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How to Make Zucchini Pickles (Pickled Dill Zucchini)

How to Make Zucchini Pickles (Pickled Dill Zucchini)

Yield: 4 half-pint (8 ounce) jars  (you can double or triple this batch)

Click here for a PDF print version (coming soon)

Making and canning your own zucchini pickles or pickled zucchini is very easy and inexpensive with this traditional and tested (USDA / Ball Blue Book) recipe.  Anyone with a garden knows you'll soon have more zucchini that you can eat or give away, so here's a way to preserve (pickle) them to enjoy in the cold winter months.  And it's less than $1 per pint jar! Here's how to do it, in easy steps and completely illustrated.   It is much faster than the old method your grandmother used with tons of pickling salt and de-scumming the brine! Ugh!  This method is so easy, ANYONE can do this!  It's a great thing to do with your kids!

If you want to make bread-and-butter zucchini pickles click here, or  cucumber bread and butter pickles, see this page instead  or click here for a bread-and-butter zucchini pickle recipe. And see this page for a great and easy Zucchini Bread!

Ingredients

• 2 pounds of fresh zucchini, sliced lengthwise (that's about 8 small zucchinis)
• 1/3 pound quartered onions
• 1/4 cup canning or pickling salt
• 3 cups white vinegar (5%)
• 3 teaspoons finely chopped dill
• 1 teaspoon celery seed

Equipment

• 1 Canner (a huge pot to sanitize the jars after filling (about $30 to $35 at mall kitchen stores, sometimes at big box stores and grocery stores.).  Note: we sell many sizes and types of canners for all types of stoves and needs - see canning supplies
• Half pint canning jars (Ball or Kerr jars can be found at grocery stores, like Safeway, Publix, Kroger, grocery stores, even online - about $9 per dozen jars including the lids and rings).   
• Lids - thin, flat, round metal lids with a gum binder that seals them against the top of the jar.  They may only be used once.
• Rings - metal bands that secure the lids to the jars.  They may be reused many times.
• Jar grabber (to pick up the hot jars) 
• Lid lifter (has a magnet to pick the lids out of the boiling water where you sanitize them. ($2 at Target, other big box stores, and often grocery stores; and available online - see this page)
• Jar funnel ($2 at Target, other big box stores, and often grocery stores; and available online - see this page)
• 1 large pot; teflon lined, glass or ceramic.
• Large spoons and ladles

Directions - Step by Step

Step 1 - Slice the zucchini and onions

Just slice  of 1/8 inch from each end, then slice them lengthwise, into quarters. Slice the ends off the onions and cut them into quarters (it's not a problem if the quartered onions then fall apart)

Step 2 - Salt the zukes and onions and let stand.

Combine the sliced zucchini and onions in a bowl with the 1/4 cup of canning or pickling salt. Add enough cold water to cover them. Let the mix stand for 2 hours.

Step 3 - Drain

Drain (and discard) the liquids from the zucchini and onions.  Rinse the zucchini and onions thoroughly in a colander or drainer.

Step 4 - Mix the spices, vinegar and heat

In a large stainless steel, enamel, or lined pot, combine the

• 3 cups white vinegar (5%)
• 3 teaspoons finely chopped dill
• 1 teaspoon celery seed

and bring to a boil.

Step 5 - Add the zucchini and onions to the pot, simmer 10 minutes

Add the zucchini and onions and simmer for 10 minutes.

Step 6 - Fill the canning jars

Fill the jars with zucchini/onion mixture, leaving  1/2 inch headspace. then fill the void (air space) with the hot pickling solution from mixture up to the 1/2 inch headspace. Some people like to add a tablespoon of Ball "pickle crisp" to each jar now, to help the pickles remain crispy.

 

Step 7 - Canning

There are two methods to can the pickles, the usual water bath and a low temperature pasturization method.  The latter method produces more crisp pickles, but is more involved.

Option 1 Process in the water bath canner

Put the lids and rings on the jar, gently snug-tight, put them in the rack and lower into the water bather canner, which should be about 2/3 full of boiling water at a full boil.  The jars should be convered by at least an inch of water. Bring the water back to a boil (if you have it on high heat, that shouldn't take but a minute or two) and then start timing, according to your altitude (at sea level up to 1,000 ft, 15 minutes).

Adjust lids and process according to the recommendations in the table below or use low-temperature pasteurization treatment. see option 2, "Low-Temperature Pasteurization Treatment,".

 

  

Option 2 - Low-Temperature Pasteurization Treatment

The following treatment results in a better product texture but must be carefully managed to avoid possible spoilage.

• Place jars in a canner filled half way with warm (120º to 140ºF) water.
• Then, add hot water to a level 1 inch above jars.
• Heat the water enough to maintain 180º to 185º F water temperature for 30 minutes. Check with a candy or jelly thermometer to be certain that the water temperature is at least 180ºF during the entire 30 minutes. Temperatures higher than 185ºF may cause unnecessary softening of pickles.

Pickle Making Problems?

See this page for a more complete set of frequently asked pickling questions and answersand answers

Other Equipment: From left to right: Jar lifting tongs to pick up hot jars Lid lifter - to remove lids from the pot of boiling water (sterilizing ) Lid - disposable - you may only use them once Ring - holds the lids on the jar until after the jars cool - then you don't need them Canning jar funnel - to fill the jars

You can get all of the tools in a kit here:

Home Canning Kits

This is the same type of standard canner that my grandmother used to make everything from applesauce to jams and jellies to tomato and spaghetti sauce. This complete kit includes everything you need and lasts for years: the canner, jar rack, jar grabber tongs, lid lifting wand, a plastic funnel, labels, bubble freer, and the bible of canning, the Ball Blue Book. It's much cheaper than buying the items separately. You'll never need anything else except jars & lids (and the jars are reusable)! There is also a simple kit with just the canner and rack, and a pressure canner, if you want to do vegetables (other than tomatoes). To see more canners, of different styles, makes and prices, click here!

How to make other pickles -  recipes and instructions:

• Refrigerator pickles (no canning required)
• Cucumber pickle relish
• Pickled beets
• Pickled green beans
• Pickled dilled okra

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This document was adapted from the "Complete Guide to Home Canning," Agriculture Information Bulletin No. 539, USDA, revised 2006.

Reviewed May 2009.

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