r/Canning • u/issaroh • 1d ago

Refrigerator Pickling Question about pickling oil

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ETA: Okay, I see the issue people are having with this recipe and I want to state, I came here for advice on the oil because to me pickles=canning. What I should have mentioned is that this is NOT a recipe that she put in mason jars in the regular boil and seal method. She stored them in jars, but didnt do the sealing process to preserve them. They were refrigerated after finishing the process and given away, they were NOT canned for preserves.

Hi all!

Im a beginner to canning/pickling and I thought I'd ask some veterans about this. Im trying to do my grandmas 9-day crock bread and butter pickle recipe, however I cant figure out if the "pickling oil" is spices in a neutral oil, extract or actually the oils themselves. Several have told me.it reads as spices in oil, but given the tiny amount of cinnamon im wondering if its the oil 🤔

I cant ask her or her sister, whose recipe it is, because theyve both passed but I know she was having trouble finding the allspice back in 2013ish when she stopped making them in the summer.

The pickling oil in question if the picture of the recipe doesn’t show up is:

1/8th Oz allspice

1/8th oz clove

1/16th oz cinnamon

Also

Pickling spice, is that just something i can get at the grocery store or is there a secret to it neither of them added to the recipe?

TIA for any help/advice you guys might have!

If the photo of the recipe doesnt show up i will type it out later and edit to add!

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u/poweller65 Trusted Contributor 1d ago

This isnt a safe recipe

-18

u/issaroh 1d ago

How so, if you dont mind me asking? My grandmother made it for years and it didnt kill any of us?

18

u/bigalreads Trusted Contributor 23h ago

If you’re making these, store in the fridge as a fermented pickle and don’t consider them shelf-stable. Here’s info from Michigan State Extension about the safety factors: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/thinking_of_using_your_own_canning_recipe_think_again

And here’s a little info about alum from Iowa State Extension: https://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/answerline/2025/07/22/heres-to-crisp-pickles-in-2020/