5 GALLON PICKLES RECIPES

Steps:

• Make a brine by dissolving 5 tablespoons sea salt in 2 quarts of chlorine-free water. (Note: this recipe will possibly make more than what is needed, you may save extra brine to be used in future ferments.)
• In a half-gallon jar add a couple of the tannin-containing leaves, a few cloves of garlic, the heads of dill, and ⅓ of the spices.
• Pack half of the cucumbers tightly on top of the spices. (The longest ones work best at the bottom.)
• Repeat a layer of leaves, garlic, and spices. Add another tightly packed layer of cucumbers and top them off with more garlic and spices.
• Pour the brine over the pickles, leaving 1-2 inches of headspace. Place another tannin-containing leaf on top of the pickles as a cover between the pickles and the surface of the brine. Use a fermentation weight to keep the pickles under the liquid, if necessary. Cover the jar with a tight lid, airlock lid, or coffee filter secured with a rubber band.
• Ferment at room temperature (60-70°F is preferred) until desired flavor and texture are achieved. If using a tight lid, burp daily to release excess pressure. The brine should turn cloudy and bubbly, and the pickles should taste sour when done.
• Eat right away, or store in a refrigerator or root cellar for months and enjoy them all winter long.

Steps:

• Combine cucumbers, onions, salt and ice in a large bowl.
• Mix well.
• Put a weight on and allow to stand 3 hours. (For a weight, I use a plate with a gallon bottle of vinegar or water on top of it).
• Rinse and drain thoroughly.
• Combine vinegar, sugar, turmeric, celery seed and mustard seed in a large pot.
• Add drained cucumbers.
• Place pot on medium low heat.
• Bring almost to a boil, but DO NOT ALLOW TO BOIL.
• Remove from heat.
• Seal in sterilized jars, 10 minutes in a hot water bath.
• Easy way to sterilize jars: Wash them well in hot soapy water.
• Dry them off.
• Put on a cookie sheet, right side up, at 225°F for 15 minutes.
• Turn off oven and leave them in there until you need them.