How to Preserve Cucumbers for a Good Summer Snack!

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With this guide, you will quickly learn How to Preserve Cucumbers through a foolproof canning method, which helps you produce delicious kosher dill pickles!

Sliced cucumbers soaking in water, whole cucumbers, pickling spices, and salt are arranged on a white surface. A green label reads “blessthismessplease.com.” Learn how to preserve cucumber with these simple ingredients.

Preserving Guide: How To Preserve Cucumbers

Summer’s abundant cucumber harvest doesn’t have to overwhelm you or go to waste, as any good pickle lover will know well. Learning this classic canning technique will help you preserve this delicious vegetable and enjoy its sour tang all year long!

Whether you’re drowning in garden-fresh cucumbers or found an amazing deal at the farmers market, with just basic kitchen equipment — and simple ingredients — you can master the art of cucumber preservation.

Preserving Guide: How To Preserve Cucumbers
When To Harvest Cucumbers
How To Store Cucumbers
Dehydrating Cucumbers
How To Can Cucumbers
Freezing Cucumbers
Expert Tips
More Tips For Preserving The Harvest

When To Harvest Cucumbers

Harvest when fruits are young and green and seeds are still soft. A yellowish skin color indicates the seeds are mature and the fruit is beyond eating. Pick every other day.

Cucumbers for sweet pickles should be 2-4 inches; those used for dill should be picked at 5-6 inches.

How To Store Cucumbers

Store at room temperature. Can be stored in refrigerator for 1-3 days if they are used soon after removing from the refrigerator.

Dehydrating Cucumbers

Dehydrating cucumbers is not recommended.

How To Can Cucumbers

QUANTITY: 30-36 cucumbers

INGREDIENTS:

30 to 36 cucumbers (3 to 4 inches long)
3 cups vinegar (5%)
3 cups water
6 Tablespoons canning salt
Fresh or dried dill
Garlic, sliced
Mustard Seed

Wash your cucumbers first, of course!

How To Make Kosher Dill Pickles

Slice 1/16-inch from blossom end and discard. Leave ¼-inch of stem attached.
Make a brine of the vinegar, water, and salt. Bring to a boil.
Place generous layer of dill, 1 clove garlic, and ½ teaspoon mustard seed at the bottom of each pint jar.
Pack the cucumbers into the hot jars.
When the jars are half-filled with cucumbers add more dill and finish packing the jars.
Fill the jars ½-inch from the top with boiling brine.
Remove air bubbles.
Wipe jars and adjust lids.
Process 10 minutes in a Boiling Water Bath.

Top: A jar of pickles with herbs and spices floating in brine, showing how to preserve cucumber. Bottom: Fresh cucumbers growing on green vines. Text at the bottom reads BLESSTHISMESSPLEASE.COM.

Freezing Cucumbers

Freezing cucumbers is also not recommended.

🍎🫙 Get a free Preserving Guide for all the details to dehydrate, can, and freeze 42 fruits and vegetables — get the FREE GUIDE here!

Expert Tips

Storage Time: Properly canned pickled cucumbers can last 1-2 years when stored in a cool, dark place. Refrigerator pickles typically stay fresh for 2-3 months. Always check for signs of spoilage before eating!
Pickling vs Fermenting: Pickling uses vinegar and heat to preserve cucumbers quickly, while fermentation relies on beneficial bacteria and salt over several days or weeks.
Best Cucumbers for Pickling: Smaller, firmer varieties like pickling cucumbers, Kirby cucumbers, and Persian cucumbers hold up best during preservation. Avoid large, watery slicing cucumbers as they become mushy and lose their texture.