18 Vegetable and Fruit Quick Pickles

Photos courtesy of Culinary Adventures with Camilla, A Day in the Life on the Farm, Books n' Cooks, and Yum Goggle.

Quick pickles, or refrigerator pickles, are a simple way to make homemade pickles in a small batch and to extend the life of some of your summer and fall produce.

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Quick pickles are often crispier than homemade pickles that go through the canning process. Also, they are a little more forgiving as you keep them cold in the refrigerator rather than making them shelf stable. You can pickle pretty much anything and I find that it's always yummy!

This time of year I'm often filling up my refrigerator with zucchini pickles, pickled banana peppers, and pickled jalapeños. While I also love to do shelf stable canning of pickles, quick pickles are so much more versatile and allow you to make a small batch. 

For a quart jar, I generally heat a cup of vinegar of my choice (apple cider vinegar or white vinegar are the two I usually use) along with one cup of cold water, and a tablespoon of salt. Canning or pickling salt is usually recommended since it does not have any additives and dissolves easily.

This is my formula for savory pickles and what I use for pickled peppers. For sweet pickles, I'll add 1/3 cup of sugar (or more if something is very tart).

Then choose any spices you want -- mustard seeds, peppercorns, red pepper flakes, garlic cloves, bay leaves, dill, celery seeds, turmeric, etc. You can flavor your pickles however you want and however is best for the item you are pickling!

Pack your jar with your produce, heat your water/vinegar/spice mixture. Let the liquid cool down. Pour it into the jar of produce, cool completely, and refrigerate. Of course there are always variations in techniques (like pickling quinces, which need to be cooked), but this is my standard general quick pickle formula.

I've rounded up some delicious ideas for you to get inspired to make your own refrigerator pickles. Once you make a few, you'll see that you can vary the spices and make all kinds of flavors. 

They can be used on a pickle/relish tray, cheese platters, on sandwiches, in burritos, in cocktails, as burger toppings, a side or topping for grilled meats, and much more.

There are so many vegetables that can be pickled beyond cucumbers! Here are just a sampling of ideas including onions, zucchini, radishes, carrots, beets, and more. 

Vegetable Pickles 

There are so many vegetables that can be pickled beyond cucumbers! Here are just a sampling of ideas including onions, zucchini, radishes, carrots, beets, and more.

Bread & Butter Refrigerator Zucchini Pickles from Savory Moments
Quick Pickled Carrots from Love & Good Stuff
Easy Refrigerator Pickled Beans from Yum Goggle
Homemade Giardiniera from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Hot & Spicy Refrigerator Turnip Pickles from Savory Moments
Easy Zucchini Refrigerator Pickles (Dill) from Simple and Savory
Spicy Quick Pickles from The Beard and the Baker
Easy Rosemary and Garlic Pickled Cherry Tomatoes from That Recipe
Quick Pickled Red Onions from Savory Moments
Pickled Ramps from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Quick Pickled Radishes from Savory Moments
Deli-style Refrigerator Dill Pickles from Savory Moments
Sweet & Sour Quick Pickled Beets from Faith, Hope, Love, and Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice

 Photo courtesy of Faith, Hope, Love, and Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice.

Fruit Pickles

Fruits can be pickled, too! These are often used in salads, relish trays, alongside of meats, or even in a cocktail. 

Vanilla Pickled Strawberries from Books n' Cooks
Pickled Blueberries from Culinary Adventures with Cam
Pickled Quince from Savory Moments
Pickled Cranberries from Culinary Adventures with Cam
Watermelon Rind Pickles (refrigerator version) from Palatable Pastime

 Photo courtesy of Culinary Adventures with Camilla.

 

I hope you found some inspiration to fill your fridge with some delicious quick pickles this harvest season. Let me know in the comments below.

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This post was originally published in 2019 and has been updated in 2022 to improve reader experience.