A jar of Butter Pickles and Old-Fashioned Bread has an air of familiarity.

Perhaps it’s the tangy, sweet aroma that permeates the kitchen or the way those crisp cucumber slices elevate an ordinary sandwich. Even those who say they’re “just coming in to see what smells so good” are drawn into the kitchen by handmade pickles, in my opinion.

Old-Fashioned Bread and Butter Pickles — Anti-Inflammatory-Inspired Recipe

These Old-Fashioned Bread and Butter Pickles are crisp, tangy, slightly sweet, and packed with classic pickle flavor. This version adds turmeric, ginger, garlic, and antioxidant-rich spices for an anti-inflammatory-inspired twist while keeping the nostalgic sweet-and-sour character of traditional bread and butter pickles.

Important: Pickles themselves aren’t proven to treat inflammation. The turmeric, ginger, vegetables, and spices can contribute compounds associated with an overall anti-inflammatory eating pattern, but this recipe should be viewed as a flavorful food—not a treatment for inflammation.

🥒 Description

Traditional Old-Fashioned Bread and Butter Pickles are made with thinly sliced cucumbers, onions, vinegar, sugar, mustard seed, and warming spices. The result is a crunchy pickle with a distinctive combination of sweet, sour, salty, and mildly spicy flavors.

This refrigerator version is particularly convenient because you don’t need specialized pressure-canning equipment. Keep the finished pickles refrigerated.

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🌿 Ingredients

For the pickles

• 2 lb (900 g) small pickling cucumbers

• 1 medium yellow or white onion, thinly sliced

• 2 tbsp kosher salt

• 2 cups (480 ml) apple cider vinegar

• ½ cup (120 ml) water

• ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar

• 1 tbsp mustard seeds

• 1 tsp celery seeds

• 1 tsp turmeric

• ½ tsp ground ginger

• ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes, optional

• ½ tsp black peppercorns

• 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

• 1 small cinnamon stick, optional

• 1 bay leaf, optional

Optional anti-inflammatory-inspired additions

• 1–2 tsp freshly grated ginger

• ½ tsp additional turmeric

• A small pinch of freshly ground black pepper

• Fresh dill

• Thinly sliced jalapeño for extra heat

Tip: Black pepper is traditionally paired with turmeric because piperine can increase curcumin absorption, although the amount used in a pickle recipe isn’t intended to provide a therapeutic dose.

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👩‍🍳 How to Make Old-Fashioned Bread and Butter Pickles

1. Prepare the cucumbers

Wash the cucumbers thoroughly and trim off both ends.

Slice them approximately ⅛–¼ inch (3–6 mm) thick.

Thin slices absorb the sweet-and-tangy brine particularly well while still retaining some crunch.

2. Salt the vegetables

Place the sliced cucumbers and onions in a large bowl.

Sprinkle with the kosher salt and gently toss.

Cover and refrigerate for 1–2 hours.

This draws out excess moisture and helps produce that classic pickle texture.

3. Rinse

Drain the cucumbers and onions.

Rinse them thoroughly under cold water to remove excess salt, then drain well.

For especially crisp pickles, pat them gently with a clean kitchen towel.

4. Make the bread-and-butter brine

Add the following to a saucepan:

• Apple cider vinegar

• Water

• Sugar

• Mustard seeds

• Celery seeds

• Turmeric

• Ginger

• Red pepper flakes

• Black peppercorns

• Garlic

• Cinnamon, if using

• Bay leaf, if using

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves.

Don’t aggressively boil the mixture for an extended period.

5. Combine

Place the cucumbers and onions in clean glass jars or a suitable refrigerator-safe container.

Pour the hot brine over the vegetables, making sure they’re well covered.

Leave a little space at the top.

6. Cool and refrigerate

Allow the jars to cool at room temperature until no longer hot.

Cover and refrigerate.

For the best flavor, allow the Old-Fashioned Bread and Butter Pickles to rest for at least 24 hours.

After 2–3 days, the flavors become even more developed.

7. Enjoy

Serve cold and crunchy straight from the refrigerator.

For food safety, keep these refrigerated at all times. This recipe is a refrigerator-pickle recipe, not a shelf-stable canning recipe.

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🥪 Serving Suggestions

These homemade pickles are incredibly versatile.

Classic sandwiches

Serve with:

• Turkey sandwiches

• Roast beef

• Grilled cheese

• Pulled pork

• Chicken salad

• Tuna salad

• Burgers

• Veggie sandwiches

Healthy snack

Pair a few pickle slices with:

• Hummus

• Carrot sticks

• Celery

• Hard-boiled eggs

• Cheese

• Nuts

Salad topping

Chop them finely and add them to:

• Potato salad

• Egg salad

• Tuna salad

• Chicken salad

• Coleslaw

• Green salads

Pickle relish

Finely chop the pickles and mix with a little mustard for a quick homemade relish.

Charcuterie board

Add them alongside cheese, olives, vegetables, nuts, and whole-grain crackers.

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🌱 Variations

Low-Sugar Bread and Butter Pickles

Reduce the sugar to ½ cup for a less-sweet pickle.

Keep in mind that changing ingredients can affect the flavor and texture, so don’t assume a modified recipe is suitable for shelf-stable canning.

Spicy Bread and Butter Pickles

Add:

• 1 sliced jalapeño

• ½–1 tsp red pepper flakes

• A pinch of cayenne

Garlic Bread and Butter Pickles

Increase the garlic to 4–5 cloves for a stronger savory flavor.

Turmeric Ginger Pickles

For the most pronounced anti-inflammatory-inspired flavor, use:

• 1½ tsp turmeric

• 1 tbsp fresh grated ginger

• Black pepper

• Garlic

The turmeric will give the brine a beautiful golden color.

Dill Bread and Butter Pickles

Add several sprigs of fresh dill for a flavor that falls somewhere between classic bread-and-butter and dill pickles.

No-Added-Sugar Version

You can experiment with a sugar substitute designed for cooking, but expect the flavor and texture to differ significantly from traditional Old-Fashioned Bread and Butter Pickles.

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🥗 Nutrition

Approximate nutrition per ¼-cup serving, assuming some of the brine sugar remains in the finished pickles:

Actual values vary considerably depending on how much salt and sweetened brine are consumed.

For a more heart-healthy version

You can reduce the portion size and choose lower-sodium meals elsewhere in the day. If you’re following a medically prescribed low-sodium diet, check the nutrition of your particular recipe carefully.

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🧡 Are Old-Fashioned Bread and Butter Pickles Anti-Inflammatory?

They’re better described as an anti-inflammatory-inspired food rather than an “anti-inflammatory treatment.”

The recipe contains ingredients such as:

• Turmeric — provides curcuminoids.

• Ginger — contains bioactive compounds such as gingerols.

• Garlic — provides sulfur-containing compounds.

• Cucumbers and onions — contribute plant nutrients.

• Vinegar — provides acidity and contributes the characteristic pickle flavor.

However, the recipe also contains added sugar and potentially substantial sodium. Therefore, eating pickles doesn’t automatically make a diet anti-inflammatory.

A broader eating pattern rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and other minimally processed foods is a more meaningful approach to supporting overall health.

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❓ Related Questions

Are bread and butter pickles fermented?

Usually, no. Traditional bread and butter pickles are generally made by soaking cucumbers in an acidified vinegar brine rather than relying on natural fermentation.

Do bread and butter pickles contain probiotics?

Not necessarily. Because traditional vinegar pickles aren’t fermented, you shouldn’t assume they contain live probiotic cultures.

How long do homemade bread and butter pickles last?

For this refrigerator recipe, keep them continuously refrigerated and use clean utensils when serving. For the best quality, consume them within a few weeks and discard them if you notice mold, unusual odors, bulging containers, or other signs of spoilage.

Can I can this recipe for long-term storage?

Don’t use this refrigerator recipe as a shelf-stable canning recipe. Canning requires a properly tested recipe with validated acidity, processing time, jar size, and ingredient proportions. For shelf-stable Old-Fashioned Bread and Butter Pickles, use a tested home-canning recipe from a reputable food-preservation authority rather than modifying a refrigerator recipe.

Why are they called bread and butter pickles?

The name is traditionally associated with the sweet-and-sour cucumber pickle style and its historical connection with simple meals involving bread and butter. They aren’t made with actual butter.

How do I keep bread and butter pickles crunchy?

Use fresh, firm pickling cucumbers, don’t overcook them, slice them evenly, salt them before pickling, and refrigerate them promptly.

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⭐ Final Thoughts

These Old-Fashioned Bread and Butter Pickles are a delicious way to preserve the classic combination of crunchy cucumbers, sweet vinegar, mustard seed, onion, turmeric, ginger, and garlic.