When are cornichons ready to be pickled?

When are cornichons ready to be pickled? - Fit runner standing on racetrack in athletics arena

For the first time, I'm growing my own cornichon for pickling, but don't know the best time to pick them. Most recipes suggest they are ready when the fruit is about the size of your little finger - fair enough, but the fruit seems to go through two stages - small with a downy covering, then as they ripen they get a hard prickly skin. Both stages happen at the 'little finger' size - so which do I want...soft & fuzzy or hard & prickly?



Best Answer

Since most folks like to pickle these whole, harvesting these before the skin becomes too prickly seems like the best course. I read a number of seed instructions and some recipes as well and that seems to match up with their advice. The pickled cornichons will turn out crisper with more tartness if they're harvested before full maturity.

They can still the harvested and used as slicers if they get larger. The thick and prickly skin is less bothersome once they are cut up.




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How do you pickle cornichons?

In a medium, nonreactive saucepan over medium-high heat, bring vinegar, water, and remaining 2 tablespoons of salt to a boil. Divide onion, garlic, dill, peppercorns, cloves, and bay leaves between the 2 sterilized jars. Pack cucumbers into the jars, leaving 1/2-inch of headspace.

How do you know when to pick gherkins?

How to Know When a Cucumber Is Ready to Be Harvested
  • If you are harvesting pickling cucumbers to make sweet pickles or gherkins, harvest them when they are about two inches long. ...
  • Most slicing cucumbers for fresh eating should be harvested when they are seven to nine inches long and have a dark green color.


  • How long do I process quart jars for pickles?

    Process the pickle jars That's 10 minutes for pint jars, 15 minutes for quart jars. Set your timer as soon as you see the water start boiling.



    How to grow and Harvest Pickling Cucumbers




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    Images: Andrea Piacquadio, João Vítor Heinrichs, Pixabay, RF._.studio