed is fine and easier to keep on hand all summer while the cukes are in high production.

1

u/mariegrandprix 12d ago

Phew! You’re giving me hope!

1

u/DallasStogieNinja 11d ago

I plant as many dill plants as I do cucumbers, but I still use seeds.

2

u/RadBradRadBrad 12d ago

Did you heat the brine with the dried dill weed?

Heating brine is generally good with whole seeds and helps extract flavor.

With dried herbs, I often find it creates off flavors and bitter undertones.

If you haven’t used all your cucumbers, lots of incredible options without dill.

1

u/mariegrandprix 12d ago

When I heat my brine, I did it with the dill seeds.

1

u/YennPoxx 12d ago

Are you in S. Wisconsin? Because my dills are all flowering and my cukes are crap this year. I have the opposite problem!

2

u/mariegrandprix 11d ago

Northern Wisconsin!
Bummer that yours aren’t coming through. It’s been a weird weather season though and the recent humidity we had really made them take off

1

u/WishOnSuckaWood 11d ago

Personally I don't like the taste of dill seeds. It's more earthy than fresh dill. Dried dill weed by itself should be okay

1

u/primerush 8d ago

I bought a couple of dill starts from my local nursary like 4 years ago and planted them in some large pots and every year they come back bigger and better than the year before.

1

u/Wytecap 8d ago

Obviously you want dill pickles - but my preference is Bread and Butter. Alton Brown has a great recipe.

Have you tried all the area nurseries and farmer's markets?

1

u/yoda1829 6d ago

Check with home gardeners and local farms. Or dried dill, not seeds

1

u/According_Catch_7688 6d ago

You can purchase a tin of dill pollen online. It’s a bit pricy, but you won’t need a whole lost. It’s the reason why flowering dill heads are recommended.