pickles ? Maximizing the crunch?

[hunterjumper999]

I'm going to can some cucumbers that a friend gave... the problem is he picked them on Friday and they have been on the counter since.

I'd like to firm them up... will brining them help?

they are not SOFT soft, but a little give when i squeeze. I'm going to pickle them in 1/2's.

 

[mrbstephens]

Soak them in ice water for several hours.

 

[ducks4you]

Buy "Pickle Crisp". It's a powder and it comes in packets.

 

[emilosevich]

There are old pickling recipes that use alum and I was told that's what the alum was for. Not sure if this is true just what I was told.

 

[Wifezilla]

Pickling lime
http://www.kitchenkrafts.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_FP0692

 

[rdranch]

We just made some bread and butter pickles yesterday. Since it several days of harvesting to have enough for a batch, they sat in water in the fridge until there was enough.

They were all very firm and crisp when it was time to prepare them. In the past we would process them an hour or less after harvest, but I think they will be getting the cold water bath treatment in the future.

Won't know how well it worked for two weeks. I can hardly wait!

Good Luck!