Pickling Ratio

2022-03-07

Ancestor Formula

This is the formula that I derive from, handed down from my mom, who does these sort of things "by feel" rather than to any kind of specification (because she’s too busy).

Quart jar
1cup white vinegar (not rice wine)
1tbsp salt
vegetables
fill with water

consider a 1c:2c:1tbsp ratio of water/vinegar/salt.

Derived Formula

There’s an excellent guide to pickling ratios which puts a 4% brine at a 1tbsp -> 1cup water ratio. Easy to remember, works for just about everything (as imperial tends to do).

If adding vinegar (not always a great idea, salt brines last longer in the larder), I put in half as much vinegar as water. A ratio like;

1 cup water
1tbsp salt
¹⁄₂ cup vinegar

This is pretty siginifcantly different than the above recipe, which has a roughly 2:1 vinegar/water ratio.