For classic cucumber pickles, grow a pickling cucumber: its thicker skin, firmer, less watery flesh and smaller seeds make it a better fit than a typical salad cucumber. Green beans, peppers, asparagus, carrots, beets and other vegetables can also make good pickles—but choose a recipe designed for both the crop and the preservation method. A refrigerator pickle is not automatically safe for pantry storage.
Which cucumbers are best for homemade pickles?
Choose a variety sold specifically for pickling if cucumber pickles are your priority. University of Maine Cooperative Extension explains that pickling cucumbers generally have thicker skins, less water in the flesh and smaller seeds than fresh-eating varieties—traits that help produce a crunchier pickle. Its advice is simple: “For best results, use fresh pickling cucumbers.” University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s pickle-preserving guidance advises refrigerating harvested cucumbers and using them within 24 hours.
Montana State University Extension lists Kirby, Calypso, Diamant, Eureka, Fancipak and Northern Pickling among suitable types, along with other options such as Gherkin, Mini-English, Alibi and Bush Pickle. These are examples, not a universal ranking: choose a locally adapted variety and follow your regional planting calendar. The same Extension guidance advises against large common salad cucumbers for pickling.
When shopping for pickling cucumber seeds, check that the variety is described as a pickling type, then consider its fit for your garden and the size you want to harvest. Keep the fruit fresh after picking; long delays can work against the crisp texture you are trying to preserve.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
- Package Includes：12 Pack wide mouth mason jars 32 oz with airtight lids and band.The side of the jar ends with "24 oz" and the remaining space between the end of the mark scale and the lid is "8 oz"
- Thick Glass：These jars are made of thick glass that is not easy to break, making them an ideal choice for lasting use
- Seals Tight：These 12 premium mason jars 32 oz come with airtight lids that are guaranteed to keep your creations sealed and fresh. Ideal for kitchens, restaurants and more
- MULTI PURPOSE：This 12 pack Mason jars are for anything from canning to fermenting to pickling! Get creative with meal prep, overnight oats, and even use as centerpieces
- Long-Lasting：Get 12 32 oz canning jars in 1 pack for the housewarming present. Look great on any countertop or tabletop,Glass materials ensure maximum satisfaction
What other garden vegetables can you pickle?
Several crops have a clear recipe or quality fit. Grow the vegetables you actually want to eat, and match them to a tested recipe before preserving a batch for pantry storage.
| Crop | Useful direction | Recipe or source support |
|---|---|---|
| Green beans | Pick young, tender beans; Montana State names Blue Lake, Kentucky Wonder, Contender, Derby, Green Crop and Harvester as examples. | The National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP) includes a dilled-beans recipe in its pickling collection. |
| Peppers | Any type can be pickled, but firm, thick-fleshed peppers with glossy color are recommended for quality. Examples include Cubanelle, Hungarian Wax, sweet cherry, sweet banana, sweet bell, jalapeño and ghost pepper. | NCHFP includes pickled bell peppers and pepper-onion relish recipes. |
| Asparagus | Most asparagus varieties lend themselves to pickling. | Refrigerator-pickle guidance also includes asparagus; use a tested canning recipe if you want shelf-stable jars. |
| Carrots and beets | Harvest firm produce suited to the recipe, such as baby carrots for a recipe that specifies them. | NCHFP includes pickled baby carrots and pickled beets. |
| Sugar peas | Montana State Extension notes that sugar peas can be pickled with pleasing results. | Use a recipe that specifically covers peas and the method you intend to use. |
For other vegetables—including onions, cauliflower, parsnips, radishes and pea pods—quick refrigerator-pickle recipes offer another way to use a harvest. A University of California Cooperative Extension handout includes these crops among refrigerator-pickle candidates. Its guidance says to refrigerate the pickles, allow 1–2 days for flavor to develop and use them within 2–6 weeks. Those are refrigerated-storage instructions, not a shelf-stable canning process.
Rank #2
- Included bands and lids create an airtight seal for up to a year of preserving
- Wide mouth design is ideal for whole fruits and vegetables
- Completely BPA-free construction
- Freezer and refrigerator safe for long-term food storage
- Dishwasher safe for easy cleanup
How to choose crops for your pickle style
- Whole or spear cucumber pickles: Start with a purpose-bred pickling cucumber for the texture advantage. Harvest fruit at the size specified by your recipe.
- Relish: Peppers and onions have a tested-recipe option in NCHFP’s pepper-onion relish. Use the recipe’s stated ingredients and proportions.
- Dilled vegetables: Green beans have a named dilled-beans recipe in NCHFP’s collection. Select fresh beans and follow that recipe rather than adapting a cucumber formula.
- Quick refrigerator pickles: Cucumbers, onions, peppers, carrots, cauliflower, asparagus, parsnips, radishes and pea pods are among the suggested choices in the UC Cooperative Extension handout. Keep these refrigerated and observe its storage guidance.
- Other vegetables or mixed batches: Find a recipe that explicitly covers the crop and the preservation method before you plant or harvest a large quantity for pickling.
Why the recipe determines whether pickles can be stored in the pantry
Vegetable choice is only one part of a safe preserved pickle. For shelf-stable canning, use a current tested recipe that covers the crop and method. NCHFP warns that acidity matters to safety as well as flavor and texture. In a mixed product, the acid level must be uniform throughout; do not change the proportions of vinegar, food or water, and do not use vinegar with unknown acidity. Its General Information on Pickling page was adapted from USDA Agriculture Information Bulletin No. 539, revised 2015, and reviewed in February 2018.
Do not convert a refrigerator-pickle recipe into a canning recipe by guessing at processing steps or ingredients. If a recipe is intended for the refrigerator, keep the finished pickles refrigerated; for pantry storage, choose a tested canning recipe and follow it as written.
Rank #3
- Wide-Mouth Glass Mason Jars, 32-Ounce (2-Pack) Glass Canning Jars with Silver Metal Airtight Lids and Bands, for Canning, Preserving, Meal Prep, Overnight Oats, Jam, Jelly,
- VERSATILE - This is the best wide mouth mason jar for fermenting or canning pickles, tomatoes, sauerkraut, salmon, kidney beans, and pumpkin in the comfort of your home. Save money and live healthy by knowing what is in your food! Great as candle jars, wedding party favors or rustic farm decor.
- QUALITY CRAFTED GLASS - Long lasting with upgraded soda-lime glass that is both food grade and lead-free. Each glass jar is textured in smooth hobnail fashion. Easy to grip but also brilliantly clear to show off the vibrant colors of the contents inside.
- AIRTIGHT & LEAKPROOF - These superior glass jars with lids are self-sealing for airtight and leakproof kitchen storage. The metal lid is lined with plastisol to help avoid rust and decay. Food contained will last longer and taste fresher.
- WIDE MOUTH - The wide mouth of the pickle jar ensures that it is effortless to fill and refill. Can be used to house fairy lights or double as drinking glasses.
Harvest timing and garden planning
Plan to process produce soon after harvest for the best quality. University of Maine Cooperative Extension advises using fresh pickling cucumbers within 24 hours, and the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension advises pickling produce within 24 hours of harvest for highest quality. These are quality-focused timing recommendations, not a substitute for recipe-specific preparation or safe processing.
There is no climate-independent “best” variety across all gardens. Use local planting guidance to choose varieties suited to your growing conditions, and grow a crop in quantities that match the recipes and storage method you intend to use.
Quick Recap
Best Value
![SEWANTA Wide Mouth Mason Jars 32 oz [4 Pack] With Mason Jar Lids and Bands, Mason Jars 32 oz - For Canning, Fermenting, Pickling - Jar Decor - Microwave/Dishwasher Safe.](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/4107pM2hYKL._SL160_.jpg)
- 4 PACK MASON JARS 32 OZ WIDE MOUTH: Perfect for canning, pickling, preserving, and fermenting fruits and veggies that can be canned and sealed for up to 18 Months. Embossed measurement markings for precise filling. Label line for writing dates and identifying contents.
- DURABLE GLASS CONSTRUCTION: Made in America soda-lime glass, USDA approved and,Toxin-free ensuring food grade quality. Heat-tempered durability for water bath canning, microwave and dishwasher safe; clear glass jars for easy visibility; wide mouth canning jars for easy filling and washing.
- AIRTIGHT SEAL:Time-tested sealing compound, ensures a quality air-tight seal with each lid. Refrigerate up to 3 weeks, for freeze capacity Fill up till 12 oz - canning jars: fresh preserve and store up to 1 year; lid and bands allows you to test with dull sounds for best seal.
- FOOD PRESENTATION AND DIY: Make and serve beverage drinks, cocktails, smoothies, parfaits, desserts, salads, and overnight oats. MASON JAR DECOR: Decor and craft with a vintage style jar for parties and displayed centerpieces, or as a unique gift. Spruce up décor arrangements with acrylic paint, flowers, candle jars, etc.
- MASON JARS: It has been around since the early 1900's and is the most recognized name in home canning, representing everything you could want in a Mason jar with old-school American-made sturdy glass, supporting USA jobs!
Rank #4
- 🍊6-PACK MASON JARS: Our canning jars are equipped with metal lids and bands, which is perfect for canning, pickling, preserving and fermenting fruits and veggies. Embossed measurement markings & wide mouth ensure easy and precise filling.
- 🍊HIGH QUALITY GLASS JARS: Our mason jars 16 oz are made of BPA-free, toxic-free and lead-free glass, which ensures the food-grade quality. Durable clear glass for easy visibility & long time use. Heat-tempered material for microwave (without lids and bands), refrigerator (under the freezing-fill line) and dishwasher safe.
- 🍊AIRTIGHT & LEAKPROOF SEAL: Each jar's lid is equipped with a silicone liner which ensures the time-tested airtight sealing. Our wide mouth mason jars perform well no matter working as canning jars, pickle jars, pickling jars, jelly jars, or jam jars etc.
- 🍊VERSATILE WIDE MOUTH JARS: mason jars wide mouth are suitable for storing all kinds of foods, such as pickles, jams, jellies, overnight oats, spices and so on. With embossed decoration fruits on, these glass jars also work as overnight oats containers with lids, DIY projects, home decoration and unique gifts with string and ribbons.
- 🍊CUSTOMER SATISFACTION GUARANTEE: Our canning jars wide mouth are securely packed in layers of styrofoam and heavy cardboard, to make sure that these canning jars your get are all in best condition. If any glass jars your received are cracked or broken, please feel free to contact us. We will provide a satisfying solution for you.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
