Dublin Core

Title

Icicle Pickles

Subject

cucumbers

water

salt

alum

cider vinegar

white sugar

pickling spices

Description

Icicle Pickles

2 gal pickles cut lengthwise
1 gal boiling wtr.
1 qt salt
Pour over pickles
Drain, cover with Boiling Wtr. & let stand
24 hrs.
Drain, Cover with Boiling Water to which a
piece of alum size of walnut has been added
Let stand 24 hrs.
Drain, cover with following
2½ qts cider vinegar
3 pts. white sugar
Handful of pickling spices (hot)
Let stand over nite
Drain & reheat syrup - Pour over pickles
each morning for 4 days
Pack in jars last day or leave in crock

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# Icicle Pickles

## Ingredients

- 2 gallons cucumbers, cut lengthwise
- 1 gallon boiling water
- 1 qt salt
- 1 gallon boiling water (second soak)
- 1 piece of alum, size of a walnut
- 2 1/2 qts cider vinegar
- 3 pts white sugar
- Handful of pickling spices (hot)

## Instructions

1. Cut cucumbers lengthwise and place in crock or large container.
2. Combine 1 gallon boiling water and 1 qt salt. Pour over cucumbers.
3. Drain. Cover with boiling water and let stand 24 hours.
4. Drain. Cover with boiling water to which a piece of alum the size of a walnut has been added. Let stand 24 hours.
5. Drain. Combine cider vinegar, white sugar, and pickling spices. Pour over cucumbers. Let stand overnight.
6. Each morning for 4 days: drain the syrup, reheat it, and pour it back over the cucumbers.
7. On the final (4th) day, pack into jars or leave in crock.

## Editor's Notes

- **"piece of alum size of walnut"** — Alum (potassium alum or aluminum sulfate) was historically used as a crisping agent in home pickle recipes. Modern food safety guidance advises against using alum in pickles, as it can cause gastrointestinal distress. The USDA no longer recommends alum in home canning. Readers should be aware of this risk.
- **"pickling spices (hot)"** — The parenthetical "(hot)" most likely refers to hot/spicy pickling spice blend rather than temperature, and is transcribed accordingly.

Creator

Alice Yetka, Martha Yetka

Source

RCA0006 - The Yetka family collection that started the project (eBay)

Date

1950s

Rights

Personal/Family

Format

Typed recipe card

Identifier

RCA0006-20260609-0255

Coverage

Oregon, US