Allotments 4 All

I have grown some gherkins for the first time and wish to pickle them.They are just floating on the vinegar though.Do I need to puncture the skin or do anything to get them to settle in the vinegar.

Ok..usually you boil some water, sugar, salt and spices that are called for the pickling liquid and then added the vinegar...all that it heated again so that the added vinegar is boiling hot too.

In mean while the gherkins are prepared..sliced if needed..and all put into sterilized jars...and then the hot pickling liquid poured over and lid fastened on.

Those gherkins get 'cooked' in the liquid while it cools down.

That is the usual process...BUT...you can do 'quick gherkins' if you don't have enough to fill few jars in one go.

Just peel and slice gherkins into bowl..sprinkle little salt and sugar and small amount of malt vinegar and mix the slices so that they are coated. Pop it into fridge and give it a hour or so to get cold. These gherkin slices are don't taste same like properly pickled ones and you can't store than more than day or two, but they are nice alternative way to eat gherkin cucumbers that can otherwise be bit bitter tasting for fresh eating.

You find few pickled gherkins recipes on this thread.. http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,71545.0.html

Thanks for the advice---seems like I've done it a bit wrong!!

Thanks goodlife, i made the two types yesterday with my gherkins and cucumbers, had eaten all the fridge ones by tea time they were so lovely!
x sunloving