Is it possible (and if so, how) to convert a store bought "pickles in vinegar" to "pickles in sweetened vinegar"?
In the past I've bought many pickled cucumbers and other veg, but a few weeks ago I bought pickled 'sandwich' cucumber slices (similar to this) which were in sweetened vinegar and liked them much better; the key thing about these pickles is that they are in "sweet" vinegar rather than normal pickling vinegar which is quite sour.
I would like to know whether it's possible, and if so how I can do it, to take a jar of pickles I've bought in normal (sour, not sweetened) vinegar and sweeten it? Can I just add sugar to the vinegar they are in, in the jar? Will that have any effect? If it would have an effect, how long would I need to leave the sugar in there before eating them?
Best Answer
As far as I'm aware, the difference between 'regular' pickles & 'Jewish' pickles is sugar & dill. [I honestly don't know what makes them Jewish, but my partner grew up in the Jewish community & that's what she calls them, so that's about as much research as I've done ;-)
So - you'd think that adding sugar & dill & leaving them for a while after that would be just fine… except that once opened, those pickles only have a 5-day fridge life. A 'regular' pickle has about 6 weeks, by comparison.
I think your best shot, in that case, would be to over-sugar a bit & see what they're like by tomorrow or the day after. Mainly the sugar will be on the outside. Some fresh dill might just infuse the liquid a bit overnight, but you don't really have the time to experiment much after that before they're no longer safe.
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How do you sweeten store-bought pickles?
Remove pickles from jar. Into that pickle jar pour 1/2 cup of reserved pickle juice, 1/2 cup white vinegar, 3 cups sugar, and pickling spice. Put lid on tightly and give it a good shake. Sugar will not be dissolved but that is okay.Can you add to store-bought pickles?
You can add pretty much any flavor you like. I would stay with one main flavor or a combo of two. If you go strong with too many at once the flavor will just get muddy.Can you make pickles out of store-bought cucumbers?
Yep, every jar of store-bought pickles is also basically a do-it-yourself pickle kit. And if you're like me and are never quite motivated enough to embark on a full-on pickle-all-the-produce effort, this super-simple method of making pickles from leftover pickle brine might be your tipping point.Can I add vinegar to store-bought pickles?
Best Vinegar for Hot Pickles While you can use rice wine vinegar or apple cider, there is no better option than distilled white vinegar. That's because any other type of vinegar will add too much flavor that will take away from the traditional pickle taste.More answers regarding is it possible (and if so, how) to convert a store bought "pickles in vinegar" to "pickles in sweetened vinegar"?
Answer 2
Buy dill pickles with no sugar, cut them up as desired, and put them in a baggie. Add pickling liquid to cover. Then add Splenda and let the pickles sit overnight in the refrigerator. Start with 1 pickle and 1/4 cup of sweetener, and adjust to your liking. Add seasonings as desired, like garlic, onion, red pepper, etc.
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