Can you substitute honey for sugar in a pickling brine?
That's about it. I want to make some vinegar pickles (from the Momofuku cookbook, if it matters). My partner is on a diet that forbids refined sugar but allows honey. Will honey work for this purpose?
Best Answer
Sugar is not critical to the pickling process - it exists primarily as a flavorant.
Pickling preservation requires one of two methods - either immersion in vinegar of a sufficiently low pH to kill off unwanted bacteria, or through natural fermentation with probiotic strains of bacteria.
Honey is known to have antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. When using natural fermentation, one might think that there may be a risk that the added honey will kill off probiotic bacteria before they establish a stable population, allowing other unsavory bacteria to grow. However, most brine-based recipes already include known antimicrobial herbs such as mustard seeds, garlic, cinnamon, or cloves. Honey shouldn't be any different than the addition of these spices.
When using vinegar to pickle, there is no reason to be concerned about adding honey.
Regardless, it is important to note that honey will have a distinctly different flavor profile from pure sugar. Perhaps try it in a small batch before committing to "large scale" production.
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Quick Answer about "Can you substitute honey for sugar in a pickling brine?"
Honey can be substituted in pickling recipes as well. Remember honey is much sweeter so adjust your recipe. 3/4 cup honey = 1 cup sugar.Can you substitute honey for sugar in a brine?
Perhaps try it in a small batch before committing to "large scale" production. I agree with @Isaac on this, the only thing I'd add is that honey won't mix as readily as sugar, you'll want to heat the pickling liquid to dissolve the honey properly.Can you put honey in pickle brine?
To preserve the pickles for longer than one month, add the vinegar and water bath can the pickles. The brine can be reused to make subsequent batches of pickles. After finishing the pickles, stir in another 1 tbsp of honey, then fill the jar with cucumber slices and ferment again.Can you use honey when pickling?
Can you use honey in pickling? Yes, you certainly can. Just remember that honey is much sweeter than granulated sugar. So, you will need to adjust the taste slightly so it's not too sweet.What can I use instead of sugar for pickling?
Sometimes in \u201csugar free\u201d canning recipes, people use ingredients such as honey, agave nectar, corn syrup, maple syrup, etc, instead of sugar.How To Make Pickles Without A Recipe
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