What Is a Pickled Cucumber?
A pickled cucumber, often just called a “pickle” in the United States, Canada, and Australia, is a cucumber preserved by anaerobic fermentation in salty water called brine, or by marinating in vinegar. The brining process converts sugars into lactic acid, providing a sour taste. Pickled cucumbers have a much longer shelf life than fresh cucumbers. There are many different varieties of pickled cucumber. Pickling spices are added to the brine or vinegar in which pickled cucumbers are marinated in order to add flavor. Sugar may be added as well to make a sweet pickle. Bread-and-butter pickles include more sugar in the brine than other varieties, and the cucumbers used to make them are often sliced before the pickling process. Bread-and-butter pickles are often eaten on sandwiches or hamburgers.
