In addition to creating a tasty treat, making cowboy candy is a fantastic way to preserve fresh jalapeños from the garden. Our candied jalapeños recipe is great for canning and long-term storage, or simply stick them in the refrigerator to enjoy over several months. Our jalapeno plants are so prolific this summer, we‘ve been able to make several batches to share with family and friends! A jar of cowboy candy makes the perfect little DIY holiday gift. 

Looking for other ways to preserve peppers? Try our sweet and spicy fermented hot sauce, homemade chili powder, or easy refrigerator pickled peppers! Get tips on growing your own peppers here.

What is cowboy candy?

Cowboy candy is a fun name for candied jalapeños, also sometimes called sweet pickled jalapeños. Fresh jalapeños are cut into rings and preserved in a tangy syrup made of vinegar, sugar, and spices. Our cowboy candy recipe is made with apple cider vinegar and part brown sugar, giving it wonderful depth and more complex flavors than white vinegar and white sugar alone. Plus, we always love a recipe where we can use our homegrown turmeric powder and garlic powder! The result is a mildly spicy and sweet pepper creation, with flavors akin to pepper jelly. 

Is cowboy candy spicy hot?

Yes, cowboy candy can be moderately spicy. Even though candied jalapeños are “pickled” in a sweet syrup, the heat from the peppers does shine through! However, I don’t find cowboy candy to be unpleasantly or uncomfortably hot at all. Especially when paired with other food (helloooo cream cheese!) candied jalapeños offer the perfect little kick of heat. Truth be told, I’m not usually a fan of spicy things… but I absolutely love this cowboy candy recipe. 

Also, you can make cowboy candy less spicy by coring the peppers to remove the inner membrane and seeds. (The majority of the heat resides in the inner white membrane or ribs of jalapeños peppers, not the seeds). I usually core at least some of our peppers when we make candied jalapeños. Simply cut off the top stem, run a small knife around the upper inside portion of the pepper, and pop/tap the innards out. 

Another way to tone down the heat is to add some mild or sweeter peppers to your cowboy candy, such as banana peppers or small bell peppers. 

Can I use other peppers to make cowboy candy?

Jalapeños are honestly the best peppers for this cowboy candy recipe. They offer the absolute perfect combination of thick flesh and medium-warm heat. You can even use green AND red jalapeños to make extra colorful, flavorful cowboy candy! Or, add a few hotter varieties of peppers into the mix to make it extra spicy. 

However, it is possible to make cowboy candy with other types of peppers, such as banana peppers, Hungarian wax peppers, or serrano peppers that are equally thick-walled. To achieve a similar flavor as candied jalapeños, you may want to add ½ to 1 tsp of chili powder and/or a few spicy peppers when using milder varieties. 

Ingredients for Candied Jalapeños

This cowboy candy recipe makes approximately 2 pint jars or 4 half pints. 

• 2 pounds of fresh jalapeños (about 20-25 large jalapeño peppers)
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1.5 cups apple cider vinegar (5% acidity, especially if canning)
• 1 tsp garlic powder (or 2 tsp granulated garlic)
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• ½ tsp sea salt or pickling salt (not iodized table salt)
• ¼ tsp ground ginger powder
• Optional: up to 1 tsp red chili flakes (or up to 1/2 tsp of chili powder) if you like your cowboy candy extra spicy! I don’t usually add any however.

TIP: For the best results, use the freshest, firmest jalapeños possible.

Here’s a quick video tutorial on making candied jalapeños

Instructions

IMPORTANT: Use caution when working with jalapeños! I recommend to wear gloves during prep, and be very careful not to touch your face or eyes.

If you intend to can your cowboy candy, get all your canning supplies ready in advance, including heating up your hot bath canning pot. There is no need to sterilize the canning jars first since they’ll be processed for over 10 minutes, but it’s still best to heat the jars before adding hot contents.

1. Start by washing the fresh jalapeños, and trim off the stem end.
   
   
2. Optional: To make cowboy candy less spicy, you can core or partially core the peppers to remove some of the inner membrane and seeds
   
   
3. Cut the jalapeños into ¼” round slices. I find this easiest to do with a small serrated knife, though you could also use a mandolin slicer if available.
   
   
4. On the stovetop, combine the apple cider vinegar, sugars, and seasonings in a large non-reactive pot. Simmer the syrup ingredients on medium high heat until all of the ingredients combine, about 5 minutes. Keep a watchful eye and stir regularly, as the syrup tends to bubble up and rise.
   
   
5. Add the sliced jalapeños to the syrup mixture, bring to a boil, and then reduce to simmer for 5 minutes. Stir occasionally.
   

Instructions continued

6. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, transfer the cooked jalapeno rings into clean jars, leaving the syrup behind in the pot. Fill the jars almost full (leaving at least ½” of head space) and lightly packed. A canning funnel helps make the job much easier!
   
   
7. Return the syrup to a boil and then simmer to reduce for about 8 to 10 minutes.
   
   
8. Ladle the hot cowboy candy syrup into the jars over the jalapeno rings, leaving ½ inch to ¼ inch of head room in the jar. You may have some leftover syrup – see ideas of how to use it below!
   
   
9. See instructions below for canning, or to continue without canning. 
   
   
10.  For the most flavorful results, wait to consume your homemade cowboy candy for at least one week if using the refrigerator method, or at least 3 to 4 weeks after canning. The resting time allows the jalapeños to soak up that delicious syrup and spices! If the seasonings settle to the bottom of the jar, shake the jar lightly before use.

Instructions for Canning Cowboy Candy

To can cowboy candy, process as follows:

• After filling the jars with candied jalapeños and syrup (leaving ½ inch to ¼” of head space), remove air bubbles from the packed jars with a canning bubble tool, chopstick, or clean butter knife.
  

• Wipe the rim of the jars with a damp paper towel or clean cloth. A clean rim is essential for a good seal!
  

• Place fresh canning lids centered on the jars, and then add jar rings. Lightly tighten the jar rings to fingertip-tight.
  
  
• Using a jar lifter or canning tongs, carefully transfer the jars of candied jalapeños into a ready and boiling hot bath canner. The jars should be covered by at least 1 to 2 inches of water, and be resting on a canning rack (not directly on the bottom of the pot)
  
  
• Return to a boil, and then process cowboy candy for 10 minutes for half pints or 15 minutes for pints. See chart below to adjust for elevation.
  
  
• Remove the jars from the canning pot onto a cooling rack, and allow to sit undisturbed for 12 to 24 hours before checking the seals. Do not press down on the lids or tighten the rings after removing from the water bath.
  
  
• Store canned cowboy candy at room temperature in a cool dark place (e.g. pantry, cupboard, basement or root cellar). Refrigerate after opening and use within 3 months. See notes below for more shelf life information. 

How to make cowboy candy without canning

To make candied jalapeños without canning, simply follow the recipe above but refrigerate the jars instead of canning them. After adding hot syrup to the jars of peppers, allow everything to cool slightly. Then add lids and move the jars to the refrigerator for storage. For optimum flavor, let the cowboy candy sit for at least a week to soak up the syrup and seasonings before trying it! (Though I can never resist…) Maintain refrigerated at all times.

How long does cowboy candy last? 

When canned and stored properly (in a cool dark location), cowboy candy will stay good for a year or longer when sealed and stored at room temperature. Technically, it should be good for a couple years, though the quality will start to decline with time. Consume within one year for the best results. Once the jar is open, store canned cowboy candy in the refrigerator and use within 2 to 3 months. 

If you choose not to can your cowboy candy, store unprocessed jars of candied jalapeños in the refrigerator at all times. Thanks to the acidity of the vinegar and sugar, cowboy candy should stay good for 2 to 3 months in the fridge without canning (maybe longer). You can also freeze candied jalapeños for up to 6 months as long as you store them in freezer-safe containers!

Discard if mold or off odors develop. 

Best Ways to Eat Cowboy Candy (Candied Jalapeños) 

One of the best flavor combinations is cowboy candy with cream cheese. Together, they offer a drool-worthy balance of spicy, sweet, creamy and cool. (Think jalapeño poppers.) However, there are SO many delicious ways to enjoy your homemade cowboy candy. Here are some of the best ways to use candied jalapeños:

• With cream cheese on crackers
• On a slice of sourdough toast or bagel with cream cheese
• On salads, sandwiches, burgers, or veggies burgers – including tucked inside a grilled cheese sandwich with a side of homemade roasted tomato soup. YUM!
• As a condiment with Mexican dishes such as tacos, nachos, tostados, burritos or enchiladas 
• As a pizza topping, or on top of sourdough focaccia (especially paired with cheese!) 
• Chopped up and mixed into egg salad, tuna salad, potato salad, or pasta salad
• On top of a twice-baked potato, 7 layer drip, or bowl of chili
• With scrambled eggs, frittata, quiche, or deviled eggs
• Added to cornbread batter, including our popular sourdough cornbread recipe
• Spooned over brie or other soft cheeses, much like you’d enjoy pepper jelly 

What to do with the leftover syrup from candied jalapeños?

If you have leftover cowboy candy syrup, don’t let it go to waste! Store extra syrup in the fridge in a sealed container for up to two months. Like candied jalapeños, the syrup is versatile and pairs quite well with a wide variety of tasty treats:

• Add a drizzle to spice up bloody mary’s, other cocktails, mocktails, or even in sparkling water. 
• Use as brine to quick pickle other vegetables, such as sliced carrots or fresh green beans. 
• Mix leftover cowboy candy syrup with olive oil and optional herbs to make sweet and spicy homemade salad dressing.
• Add a splash to egg salad, coleslaw, deviled eggs, potato salad, pasta salad, or dishes that would welcome a zesty tang.
• Mix a little leftover syrup into mayonnaise for sandwiches, or into ketchup to enjoy with burgers, french fries, or other potatoes. Heck, you can even mix it into barbeque sauce!
• In marinades for meat, fish, or vegetables.

And that’s how to make cowboy candy.

I really hope you love this candied jalapeños recipe just as much as we do. I’ve been eating them daily and am about to make another batch this week! Please leave a review or rating below, and spread the spicy sweet love by sharing this post. Also feel free to ask any questions you may have in the comments. Otherwise, have fun making sweet pickled jalapeños! Thank you for tuning in today.

You may also enjoy:

• Sweet & Spicy Pepper Fermented Hot Sauce Recipe
• Quick & Easy Refrigerator Pickled Peppers Recipe
• Easy Low Sugar Peach Jam Without Pectin (Canning or Freeze)
• Quick Pickled Dilly Green Beans (Refrigerator or Canning)
• Fermented Pickles Recipe: How to Make Crunchy Brined Cucumber Pickles
• How to Make Homemade Chili Powder in 4 Simple Steps (Dried Chili Peppers)

Print

Best Cowboy Candy Recipe (Candied Jalapeños) Canning or Refrigerator

Come learn how to make candied jalapeños aka cowboy candy. They're spicy, sweet, tangy and delicious! This easy cowboy candy recipe is perfect for canning or refrigerator storage.

Course Appetizer, Condiment, Party Food, Preserved Food, Preserves, Side Dish, Snack

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Processing time (half pints) 10 minutes minutes

Servings 4 half pint jars

Ingredients

• 2 pounds fresh jalapeños (about 20-25 large jalapeño peppers)
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1.5 cups apple cider vinegar (5% acidity for canning)
• 1 tsp garlic powder (2 tsp granulated garlic)
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp sea salt or pickling salt (not iodized table salt)
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger powder
• Optional: up to 1 tsp red chili flakes (or up to 1/2 tsp of chili powder) if you like your cowboy candy extra spicy! I don’t usually add any however.

Instructions

• IMPORTANT: Use caution when working with jalapeños! I recommend to wear gloves during prep, and be very careful not to touch your face or eyes.
• Wash the jalapeños, and trim off the stem end. Optional: To make cowboy candy less spicy, you can core or partially core the peppers to remove some of the inner membrane and seeds
• Cut the jalapeños into ¼” round slices.
• On the stovetop, combine the apple cider vinegar, sugars, and seasonings in a large non-reactive pot. Simmer the syrup ingredients on medium high heat until all of the ingredients combine, about 5 minutes. Keep a watchful eye and stir regularly, as the syrup tends to bubble up.
• Add the sliced jalapeños to the syrup mixture, bring to a boil, and then reduce to simmer for 5 minutes. Stir occasionally.
• Using a slotted spoon or tongs, transfer the cooked jalapeno rings into clean jars, leaving the syrup behind in the pot. Fill the jars almost full (leaving at least ½” of head space) and lightly packed.
• Return the syrup to a boil and then simmer to reduce for about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Ladle the hot cowboy candy syrup into the jars over the jalapeno rings, leaving ½ inch to ¼ inch of head room in the jar.
• See instructions below for canning, or simply refrigerate the jars once cooled and use within 3 months.
• For the most flavorful results, wait to consume your homemade cowboy candy for at least one week if using the refrigerator method, or at least 3 to 4 weeks after canning.

Canning Instructions

• After filling, remove air bubbles from the packed jars.
• Wipe the rim of the jars with a damp paper towel or clean cloth.
• Place fresh canning lids centered on the jars, and then add jar rings. Lightly tighten the jar rings to fingertip-tight.
• Carefully transfer the jars of candied jalapeños into a ready and boiling hot bath canner. The jars should be covered by at least 1 to 2 inches of water, and be resting on a canning rack (not directly on the bottom of the pot).
• Return to a boil, and then process cowboy candy for 10 minutes for half pints or 15 minutes for pints. Add 5 more minutes if between 1000-6000 ft elevation, and 10 minutes if over 6000 ft.
• Store canned cowboy candy at room temperature in a cool dark place (e.g. pantry, cupboard, basement or root cellar). Refrigerate after opening and use within 3 months.

The post Best Cowboy Candy Recipe (Candied Jalapeños) Canning or Refrigerator  appeared first on Homestead and Chill.

This tutorial will walk you through all the supplies and step-by-step process to build a wire berry trellis – photos and video included. We used wood along with metal fence t-posts for our berry trellis design, though I’ll also provide alternate options if you’d like to bury wood posts in the ground instead. Last but not least, we’ll briefly cover how to train and prune raspberries and blackberries too!

The Benefits of Trellising Raspberries and Blackberries

Some gardeners may wonder, do blackberries and raspberries need a trellis? While not required, a berry trellis will help keep raspberry and blackberry vines more tidy, manageable, easier to prune and harvest. So, I highly recommend growing these berries on a trellis system!

Blackberries and raspberries are both considered caneberries – where they grow long canes or vines from a crown just below the soil. If left to grow without support or some type of trellis system, blackberry and raspberry vines will naturally flop and sprawl all over. Blackberries in particular will turn into big brambling bushes. If you’re growing thorny caneberry varieties, that can make them even more difficult to access, maintain, or harvest fruit from.

Best Blackberry or Raspberry Trellis Height and Dimensions

Most raspberry canes grow at least 5 feet tall, and blackberry vines grow even taller! So, it’s best to build a berry trellis that is about 5 or 6 feet tall. Also plan to build your berry trellis about a foot wider than the garden bed or berry patch where they’re growing. 

Our berry trellis design has four horizontal wire supports that run the length of the berry patch (two on each side). The lowest wire is about 3 feet above the soil level, with the upper wire at 5 feet tall. This way, you can tuck the blackberry or raspberry vines up between the rows of wire as they grow taller. See photo below.

If you happen to be growing shorter varieties of raspberries, consider lowering the horizontal supports and wires slightly from our design (e.g. the lower one at 2 or 2.5 above the ground, and the highest one at 4 feet tall).

Now, let’s go build a berry trellis, shall we? Here is the video tutorial, with the supplies list, written instructions and more photos below.

Supplies Needed

• Two vertical wood posts (one on each end) such as 2×4’s or 4×4’s. They should be tall enough to extend 5 to 6 feet above the soil level once installed. Plan accordingly if you’re growing in raised beds, or want to bury the posts in the ground (e.g. start with 8 foot posts and bury 2 feet).
  
  
• Four horizontal supports (two per end) such as 2x2s or 2x4s. We used this rough cut 2×2 redwood lumber. The top bar should be about a foot wider than your berry bed, and the lower bar about 6” narrower than the top. For example, our berry beds are 24” wide, so the tap bars are 36” wide and the bottom bars are 30”.
  
  
• Screws, to connect the horizontal bars to the main wood posts. We used 2.5-inch exterior wood screws in our berry trellis design.
  

• Hooks (4 per end, or 8 total per trellis) to connect the wire to the horizontal bars. We used screw eye hooks like these.
  
  
• Wire (10 to 12 gauge is best), durable twine, or woven wire rope/cable. We used 1/16” gauge galvanized steel wire cable, which requires a few extra supplies (list below). To determine the length of wire needed, figure out how far apart your trellis ends will be, and then multiply by four. There will be two lines of wire running the length of your berry bed on each side.
  
  
• Optional: wood glue, to strengthen connection between post and horizontal bars
  

• Optional: Turnbuckle tension tighteners, so you can tighten or even completely unhook the berry trellis wire as needed. You could put a turnbuckle at each end of every wire (8 per trellis); we chose to add them at just one end of each wire (4 per trellis).
  
  
• Drill and saw as needed
  
  
• Reusable soft garden wire ties
  

Berry trellis wire kits

Looking for berry trellis supplies? This handy wire trellis kit comes with 50 feet of stainless steel wire cable, 8 ferrules, 4 hooks, and 2 turnbuckles. (To follow our berry trellis design you’d still need to get 4 additional hooks and 2 more turnbuckles). Or, this larger trellis kit includes 100 feet of wire, 14 ferrules, 10 hooks, and 5 turnbuckles – everything you’d need to build a berry trellis!

Supplies for T-Post Option

If you’d like to make your DIY berry trellis with fence t-posts like we did, you’ll need:

• One 6 foot t-post at each end of the trellis. 
• A post driver is really helpful to set them in the ground. 
• You’ll also need these vertical t-post brackets and screws to connect the wood post to the t-post (also available in 6 packs). We used 1.25″ wood screws to secure the 2×4’s to the brackets.
• Two adjustable 5-inch pipe hose clamps (one for the bottom of each trellis end) – which will fit around the t-post and 2×4”. You’ll need a larger pipe clamp if using larger wood.

Supplies for Wire Cable

• 1/16” gauge woven wire cable
• 1/16” aluminum ferrules (aka double barrel loop sleeves) are required to connect and secure the 1/16” wire cable in a loop at each end of the trellis (4 per side, or 8 total per trellis)
• A swaging tool or crimping tool like this allows you to crimp the ferrules onto the wire cable. No, you can’t pinch them with regular pliers – we’ve tried!
• Good wire cable cutters make nice clean cuts – which prevents the rope from fraying, making it easier to insert into the ferrules
• OR, pick up something like this well rated 2-in-1 crimping tool that cuts wire cable AND crimps ferrules 

Notes for Using 4×4’s vs T-Posts

We chose to use metal fence t-posts to support the ends of our berry trellis. They’re sturdy, easy to install, and we also had a few leftover from another project. Even more, wanted to minimize digging around the berry beds because we installed hardware cloth on the ground below/around all the beds for gopher prevention. The wood posts we connected to t-posts do not go down in the ground.

To set 4×4 posts in the ground instead, plan to dig it at least two feet into the ground, and pack gravel, soil, and/or concrete firmly around it. Or, we often use these cinder block piers to help securely set wood posts in our loose sandy soil. 

Because we used metal fence t-post in our DIY berry trellis design, we built the trellis end wood supports on our patio first, and then attached them to the t-posts mostly assembled. However, if you’re going to set 4×4 posts in the ground, you may want to do that first and then connect the horizontal bars, hooks, wires, etc. 

Instructions to Build a DIY Berry Trellis: T-Posts, Wood, and Wire

Step 1: Build Berry Trellis Ends

• Cut your wood to the dimensions needed for your berry bed. 
• Use wood glue and screws to attach the two smaller horizontal wood pieces to the main vertical wood support. We squeezed a bit of wood glue between the wood, drilled pilot holes, then added 2 screws each.
• Again, the top horizontal bar should be about 5 feet above the soil level, and the lower horizontal bar about 2 feet below that (or 3 feet above the ground) to trellis tall raspberry or blackberry vines. *Reduce height by a foot each for shorter raspberry varieties.*
• Flip the trellis over, and add 1 eye hook to each end of the horizontal pieces, for a total of 4 hooks. (Pilot hole also recommended here)
• Repeat the process for the second side of the berry trellis. 

Step 2:  Install T-Posts and Ends

• Use a post driver to install a metal t-post at each end of your berry bed. Try to keep it as straight as possible. (OR, bury 4×4 posts at each end of the bed and connect horizontal supports as described above). 
• If you’d like the wood facing out (to hide the t-posts) install the t-posts with the bumpy part facing in towards the berry bed.
• Slip a vertical t-post bracket over the post, and lock into place on one of the top bumps.
• Connect the pre-assembled wood berry trellis end to the t-post by screwing it to the bracket. Make sure the trellis eye hooks are facing in towards the berry bed!
• At the bottom of each berry trellis end, add and tighten an adjustable pipe clamp around both the wood and t-post, securing them together.
• Repeat to attach the second wood trellis end.

Step 3: Add Berry Trellis Wires

Now it’s time to string wire between the eye hooks on your DIY berry trellis. Again, you can simply run some basic 10 to 12 gauge wire from hook to hook, or follow the instructions below to use wire rope cable like we did in our berry trellis design:

• Insert one end of the 1/16” wire cable into a 1/16” ferrule. Loop the wire through an eye hook on the trellis end, and then back into the ferrule. Use a crimping tool to pinch/crimp the ferrule, securing the cable wire to the hook. 
• Run the wire down the length of the berry bed to the opposite end of the trellis. On this end, we added an optional turnbuckle. I started by loosening the turnbuckle almost all the way (so it can be tightened later), hooked it onto the trellis eye hook, then put the wire through the solid loop end of the turnbuckle. 
• While pulling the wire tight, repeat the same process to secure the cable wire to the 2nd side of the trellis (to the turnbuckle) using a ferrule and crimping tool. 
• Repeat for the remaining 3 wires in your DIY berry trellis.
  

Ta-da! You just built a homemade raspberry trellis.

How to use a berry trellis: training raspberry and blackberry vines

Once the berry trellis is installed, it’s quite easy to use. Simply tuck the blackberry or raspberry vines up inside the wires as they grow. It’s easiest to do so before the berry vines get too long (and may break), so check and tuck them regularly. I definitely recommend wearing thorn-proof gloves when working with prickly berry vines!

I found that our blackberry and raspberry vines tend to slide along the berry trellis wires, especially on windy days. So, I secured some of the canes to the wire using soft reusable garden wire ties to help hold them in place, and it worked like a charm. You can also add small stakes to individual canes if needed.

Blackberry, raspberry, and other caneberry vines can also be pruned (topped) to control their height. Our raspberries are fairly short and manageable. However, we plan to top our olallieberry and blackberry vines once they’re a few feet taller than the trellis (keeping them no longer than 7 or 8 feet tall). The act of topping them will also make each cane branch more.  

Pruning Caneberries

Beyond topping the vines, the subject of how to grow and routinely prune blackberries and raspberries deserves a post of its own! Stay tuned for a dedicated article on that topic soon. 

In the meantime, here’s the quick and dirty for how to prune raspberries and blackberries: 

• Each year when the vines are dormant (late fall to early spring), cut them back to the ground – but leave about 8 to 12 raspberry canes and 5 to 8 blackberry canes per plant.
• The canes you choose to leave or remove depends on the variety of caneberry you’re growing. 
• For June-bearing raspberry or blackberry varieties (aka primocane), cut away the two year old vines that already fruited the previous year, leaving just the freshed canes that grew the past year. 
• For everbearing raspberries and blackberries (aka floricane), only cut back three year old canes – as the younger 1 and 2-year old canes will still bear fruit later. 
• Some gardeners like to mark the canes with small ties or flags to help keep track. 
• Because they require different pruning techniques, it’s best to grow everbearing and June-bearing caneberries in separate beds.

And that concludes this lesson on how to build a sturdy DIY berry trellis.

Well folks, I sure hope that was useful – and helps you feel empowered and prepared to go make a berry trellis of your own! If so, please spread the love by sharing or pinning this post. Please also feel free to ask any questions or simply say hello in the comments below. We truly appreciate you tuning in today. Happy berry growing… and eating!

Don’t miss these related posts:

• How to Build a Raised Garden Bed: Step-by-Step Guide
• Easy Raised Bed Drip Irrigation (from Faucet or Spigot)
• How to Make the Best DIY Tomato Trellis (Stake Weave Hybrid)
• How to Build a Trellis: Inexpensive & Easy Designs (flat or arched trellis for vining plants)
• 9 Ways to Add Whimsy and Interest to Your Garden
• How to Choose Fruit Trees to Plant: Climate, Varieties & More

The post DIY Berry Trellis: How to Build a Wire Raspberry or Blackberry Trellis (Video) appeared first on Homestead and Chill.

I love eating fermented pickles with sandwiches, veggie burgers, a cheese board, or just as a tasty snack. If you’re looking for more ways to use or preserve fresh cucumbers, check out our classic vinegar refrigerator pickles recipe or our easy garden tzatziki sauce recipe. Learn how to grow and trellis cucumbers here.

What are fermented pickles? 

You may be wondering: what’s the difference between fermented pickles and regular pickles? Well, fermented pickles are quite similar to classic pickles: they’re tangy, crunchy, preserved cucumbers with dill, garlic, and other pickling spices. You can also make fermented pickles from a wide variety of vegetables, and make them spicy if you wish! On the other hand, naturally fermented pickles are quite different than classic pickles in many ways.

First, fermented pickles are made through a lacto-fermentation process using a salt water brine rather than vinegar. Instead of relying on acidic vinegar to preserve the cucumbers, the salt water encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria naturally present on the cucumbers (lactobacillus) to create lactic acid and lower the pH and safely preserve the pickles instead. 

The flavor of fermented pickles is also distinct – they’re more mellow, spunky, and less sharp than vinegar pickles, but still full of good tang, garlic, and dill flavors. Finally, it’s best to store fermented pickles in the refrigerator rather than canning them.  

Are fermented pickles good for you? 

Heck yes! There are a number of health benefits from eating fermented pickles. First and foremost: the probiotics. Because this fermented pickles recipe uses a natural fermentation process and salt water brine, it is FULL of gut-healthy probiotics. In contrast, classic pickles made with vinegar stops all bacterial growth – including the good guys. A steady intake of probiotics improves gut health and digestion, and our gut microbiome is directly tied to health outcomes in every single organ and system in our body! It’s true.

Thanks to the cucumbers and herbs, this fermented pickles recipe is also naturally low-carb, low-calorie, vegan, high in fiber, and offers a healthy dose of vitamin C, K, potassium, manganese, and magnesium. As a type 1 diabetic, pickles and cheese is one of my favorite low carb snacks.

Learn more about the health benefits of lacto-fermented foods here.

How to make fermented pickles stay crunchy and crisp?

In general, fermented pickle recipes should stay more crunchy than their canned counterparts – since they’re not heated or cooked! But here are a number of tips and way to keep fermented cucumbers extra crisp:

• Use the freshest cucumbers possible. If using homegrown cucumbers, refrigerate the cukes immediately after harvest.
  
• Choose small cucumbers that have more skin and flesh, but less seeds inside. The seedy parts are the most prone to getting soft. Small blunt pickling cucumbers or Persian varieties will stay especially crisp, though you can successfully make crunchy fermented pickles with classic slicers or English cucumbers too.
  
• Always trim off the ends of the cucumber before fermenting. If left on, the blossom end especially will make the cucumbers degrade and get soft faster.
  
• After washing and trimming, soak the prepared cucumbers in a bowl of ice water for several hours (or even overnight) before making fermented pickles.
  
• Add 1 to 2 fresh grape leaves, oak leaves, bay leaves, blackberry leaves, horseradish leaves, or other high-tannin edible leaves to the bottom of each jar. OR, use 1 teabag (1 tsp) of plain black tea. The natural tannins help to keep fermented pickles extra crunchy!

Fermentation Safety Notes

Unlike canning, there’s no need to sterilize fermentation equipment or supplies before starting. Yet it is important to practice good hygiene and to avoid introducing unwanted bacteria or mold into your fermenting environment (which is pretty darn rare, honestly). 

To be on the safe side, I recommend to wash all your supplies with very hot soapy water. Make sure to rinse everything well to remove all soap residue after. You could also add a little vinegar to the washing mix. Also be sure to wash your hands well, and thoroughly rinse the veggies and herbs with water before starting. 

Fermented Pickles Recipe

Supplies Needed

• Glass jar or other fermentation vessel (plastic not recommended)
• An airlock fermentation lid that fits your jar or vessel like this one, or this other option
• Fermenting weight, such as these glass weights

Note: A separate weight isn’t needed if your fermentation lid comes with a weight or springs, like our Kraut Source lid or this Ball all-in-one ferment lid with spring.

Ingredients

Fermented pickle brine recipe: 2 cups of chlorine-free water and 1 Tbsp sea salt, kosher salt or pickling salt (not iodized table salt). This will make enough salt water brine for about 1 quart jar.

Seasonings per quart jar (scale up or down as needed):

• 4 to 6 sprigs of fresh dill, 1 to 2 dill heads, or 1 Tbsp of dried dill
• 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and lightly crushed
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp black peppercorns 
• Up to 1/2 tsp red chili pepper flakes and/or one fresh hot chili pepper (sliding scale depending how spicy you want them)
• Instead of mustard seed, peppercorns and chili flakes, you could use 1 Tbsp of pre-mixed “pickling spices”
• Optional: 1 or 2 grape leaves, oak leaves, bay leaves, horseradish leaves or 1 tsp (bag) of black tea

Instructions

1. First, create the salt water brine by dissolving 1 Tbsp of salt in 2 cups of water and set aside. Either use warm water or lightly heat the brine on the stovetop until the salt dissolves. Yet there is no need to boil it – it’s best if the brine has cooled to lukewarm or room temperature before adding to the cucumbers.
   
   
2. Prepare the cucumbers: wash, trim off the ends, and cut into your desired shape (e.g. halves, spears, or slices). You can leave small pickling cucumbers whole, but DO trim off the ends still. The cucumbers should be at least 1 to 2 inches shorter than the jar, allowing enough headroom for your chosen fermentation weight.
   

3. Optional: for maximum crunch, soak the cut cucumber slices in an ice bath for 30 minutes to a few hours before proceeding.
   
   
4. In the bottom of a clean jar, add the other seasonings: the dill, garlic, pickling spices, optional chili pepper and grape leaves or other high-tannin leaves.
   
   
5. Neatly pack the jar full of cucumbers, fitting as many as possible in.
   
   
6. Pour the saltwater brine into the jar until the cucumbers are completely submerged and covered with at least 1 inch of brine.
   
   
7. You may have leftover brine, which is fine. If you happen to not have enough, mix a mini batch of brine by dissolving 1 tsp of salt in ½ cup of water and then top off the jar of cucumbers.
   

Instructions continued…

8. Next, add a fermentation weight to keep the cucumbers submerged below the brine. This part is essential, as any “floaters” will be more prone to mold! If your fermentation lid includes a weight or spring, you don’t need an additional weight. Finally, add the airlock fermentation lid to the jar.
   
   
9. Set the jar of cucumbers in a cool place (60-70F is ideal) for 3 to 5 days, up to two weeks or longer. Fermenting pickles in cool temperatures yields the best flavor and texture! Plan to taste-test one after 3 or 4 days, and see notes below for more information on how to tell when fermented pickles are ready.
   
   
10.  During the fermentation time, you should start to notice bubbles in the jar within the first 48 hours. Also, the brine in your fermented pickles will turn cloudy after a few days – this is normal and good! Depending on your fermentation lid, it may overflow and leak from the jar, so we often set ours on top of a plate to catch any runoff. 
    
    
11. Once they’re fermented to your liking, remove the airlock lid and weight and replace with a standard jar lid. Store your finished lacto-fermented pickles in the refrigerator. 

When are fermented pickles done and ready?

Some brined pickles recipes say to ferment for as little as 3 or 4 days, while others say up to a month! The shorter the ferment time (considered “lightly brined”), the more crunch and color the fermented cucumber pickles will retain. Yet a longer fermentation time produces more gut-healthy bacteria and tangier flavors. So, it’s up to you. Taste test your fermented pickles after 3 or 4 days and decide if you’d like to let them continue to ferment longer or not. 

*Note: Fermenting cucumber pickles in warm conditions (over 73F) for an extended period of time may lead to the growth of kahm yeast, which appears as a white film that settles on top of the cucumbers in the jar. Kahm yeast isn’t bad or dangerous. However, it can be extra aromatic and flavorful – and not in a good way. So I generally opt for shorter fermentation times when it’s hot out.

How long do fermented pickles stay good in the fridge?

Naturally fermented pickles can stay good in the refrigerator for up to a year. However, the quality, texture, and flavor will be best if consumed within 3 to 6 months. While the cool fridge temperature slows it down, lacto-fermented pickles will continue to ferment (and degrade) in the refrigerator over time. Again, it’s normal for the brine to be cloudy and the flavor and aroma should be sour. Discard if mold or rotten odors develop.

Can fermented pickles be canned? 

Technically, yes – naturally fermented pickles can be canned. But unfortunately, the process of heating them in a hot bath or pressure canner kills all the probiotics and beneficial bacteria. That defeats the purpose if you ask me! Canning fermented pickles without vinegar also needs to be done very carefully, ensuring that the salt water brine has reached a low enough pH to safety preserve them. Therefore, I’m not providing instructions on canning fermented pickles in this post.

And that’s how to make fermented dill pickles.

All in all, naturally fermented pickles are an easy and rewarding garden goodie to make. I hope this tutorial makes you feel excited and prepared to make your own too! Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below. Also be sure to stop back by to leave a review once you give them a try. Thank you so much for tuning in today. Happy fermenting!

You may also enjoy:

• Sweet & Spicy Pepper Fermented Hot Sauce Recipe
• Quick Pickled Dilly Green Beans (Refrigerator or Canning)
• Simple Fermented “Pickled” Beets Recipe with Garlic & Dill
• How to Make Kombucha 101: Brewing Basics for the Best Booch Ever
• 13 Ways to Preserve Tomatoes: Recipes to Freeze, Can, and More

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Fermented Pickles Recipe: Easy Crunchy Brined Cucumber Dill Pickles

Let's make a delicious gut-healthy snack with this fermented pickles recipe.This easy step-by-step tutorial will teach you how to make crunchy naturally fermented dill pickles – a great way to preserve cucumbers from the garden!

Course Fermented Foods, Preserved Food, Side Dish, Snack

Keyword Crunchy fermented pickles, Fermented, Fermented Pickles, Lactofermentation, Naturally brined pickles

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Fermentation Time (varies) 5 days days

Servings 1 quart

Equipment

• Fermenting vessel, such as a mason jar (pint, quart, or half-gallon)
• An all-in-one fermentation lid, or other fermentation weights and an air lock device 

Ingredients

• fresh cucumbers, small cucumbers or pickling cucumbers preferred

Fermented pickles salt water brine

• 2 cups filtered water, non-chlorinated water (per quart jar)
• 1 tbsp kosher or pickling sea salt (not iodized table salt) per 2 cups of water used

In-Jar Seasonings (per quart)

• 4-6 sprigs of fresh dill, 1-2 dill heads, or 1 Tbsp dried dill
• 2 cloves fresh garlic, peeled and lightly crushed
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp black peppercorns
• 1/2 tsp red chili flakes OR a fresh hot chili pepper (optional, adjust per flavor preference)
• 1 Tbsp pre-mixed pickling spices – use instead of mustard seeds, peppercorns and chili flakes
• Optional: 1 or 2 grape leaves, oak leaves, bay leaves, horseradish leaves or 1 tsp (bag) of black tea for tannins and extra crunch

Instructions

• Create the salt water brine: dissolve 1 Tbsp of salt in 2 cups of water and set aside. Either use warm water or lightly heat the brine on the stovetop until the salt dissolves (no need to boil)
• Wash the cucumbers, trim off the ends, and cut as desired (halves, spears, slices, etc). The cucumbers should be at least 1 to 2 inches shorter than the jar, allowing enough headroom for your chosen fermentation weight.
• Optional: for maximum crunch, soak the cut cucumber slices in an ice bath for 30 minutes to a few hours before proceeding.
• In the bottom of a clean jar or ferment vessel, add all other in-jar seasonings.
• Next, pack the cucumbers into the container until completely full. Stuff as many as you can close together, minimizing empty air space as you go.
• Pour the cooled brine (room temp to lukewarm is ideal) into the ferment vessel or jar until the cucumbers are fully submerged and covered by at least 1 inch.
• Next, add a fermentation weight to keep the cucumbers submerged below the brine. If your fermentation lid includes a weight or spring, you don’t need an additional weight. Finally, add the airlock fermentation lid to the jar.
• Set the jar of cucumbers in a cool place (60-70F is ideal) for 3 to 5 days, up to two weeks or longer. Taste-test after 3 or 4 days to gauge if they're fermented to your liking, or continue to ferment longer. Keep the container on a plate to catch overflowing brine.
• When the time is up, remove air lock lid and weights, cover the container with a standard lid, and store the finished fermented pickles in the refrigerator.
• Enjoy the fermented dill pickles for several months, or possibly up to a year. As long as they aren't moldy or obviously putrid, they're still good!

Notes

Note: If you happen to run out of brine, mix a mini batch by dissolving 1 tsp of salt in ½ cup of water and then top off the jar.

The post Fermented Pickles Recipe: How to Make Crunchy Brined Cucumber Pickles appeared first on Homestead and Chill.

Years ago, I also shared our lacto-fermented dilly green beans recipe. I love that they’re full of gut-healthy probiotics! Yet I know not everyone is a fan of fermented foods, or feels comfortable making them at home… so this easy vinegar pickled green bean recipe is just for you! You can also learn how to freeze fresh green beans here.

Now, let’s get picklin’!

Ingredients

Pickling Brine

• 3/4 cup white distilled vinegar
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup water
• 1 Tbsp fine sea salt, kosher, canning or pickling salt – not iodized table salt
• 1 Tbsp sugar (optional)

This will make enough brine to fill about 1 quart jar or 2 pint jars. Scale up or down as needed depending on how many beans you intend to pickle. We often make just one or two quart jars at a time. When it doubt, make a little extra!

Feel free to use all distilled white vinegar if that’s what you have or prefer. I happen to like the slightly more sweet and complex flavor that a dash of apple cider vinegar adds to the mix. However, I don’t recommend making these with apple cider vinegar alone – unless you really like your pickles on the sweet side. 

Jar Seasonings

When canning pickled green beans, you should use pint jars (as the National Center for Food Preservation doesn’t have an approved pickled green bean recipe for canning quart jars). However, I usually like to use quart jars to make quick refrigerator pickled beans since I can fit more in one jar and don’t have to trim them as much. So, here are the seasonings for both sizes:

Can you use dried dill to make pickled dilly beans?

Sure, you can replace the fresh dill for dried dill. Yet since dried herbs are more concentrated and have a stronger flavor than fresh herbs, you’ll want to use less – about 1 tablespoon of dried dill per quart jar is good (or half a Tbsp per pint).

Tips for Canning Pickled Green Beans 

• To use this pickled green beans recipe for canning, be sure to maintain the vinegar to water ratio at least 1:1 (equal parts vinegar and water) to keep the brine acidic enough and safe for canning. It’s perfectly fine to slightly increase the amount of vinegar (e.g. add an extra half a cup just to be safe) but do not decrease the vinegar or add more water.
  
  
• Also, be sure that the vinegar you’re using is at least 5% acidity. This is very important (especially if boiling water bath canning) since green beans are naturally a low-acid food. 
  

• Before starting, I recommend setting up all your canning supplies (including hot bath water) before prepping the beans, so the water bath is boiling and ready when they are. Sterilize your canning jars in boiling water before adding any ingredients to the jar. 
  

• Otherwise, follow the same process to prepare and pack the jars as outlined below. This will be considered a “raw pack” or “cold pack” pickled green beans recipe for canning – where you don’t cook the beans before canning them.
  
  
• If you’re new to canning, learn more of the basics here. See notes below for canned pickled green beans processing time.

How do you make pickled green beans stay crisp and crunchy?

Use the most fresh, firm beans possible to make pickled green beans. Just-harvested from the garden or farmer’s market is ideal! Also keep them stored in the refrigerator immediately post-harvest. In general, green beans tend to naturally stay more crunchy than other vegetables like pickled cucumbers or pickled peppers. Since they’re not cooked or heated, making quick refrigerator pickled dilly beans will also keep them more crisp compared to canned green beans. Pickled beans made via boiling water bath canning will be more crunchy than those pressure canned.

*For additional crunch: add 1 to 2 fresh grape leaves, oak leaves, black tea leaves, blackberry leaves, or other high-tannin edible leaves to the bottom of each jar. Some folks also like to use pickle crisp. 

Instructions (Refrigerator and Canning)

1. Begin by washing your fresh green beans, and then cut off the stem ends. If needed, further trim the green beans so they’ll fit in the jar – at least ½ inch shorter than the jar itself. You can also cut them into smaller bite-size pieces if you prefer.
   
   
2. On the stovetop, make the pickling brine by combining vinegars, water, salt, and sugar in a pot. For the refrigerator method, heat the brine just enough to dissolve the salt and sugar. If canning, bring the brine solution to a boil.
   
   
3. In the bottom of each clean jar, add all of the other ingredients and spices: fresh dill, peeled garlic, black peppercorns, mustard seeds, red chili pepper flakes, and/or pickling spices. Also add the optional grape leaf (or other high-tannin leaves) now.
   
   
4.  Pack the jars as full as possible with green beans. Tip: I find it easiest to lay the jars on their side to stack them in there tight!
   
   
5. To make quick refrigerator pickled green beans, I like to let the brine cool slightly before adding it to the jars of beans – which helps prevent the beans from cooking and keeps them extra crunchy!
   
   
6. When canning pickled green beans, carefully ladle hot brine into the jars, leaving ½ inch of headspace. 
   

Quick Refrigerator Pickled Green Beans

After adding brine to the jars, simply add a lid and put the jars in the refrigerator. Let them marinate for a few days – 5 days recommended for maximum flavor – and then your homemade quick pickled green beans are ready to enjoy!  Keep quick pickled green beans stored in the refrigerator. They should stay good for up to a year, but are best enjoyed within the first few months for maximum crunch and flavor.

Canning Pickled Green Beans

After adding the hot brine to the jars of green beans, wipe the rim of each jar before adding clean, new canning lids. A clean rim is essential for a good seal. Add canning jar rings, but only screw them down to barely finger-tight. Use a jar lifter to carefully transfer the packed jars of beans into the canning boiling water bath. Be sure to use a wire rack inside the canning pot, so the jars aren’t sitting directly on the bottom of the pot. The water in the hot bath canner should cover the jars by at least an inch or two. Add more boiling water if necessary (e.g. heated from a tea kettle). 

Once the water returns to a boil, add a lid and process canned pickled green beans as follows: 

Carefully transfer the hot jars from the canner to a cooling rack, and allow to sit undisturbed for 24 hours, then check seals. You can also remove the rings for storage if desired. For the best shelf life, store canned pickled green beans in a cool dark place, such as the pantry, basement, or root cellar and consume within one year.

How long do pickled green beans last?

About a year. Unopened, canned pickled green beans are shelf-stable and last about a year stored at room temperature. Once opened, store canned beans in the refrigerator and plan to use them within a few weeks, or up to a couple months. Quick refrigerator pickled green beans are best used within 3 months for optimum quality and texture, though they’ll technically stay good stored in the refrigerator for up to a year. Discard if mold or off odors develop. 

Ways to Eat Pickled Green Beans

Pickled dilly beans are delicious to snack on – right out of the jar! I love to add them to an hors d’oeuvre plate or charcuterie board with cheese, crackers, nuts, veggies, dips, and other tasty appetizers. They’re also fantastic on the side with a sandwich, veggie burger or tacos, much like a classic cucumber pickle. You could even dice them up into small pieces to add into potato salad, egg salad, or other similar dishes that would welcome a tangy crunch. Pickled dilly beans are always an excellent addition to Bloody Marys too!

And that’s how to make quick pickled dilly green beans!

Well folks, I sure hope you enjoy this pickled green beans recipe as much as we do. If so, please spread the love by leaving and review below or sharing this post. Also please let us know if you have any questions in the comments. Otherwise, have fun and happy pickling!

You may also enjoy:

• Simple and Delicious Roasted Tomato Sauce Recipe (Can or Freeze)
• Crunchy Cucumber Dill Pickles: Easy Refrigerator Recipe
• How to Grow Bushels of Beans from Seed (Bush Beans & Pole Beans)
• How to Make Chive Blossom Vinegar + 8 Ways to Use it
• Roasted Beets with Fresh Orange and Balsamic Vinegar Marinade

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Quick Pickled Dilly Green Beans (Canning or Refrigerator)

Come learn how to make quick pickled dilly green beans. They’re crunchy, tangy, and straight-out-of-the-jar snackable. Our recipe is safe for canning OR easy refrigerator pickles!

Course Appetizer, Party Food, Preserved Food, Side Dish, Snack

Keyword canning pickled green beans, Dilly Green beans, Pickled Green beans, quick pickled beans, refrigerator pickled green beans

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 quart jar

Equipment

• pint jars and canning lids (if canning) or other glass container with lid (refrigerator)

Ingredients

• Fresh green beans, washed and trimmed

Brine (per quart jar or 2 pints)

• 1 cup Water
• 3/4 cup Distilled white vinegar (5% acidity)
• 1/4 cup Apple cider vinegar (5% acidity)
• 1 Tbsp Fine sea salt, kosher or pickling salt
• 1 Tbsp Sugar (optional)

In-Jar Seasonings (per quart jar, halve for pints/canning)

• 6 sprigs Fresh dill (a small handful), 2-3 dill heads, or 1 Tbsp dry dill
• 3 cloves Fresh garlic cloves, peeled and lightly crushed
• 1 tsp Peppercorns, or less to taste
• 1 tsp Mustard seed, or less to taste
• 1/2 tsp Red chili pepper flakes (or less, to taste) or 1 fresh hot chili pepper
• 1 Tbsp pickling spice blend (use instead of peppercorns, mustard seed and red chili flakes)
• 2 whole Grape leaves – substitute with horseradish, oak, blackberry, or black tea leaves (optional, for maximum crispness)

Instructions

• If canning, prep your canning supplies first – fill and heat the hot bath canning water, sanitize jars and lids, etc.
• Wash the green beans, and then cut off the stem ends. If needed, further trim the green beans so they’ll fit in the jar – at least ½ inch shorter than the jar itself. You can also cut them into smaller bite-size pieces if you prefer.
• On the stovetop, make the pickling brine by combining vinegars, water, salt, and sugar in a pot. For the refrigerator method, heat the brine just enough to dissolve the salt and sugar. If canning, bring the brine solution to a boil.
• In the bottom of each clean jar, add all of the other ingredients and spices: fresh dill, peeled garlic, black peppercorns, mustard seeds, red chili flakes, and/or pickling spices. Also add the optional grape leaf (or other high-tannin leaves) now.
• Pack the jars as full as possible with green beans. Tip: I find it easiest to lay the jars on their side to stack them in there tight!
• To make quick refrigerator pickled green beans, I like to let the brine cool slightly before adding it to the jars of beans – which helps prevent the beans from cooking and keeps them extra crunchy!
• When canning pickled green beans, carefully ladle hot brine into the jars, leaving ½ inch of headspace. 
• Pour the brine over the top of the cucumbers until they are completely submerged. If you happen to run out, top off with plain white vinegar if needed.

Refrigerator

• Place an air-tight lid on the jar, and then move to the refrigerator. For optimum flavor, allow the beans to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 5 days before consuming.
• Use within 3 months for the best quality and texture, though pickled green beans will technically stay good in the refrigerator for up to a year. Discard if mold or off odors develop. 

Canning

• After adding the hot brine to the jars of green beans, wipe the rim of each jar before adding clean, new canning lids. Add canning jar rings, tightened to only barely finger-tight.
• Use a jar lifter to carefully transfer the packed jars of pickled green beans into the canning pot of boiling water. Use a wire rack so the jars aren’t sitting directly on the bottom of the pot.
• The water in the hot bath canner should cover the jars by at least an inch or two. Add more boiling water if necessary (e.g. heated from a tea kettle). 
• Once the water returns to a boil, process the pint jars in hot water canner for 5 minutes (10 minutes if at 1000-6000 feet, 15 mins if over 6000 ft elevation)
• Carefully transfer the hot jars from the canner to a cooling rack, and allow to sit undisturbed for 24 hours, then check seals.
• For the best shelf life, store canned pickled green beans in a cool dark place, such as the pantry, basement, or root cellar. Unopened, canned pickled green beans are good for about a year. 
• Once opened, store them in the refrigerator and plan to use them within a few weeks, or up to a couple months. Discard if mold or off odors develop

The post Quick Pickled Dilly Green Beans (Refrigerator or Canning) appeared first on Homestead and Chill.

What is a chicken dust bath?

A dust bath is any area that a chicken uses to lay, fluff, and clean themselves in dirt. It can be as simple as a natural depression on the ground that the chickens dug themselves… and y’all know they’re great at that! Or, you can make a chicken dust bath to offer a designated spot for them to bathe. 

Why make a chicken dust bath?

• It’s important to create a chicken dust bath area for your birds to stay healthy, especially if your native soil isn’t suitable for bathing on its own. For instance, chickens won’t be able to create their own natural dust bathing area in clay or rocky soil, or if it’s all grass or wood chips in the chicken area. They need loose, fine, or sandy soil to bathe in instead.
  
  
• Plus, you can add other beneficial ingredients like lime or wood ash if you make a special contained chicken dust bath like ours.
  
  
• Another perk of creating a designated dust bath area is that maybe (just maybe) your birds will cut you some slack and do less damage or digging in other parts of your yard!

Why do chickens take dust baths?

Dust baths are important for a number of reasons! Like many other birds, chickens of all ages use fine loose soil to keep themselves clean and healthy. By literally wallowing in the dirt, fine particles of sand and soil work their way between feathers, cleaning them in the process. Along with preening and grooming, dust baths prevent feathers from becoming too oily – keeping feathers full, fluffy, insulating, and water-resistant.

Chicken dust baths are also an important way to naturally prevent and control parasites like lice or mites. Even more, dust bathing helps keep chickens cool during hot weather… and heat stroke is common and often lethal to chickens! The very top of the soil may feel warm on a hot day, but once they fluff and shimmy down a bit deeper, they’ll find comfortably cooler soil enjoy.

Most chickens will take a good dust bath every day, or every other day. They seem to absolutely love it. When they’re finished, they get up, shake like a dog, and let the dust fly! 

Related: 10 Ways to Keep Chickens Cool During Heat Waves and Hot Summer Weather

Ingredients: What do you put in a chicken dust bath?

Sand or plain dirt can make an adequate dust bath for chickens. However, adding ingredients like lime, diatomaceous earth, and/or wood ash will offer enhanced pest protection – explained more below.

Use the following recipe to make the perfect chicken dust bath:

• 1 part dirt: Choose soil that is fairly loose, fine, well-draining, and relatively free of debris like rocks, large sticks, or other uncomfortable obstructions. Average topsoil is a good choice. Avoid soil that has been treated with fertilizer or herbicides. Our native soil here is super sandy – perfect for chicken dust baths!

• 1 part sand: All-purpose sand is the best choice for chicken dust baths, also known as contractor’s sand, construction sand, or multipurpose sand. It’s fine enough for a good fluffabout, but coarse enough that they won’t inhale it. You should be able to find bags of all purpose sand at your local hardware store. Avoid using play sand for dust baths; it’s too fine, more easily inhaled, and often contains toxins. You also don’t want to use sand alone, because the chickens naturally prefer dirt!

Optional dust bath additions

These optional dust bath ingredients help prevent common parasites, and are also great to add to the coop or nesting boxes. Add just a sprinkle of the following to your dust bath recipe:

• Lime – First Saturday Lime is our top-choice chicken dust bath ingredient to prevent parasites. It’s effective against poultry lice and mites, but is safe for pets, kids and the environment alike. Just a light sprinkle will do! (Note: do not use garden lime)
  
  
• Diatomaceous earth – Also known as DE, food-grade diatomaceous earth is another popular dust bath additive for parasites and pests. However, the very fine dust can be harmful to humans and animals when inhaled. So if you do use DE, use a very small amount and in a well-ventilated area. Otherwise, just stick to lime.
  
  
• Wood ash – I’ll never forget the day we had to re-home a chicken (long story)… The woman scooped up Darcy, held her upside down, and blasted her with a heaping handful of wood ash – with love! Like DE and lime, wood ash smothers pest insects like lice, ticks, mites, and fleas. So if you generate a lot of wood ash at home, feel free to toss some in the chicken dust bath!
  
  
• Dried Herbs – Many herbs also deter pest insects, including lavender, peppermint, lemongrass and more. Plus, they smell nice! Spoil your chickens with a handful of nesting box herbs in their dust bath. 

Note: It’s best to avoid DE, lime or wood ash in dust baths for baby chicks, but using dried herbs is fine!

Where to locate a chicken dust bath?

• Sun or Shade? Chickens like options! We found that our girls often like to stretch out and dust bathe in the sun, but also like the comfort of shade on warmer days. So, we set up dust baths in several locations in our yard and run.
  
  
• Protection. Chickens usually feel most secure to relax when they’re lounging under cover, such as under their coop or under the canopy of trees or shrubs. We have some dust baths out in the open sun, and one in a shadier corner of their run.
  
  
• Rain. In addition to adding drainage holes to your chicken dust bath container, consider further rain protection if you live in a wet climate. For instance, by locating the dust bath under the coop or other sheltered location. You could also build a short roof over the dust bath area, such as with a simple wood frame with a sheet of corrugated rooting (metal, fiberglass or plastic) on top. We also find that stirring and fluffing the dust bath soil with a shovel after heavy rain helps it dry out faster.

Chicken dust bath maintenance

Dust baths are pretty low maintenance. However, you may want to periodically check the dust bath to remove poop, sticks, or other undesirables from the area. The container may also get low over time, as the chickens fling the dirt out, or walk away with it in their feathers! Top off with more soil and sand as needed. Finally, add a fresh handful of lime, DE, wood ash, and/or herbs once every month or two.

Do baby chicks need dust baths?

Yes, baby chicks and young pullets like to take dust baths too! In fact, you’ll often see them laying and fluffing around in their brooder pine shavings – simulating a dust bath. Create a mini dust bath for chicks inside their brooder by filling a small, wide, shallow container with sand and/or fine dry soil. Any container or tray that’s short enough for them to easily climb in and out of will do, such as a cardboard shoebox lid. Don’t add lime, DE, or other additions though. Chicks are sensitive at this stage! Learn more about caring for baby chicks here.

And that’s the dirt on chicken dust baths.

Well, did you learn something new? I hope you found this article to be useful and informative. If so, please spread the chicken love by pinning or sharing this post! Also feel free to ask any questions you have in the comments below. Otherwise, have fun putting together your new dust bath space. I’m sure your flock will want to help supervise, and will be very grateful!

You may also enjoy:

• How to Store & Wash Fresh Eggs: Best Practices for Backyard Chicken Eggs
• 10 Ways to Keep Chickens Cool During Hot Summer Weather or Heat Waves
• How to Ferment Chicken Feed for Better Hen Health & Eggs
• 10 Tips on Caring for Chickens in Cold Winter Weather
• Backyard Chickens 101: What to Expect When You’re Expecting

The post How to Make a Chicken Dust Bath: Easy DIY Ideas appeared first on Homestead and Chill.

If you don’t want to can your low-sugar peach jam, you can freeze it instead. Note that our recipe calls for a passive overnight maceration process (not required but highly recommended) so please plan accordingly!

Can you add other fruit to low sugar peach jam?

Yes! Since they’re quite similar in texture, acid, natural pectin and moisture content, you can also use any combination of peaches (yellow only), apricots, and/or yellow nectarines in this low sugar peach jam recipe. This is perfect if you’re growing your own mix of stone fruit like we are! In fact, we added a few apricots to this particular batch of peach jam.

NOTE: If you’d like to make jam with white peaches, it needs to be frozen rather than canned. White peaches are less acidic and therefore NOT recommended for safe canning.

Can you use frozen peaches to make jam?

Yes, frozen peaches can be successfully used to make low sugar peach jam too! In fact, frozen peaches are even easier to peel (once they’re partially thawed). However, if the peaches were wet or very overripe at the time of freezing, it could result in a more loose, runny finished jam. Therefore, you may need to cook and simmer the jam a tad longer to thicken it compared to working with fresh fruit.

3 Ingredients for Low Sugar Peach Jam

Fresh Peaches

It’s best to make low sugar peach jam with fresh ripe yellow peaches. Recently-picked from the garden or farmer’s market is even better! Peaches that are sweet, juicy, and ripe but still slightly firm will be the easiest to peel. Freestone peaches like O’Henry, Elegant Lady, August Pride, Elberta, and Eva’s Pride (among others) will be easier to remove the pits compared to clingstone varieties. 

You can also use soft overripe peaches, which will offer an extra sweet flavor. However, firm peaches that are slightly under ripe are higher in natural pectins, which helps the jam thicken nicely! So feel free to use a combination of both. Really, you can’t go wrong. 

Sugar

Though this recipe is considered a low sugar peach jam, it does use some sugar – but far less than other jam recipes! Even other “low sugar” jam recipes call for at least 1 part sugar for every 2 parts fruit by weight (e.g. 1 pound of sugar to 2 pounds fruit). With only 8 ounces of sugar per 2 pounds of fruit, our recipe uses half of that (1:4)! Yet I find it to be the perfect balance of sweet to tart, especially after adding lemon juice. We prefer to use unrefined organic cane sugar to make jam because it offers a more complex, less sharp flavor.

Lemon Juice (instead of pectin)

Since our low sugar peach jam is made without pectin, lemon juice is the key preservative instead. That said, if you are canning your peach jam, please follow the recipe exactly (with the exception of adding more sugar if you desire, explained below). The called-for lemon juice-to-fruit ratio follows the National Center for Food Preservation recommendations for safe canning standards. I also suggest using organic bottled lemon juice since fresh-squeezed lemons can have a varying pH or acid content.

What is the shelf life of low sugar jam?

Sugar plays an important role in extending the shelf life of jam (in terms of quality, flavor, and color retention) while the acidic lemon juice and canning/boiling process is what preserves the jam in terms of food safety (e.g. preventing mold and bacterial growth). Most traditional jam recipes call for nearly equal parts fruit and sugar by weight (SO much sugar!) in order to make the jam shelf-stable and retain good eating quality for many, many years. Therefore, you can reduce the sugar content in a jam recipe without jeopardizing safety, though it may reduce the overall shelf life of the jam.

Because our low sugar peach jam recipe has significantly less sugar than most, it may have a shorter shelf life to be considered “prime quality” – about one year instead of several years. Therefore, if you want to extend the shelf life even further, are working with firm or slightly underripe fruit, or if you simply prefer sweeter jam, you can increase the amount of sugar if you desire. Up to double the called-for sugar in our recipe would still be considered “low sugar” in the jam world.

You can read more about sugar and shelf life in jam recipes here and here.

How lemon juice vs pectin affects jam thickness

Making low sugar peach jam without pectin keeps the finished jam as simple and natural as possible. It really lets those fresh fruit flavors shine! Yet without added pectin (and because peaches aren’t particularly high in natural pectin), peach jam made with lemon juice instead isn’t intensely thick or gelatinous – but it’s NOT runny by any means. Plus, the overnight sugar maceration process helps to naturally thicken it (explained more to follow) as does blending the fruit once it’s on the stovetop. The end result is plenty thick for my liking!

How to thicken the jam further

To make your peach jam even thicker, you can increase the cooking time to further reduce it, though keep in mind that can also detract from the flavor and color. Overcooked jam will have a more toasted, caramelized flavor. The fruit will also become more oxidized, resulting in a darker (more brown) appearance. We prefer to sacrifice some of the thickness in order to retain the brightest fresh fruit flavor and color possible!

Macerating fruit for jam

Maceration is the act of tossing fruit in sugar and letting it sit awhile, from several hours to overnight. This is the best way to reduce cooking time for jams, which helps to maximize and retain the fresh fruit flavor. When the peaches are combined with sugar and left to rest, osmosis causes the fruit to break down, soften, and release juices – similar to cooking, but without the heat! This is especially helpful if your peaches aren’t already super soft and juicy. The maceration process also gives the sugar more time to interact with the natural pectin in the fruit, thereby helping to thicken jam before it hits the stovetop. 

Low Sugar Peach Jam Recipe

Supplies Needed

• Large mixing bowl
• Optional: potato masher
• Immersion blender or regular blender
• Large stock pot
• Canning supplies (if canning) – pot, canning rack, jar lifter, funnel, etc. 
• Glass canning jars, lids and rings
• For freezing: Wide-mouth half pint and pint jars are also freezer-safe (not regular mouth or larger sizes). Also consider these reusable, durable BPA-free freezer containers. 

Ingredients

• 4 pounds of ripe yellow peaches (pitted and peeled)
• 2 cups organic cane sugar (1 part sugar to 4 parts fruit by weight)
• ¼ cup bottled organic lemon juice 

Yields: approximately half a gallon of jam (around 64 ounces, or 8 half-pint jars). Scale up or down as needed in the printable recipe below.

How to Peel Peaches

This low sugar peach jam recipe is best made with peeled peaches. Our ripe homegrown peach skins peel off pretty easily by hand. We simply washed the peaches well, cut them in half or quarters, peeled off the skins, and then removed the pits. However, depending on the age and variety of peach, it may be necessary to quickly blanch your peaches first to more easily peel them. Get easy step-by-step instructions to blanch and peel peaches here.

Instructions

1. Once your peaches are washed, peeled and pitted, cut them into small pieces. When working with extra-ripe peaches, I don’t bother cutting each one individually. Instead, I lay several halved peaches on the cutting board together and roughly chop the whole pile, then repeat with the next handful. The exact size of the pieces doesn’t matter too much because we’re going to further crush and/or blend the peaches later.
   
   
2. Add the chopped peaches to a large mixing bowl, weigh them (tare or take note of the weight of the bowl first), and then stir in the sugar. Mix thoroughly to combine.
   
   
3. Optional: If you happen to have a potato masher, use it to crush the peaches after mixing in the sugar. If not, that’s okay – but you’ll likely want to blend some of the jam later (see step 8).
   
   
4. Allow the fruit and sugar to sit for several hours, overnight, or up to 24 hours for the best results. We usually put the bowl in the refrigerator overnight, and then pull it out to sit on the counter at room temperature for several hours the next morning – allowing the fruit and sugar mixture to warm up slightly before putting it on the stovetop. 

Instructions continued:

5. If you’re canning the low sugar peach jam, I suggest getting all your canning supplies ready (canning pot, sterilized jars, lids, etc) before proceeding. If you’re new to canning, please read up on the basics here.
   
   
6. In a large non-reactive pot, combine the macerated peaches with the called-for lemon juice.
   
   
7. Turn the heat on high to bring the jam to a bubbling boil for a couple minutes, and then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Stir frequently, including the bottom and sides of the pot to prevent sticking or burning.
   
   
8. Observe the consistency. If your jam has too many large chunks for your liking, consider blending a portion of it – which also helps thicken it! We gave our low sugar peach jam a few whizzes with our trusty immersion blender – just to break up a few larger firm pieces and make it more homogenous, but not to make it silky smooth. I like it with fruit clumps! You could also take out a few scoops to blend in a regular blender if needed, and then return it to the pot.
   
   
9. Remove from heat, and transfer the hot jam into hot sterilized canning jars with the assistance of a clean canning funnel. (See notes for freezing below)
   
   
10. Fill jars nearly full, leaving ¼ inch headroom if canning and 1/2 to 3/4 inch if freezing. Use a clean damp paper towel to wipe the rims of the jars before adding lids.
    
    
11. Add sterilized canning lids and rings. Screw on the rings to finger-tight only, not overly tight.
    
    
12. Use a jar lifter to carefully transfer the jars to your pre-heated (boiling) canning pot, cover with a lid, and vigorously boil. See chart below for processing times.

Storage (Canned)

Store the canned, sealed jam jars in a cool dark location – such as a pantry, cellar, or kitchen cabinets. For the best quality, use within one year. You can also store canned jars of low-sugar jam in the fridge to further extend their shelf life and quality, if desired and space allows.

After opening, store open, unsealed jars in the refrigerator and plan to use them within one to two months. Signs of spoiled jam include mold growth, off odors or taste. Discard immediately if you suspect it has spoiled.

How to Freeze Low Sugar Peach Jam

If you don’t feel like canning, freeze your low sugar peach jam instead! Once the jam is done cooking, allow it to cool slightly before transferring it into clean jars *wide mouth* pint jars, half-pint jars, or other freezer-safe food storage containers. Leave at least a half-inch to an inch of head space. (Look for the “fill line” on glass jars.) Allow the jam to fully cool before freezing. For best results, rapidly cool the jars of jam in the refrigerator and then transfer them to the freezer once they’re cold. Use within 6 months for best quality.

*Note: Wide-mouth jars are considered safe for freezing. Regular mouth jars or quart-size jars are not, as the bend in the “shoulder” makes them prone to cracking in the freezer.

Ways to Use Low Sugar Peach Jam

• On bread or toast. Learn how to make homemade sourdough bread here.
• We love to have a spoonful of jam on top of plain yogurt and granola, hemp hearts, nuts and/or seeds for breakfast.
• On sourdough pancakes, which are particularly tasty with pumpkin seeds, almonds, pecans or walnuts on top!
• As a glaze, topping, or filling for baked goods. Hellooo thumbprint cookies!
• With sweet-and-savory snacks, like with cheese on crackers or sliced baguette. I’ve even seen a few recipes for grilled cheese sandwiches with peach jam!
• On top of vanilla or coconut ice cream.
• Straight out of the jar with a spoon. Ha!

Print

Easy Low Sugar Peach Jam Without Pectin (Can or Freeze)

Please enjoy our low sugar peach jam – made with lemon juice, not pectin. It's bright, fresh, and absolutely delicious. Even better, it only requires three ingredients, and a very short cooking and processing time – great for canning or freezing!

Course Breakfast, Jam, Preserved Food, Preserves

Keyword easy peach jam recipe, low sugar peach jam, low sugar peach jam lemon juice, low sugar peach jam without pectin, peach preserves

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Maceration (Resting) Time 12 hours hours

Servings 8 half-pint jars

Equipment

• Large mixing bowl
• Large non-reactive pot
• Canning pot (water bath)
• Sterilized canning jars and lids
• Jar lifter, canning funnel, etc
• OR freezer-safe storage containers
• Immersion blender (or blender)
• Optional: potato masher

Ingredients

• 4 pounds fresh ripe yellow peaches (peeled and pitted)
• 2 cups organic cane sugar
• 1/4 cup organic bottled lemon juice

Instructions

• Wash, peel, pit and chop the peaches into small peices. (It may be necessary to quickly blanch the peaches to make peeling easier – see instructions in body of post).
• In a large mixing bowl, weigh the prepped peaches and then mix in sugar.
• If you have a potato masher, use it to crush the peaches further.
• Allow the fruit and sugar to sit (macerate) for several hours or overnight. Move to fridge if overnight.
• Prepare and sanitize all necessary canning equipment.
• Combine macerated fruit with lemon juice in a large non-reactive pot.
• Bring to a boil for several minutes, then reduce to a simmer for 10-15 minutes. Stir frequently. Remove from heat.
• Recommended: blend a portion of the jam to increase thickness. We like to keep it fairly chunky still though!
• Transfer hot jam into hot sterilized canning jars. Fill to 1/4" head room in jar. Wipe rims and add lids (rings finger tight only).
• Process in boiling water canner per provided chart above for your elevation (e.g. 5 minutes for 0-1000 feet, 10 minutes for 1001-6000 feet – for pints or half pints)
• Store sealed jars in a cool dark location (e.g. pantry or cellar) and use within one year for best quality. Once open, store unsealed jars in the refrigerator and use within one to two months.

Notes

Freezing instructions: Once the jam has finished cooking, allow it to cool slightly and then transfer it into clean jars *wide mouth* pint or half-pint jars, or other freezer-safe food storage containers. Leave at least a half-inch to an inch of head space. (Look for the “fill line” on glass jars.) Allow the jam to fully cool before freezing. For best results, rapidly cool the jars of jam in the refrigerator and then transfer them to the freezer once they’re cold. Use within 6 months for best quality.

And that’s how to make fresh, delicious low sugar apricot jam without pectin!

I hope you love this bright flavorful jam as much as we do. Please let us know by leaving a comment or review below. Also feel free to ask any questions you may have. Otherwise, it’s time for me to go eat breakfast… and I know what’s on the menu! Keep on jammin’ y’all.

You may also like:

• Simple Low Sugar Apricot Jam Recipe without Pectin
• Preserving Apples: How to Make Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar
• How to Make Dehydrated Lemon Powder + 13 Ways to Use It
• How to Dry Orange Slices for Holiday Decor, Two Ways
• How to Make Easy Dried Persimmons (Oven or Dehydrator)

The post Easy Low Sugar Peach Jam Without Pectin (Canning or Freeze) appeared first on Homestead and Chill.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to freeze whole or cut green beans with and without blanching, including tips on how to prepare, pack, and cook frozen green beans for the best quality, texture, and long term storage. We often steam blanch our garden green beans before freezing, though you can use a classic water bath blanch (or skip blanching entirely).

Freezing green beans is a wonderful, easy way to preserve them. We love to freeze green beans from the garden to toss in homemade soup all winter long. Looking for other ways to preserve green beans? Try our quick pickled green beans recipe (canning or refrigerator pickles) or this lacto-fermented dilly green beans recipe.  

Freezing green beans from the garden

The tips in this post apply to freezing all types of green beans – including classic string beans, pole beans, French haricots, snap beans, and more. We mostly grow flat Romano-style pole beans these days. No matter the type, fresh is best! Older beans have already started to naturally degrade, so they won’t hold up quite as well once frozen. That said, homegrown green beans are ideal to freeze compared to grocery store beans, which were likely picked many many weeks before they hit the store. If you don’t have a garden, snag super fresh beans at your local farmer’s market instead!

To freeze green beans from the garden, try do so soon after harvesting them (within a couple of days). Store harvested beans in the fridge in a plastic bag to keep them firm and fresh in the meantime. Also try to choose the most tender, crisp beans from the garden to freeze – not overgrown, tough, stringy ones.

Can you freeze green beans without blanching?

Sure! To save time and a few steps, you can freeze green beans without blanching them first.  Simply wash, dry, trim, and pack the green beans into freezer containers, leaving as little air in the container as possible (explained in more detail below). 

It is perfectly safe to freeze green beans without blanching. However, food preservation experts do recommend blanching green beans first for the best results and texture – especially for long term storage. Therefore, freezing green beans raw is ideal for a small volume of beans that you plan to use within a couple months.

What happens if you freeze green beans without blanching?

If you freeze green beans without blanching them first, the texture, color, and taste won’t be quite as fresh when you defrost and eat them after long-term storage. They’ll be good for a couple of months in the freezer, but quickly go downhill thereafter. So, if you want your frozen green beans to last to their fullest potential (up to a year) in the freezer, you probably want to blanch them first.

Here is the science behind it: when fruits and vegetables are frozen, natural enzymes cause them to deteriorate over time. Freezing slows down the enzyme activity and spoilage, but doesn’t stop it entirely. This is especially true for vegetables (more so than fruit) and is why frozen vegetables are sometimes mushy. 

Yet by quickly blanching green beans (partially cooking) in boiling water or steam before freezing, those pesky enzymes are deactivated and halted. Meaning, green beans that are blanched before freezing will retain better texture, flavor, nutrients, and more vibrant color in long term storage (several months or longer) compared to those that were frozen fresh raw. 

How to Prepare Green Beans for Freezing: Step-by-Step

1) Wash & Trim 

You can leave green beans whole to freeze, or cut them into smaller pieces. I do a little of both! We sometimes add whole frozen green beans into meals (e.g. stir fry or as a side), but especially love freezing bite-size beans that are ready to toss into soups, stews, or chili. 

• Start by washing the green beans by rinsing them under cool water.
• Trim off the woody stem end, but there’s no need to cut off the other tender pointed tip.
• Cut or snap into pieces, or leave whole. 

Note: Cut green beans are more prone to getting water-logged from the blanching and ice bath process than whole beans, but steam blanching and/or thoroughly drying before freezing after can help reduce that.

If you’re not going to blanch your beans, you can skip the next two steps and go straight to drying and packing. 

Step 2) Blanching Green Beans

To blanch green beans before freezing, you can either use the boiling water method or a steam blanch. 

• Bring a large pot of water with a pinch of salt to a rolling boil, OR use a pot with a steamer basket insert and lid. If using a steamer, add enough water so that it covers the bottom of the pot but not so deep that it touches the steamer insert. Either way, ensure the pot is fully heated and steamy before adding the beans.
  
• Once the water is boiling (or the pot is filled with steam), add the green beans. When steam blanching, don’t overfill the pot – leave some room to toss them. Cover the pot with a lid and set a timer right away. Don’t overcook them!
  
• Blanch green beans for 2 to 3 minutes maximum. I’ve seen recommendations for 2 minutes for smaller beans or cut pieces, and 3 minutes for larger whole beans. If using a steamer, stop and toss the green beans with tongs halfway through to promote even cooking. When boiling, start counting once the water returns to a boil after adding the beans.
  
• If blanching several batches, return the pot to a boil/steam before processing the next batch.

Step 3) Ice Bath

It’s important to quickly transfer blanched green beans to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. So, set up an ice bath (a large bowl of water and ice) and have it ready before you blanch the beans.

• Immediately after blanching, carefully transfer the green beans to the ice water. Use tongs or a wire skimmer to fish them out of the boiling water, or just lift and dump out the basket if using a steamer. 
• Allow the green beans to soak and cool in the ice bath for 3 to 4 minutes. 
• Add more ice between batches as needed to keep the water icy cold. 

Step 4) Dry

Whether you’re freezing blanched or raw green beans, drying the beans as much as possible before freezing is key to retaining a decent texture! 

• Transfer the green beans from the ice bath into a colander or strainer to drip dry, gently shaking to remove excess water. 
• Then lay them out in a single layer on a large baking sheet lined with a lint-free towel to air dry further. If you’re processing a lot of green beans, it may be necessary to use several towel-lined pans. Allow them to sit for 30 to 60 minutes until they’re decently dry.
• Turning on a fan nearby and/or patting dry with another towel can help expedite the drying process.  

Step 5) How to store fresh green beans in the freezer: two ways

Now it’s time to pack the cooled dry green beans into freezer containers of choice. 

Resealable freezer bags are one popular option, including ziplock bags or reusable silicone freezer bags like these. Pack the bags full, partially seal the bag, and then press down to remove as much air as possible while sealing it closed. Less air inside the container = less freezer burn! 

Optional “flash freeze”: Before packing freezer bags, lay the beans out in a single layer on a baking tray, freeze the whole tray for a few hours, and then pack the beans into bags once frozen. Flash freezing prevents the beans from sticking together in one big clump. This can be helpful when freezing a large amount of beans together in one bag, making it easy to take out just a small portion to use when needed.

You can also freeze green beans in reusable freezer containers like these durable BPA-free pint containers, or this smaller half-pint option. Similar to bags, I pack them as full as possible (carefully stacking the beans in, not tossing them in willy-nilly) and then press down on the lid while sealing it, reducing the amount of air in the container as much as possible. 

Finally, don’t forget to date and label your freezer containers.

How long do frozen green beans last (stay good)?

Frozen green beans will last in the freezer for up to a year, though quality (texture and flavor) decreases with time. Blanched green beans will be good for at least 8 to 10 months in the freezer, while unblanched green beans are best to use within 3 or 4 months.  

How to cook and use frozen green beans

Frozen green beans, blanched or unblanched, will never be super crunchy like fresh green beans once were. That’s just the reality of frozen foods! The key to preventing mushy frozen green beans largely depends on how you cook them. In fact, you should hardly cook them at all! Especially blanched green beans, since they’ve already been “cooked” for a few minutes before freezing. The goal is to simply reheat them, but as briefly as possible. 

Frozen green beans are perfect to toss straight into stir fry, casseroles, soups, stews, or enjoy on their own as a side. Frozen green beans can be used straight out of the freezer, so it’s not necessary to defrost them first! If desired, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight, or by soaking them (inside their freezer container) in a bowl of cool water. 

To add frozen green beans to a dish (e.g. soup or stir fry), add them to the pot or pan at the very end, once the rest of the dish is essentially done cooking. To reheat green beans to enjoy on their own, I suggest quickly heating them in a skillet with a little butter or oil, salt, and pepper (or other seasonings of choice) – but not cooking them in water. For example, we love to add frozen green beans to homemade tomato basil soup, hearty lentil and kale soup, no-chicken noodle soup – or even into our vegan roasted sugar pie pumpkin 3-bean chili!

And that concludes this lesson.

Have you tried freezing green beans with or without blanching before? What way do you like best? I hope this tutorial helped answer your curiosities and questions about how to freeze green beans from the garden – plus plenty of tips on the best way to store and use them! Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below. If you found this post useful, please consider leaving a review, star rating, or sharing this post!

You may also enjoy:

• Probiotic-Packed “Pickled” Fermented Dilly Green Beans
• How to Grow Bushels of Beans from Seed (Bush Beans & Pole Beans)
• How to Freeze Zucchini (Summer Squash) Two Ways
• How to Freeze Tomatoes (Defrost & Use)
• The “Besto Pesto”: Lemon Walnut Basil Pesto Recipe (freezer friendly)
• Preserving Onions: Oven-Roasted Onions for the Freezer

Print

How to Freeze Green Beans – With or Without Blanching

Learn how to freeze fresh green beans – with and without blanching first. Tips on how to best prepare, store, and cook frozen green beans included. Freezing is a great way to preserve fresh green beans from the garden!

Course Preserved Food, Preserves, Side Dish

Keyword freeze green beans blanching, freeze green beans without blanching, freezing green beans, how to freeze green beans

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 3 minutes minutes

Drying 30 minutes minutes

Equipment

• Large pot or steamer pot (if blanching)
• Large bowl for ice bath (if blanching)
• Lint-free towels
• Freezer containers of choice

Ingredients

• fresh green beans

Instructions

Prep

• Wash the green beans, and trim off the woody stem end.
• Cut or snap into pieces, or leave whole. 
• If you're NOT blanching, skip to drying and packing the freezer containers.

Blanching

• Bring a large pot of water with a pinch of salt to a rolling boil, OR use a pot with a steamer basket insert and lid.
• Once the water is boiling (or the pot is filled with steam), add the green beans. When steam blanching, don’t overfill the pot – leave some room to toss them.
• Cover the pot with a lid and set a timer right away. Don’t overcook them!
• Blanch green beans for 2 to 3 minutes maximum. If using a steamer, stop and toss the green beans with tongs halfway through to promote even cooking. When boiling, start counting once the water returns to a boil after adding the beans.
• If blanching several batches, return the pot to a boil/steam before processing the next batch.

Ice Bath

• Immediately after blanching, carefully transfer the green beans to the ice water. Use tongs or a wire skimmer to fish them out of the boiling water, or simply lift and dump out the basket if using a steamer. 
• Allow the green beans to soak and cool in the ice bath for 3 to 4 minutes. 
• Add more ice between batches as needed to keep the water icy cold. 

Dry

• Transfer the green beans from the ice bath into a colander or strainer to drip dry, gently shaking to remove excess water. 
• Then lay them out in a single layer on a large baking sheet lined with a lint-free towel to dry further. If you’re processing a lot of green beans, it may be necessary to use several towel-lined pans. Allow them to sit for 30 to 60 minutes until they’re decently dry.
• Turning on a fan nearby and/or patting dry with another towel can help expedite the drying process.  

Pack & Freeze

• Pack cooled, dry green beans into freezer containers of choice – such as resealable freezer bags, reusable silicone bags, or other freezer-safe containers.
• Optional “flash freeze”: Before packing freezer bags, lay the beans out in a single layer on a baking tray, freeze the whole tray for a few hours, and then pack the beans into bags once frozen. Flash freezing prevents the beans from sticking together in one big clump.
• Try to pack the containers as full as possible, and press out as much air as possible when sealing. Less air inside = less freezer burn and fresher beans.
• Date and label your freezer containers.
• Frozen green beans will last in the freezer for up to a year, though quality (texture and flavor) decreases with time. Blanched green beans will be good for at least 8 to 10 months in the freezer, while unblanched green beans are best to use within 3 or 4 months. 

Reheating and Using Frozen Green Beans

• Frozen green beans can be used straight from the freezer – no need to thaw or defrost first.
• For the best results and texture, try to reheat them quickly but cook for as little time possible.
• To add frozen green beans to a dish (e.g. soups or stir fry) add them at the very end, once the rest of the dish is almost finished cooking.
• To reheat green beans to enjoy on their own, quickly heat them in a skillet with a little butter or oil, salt, and pepper (or other seasonings of choice) – not by cooking them in water.

The post How to Freeze Green Beans (With or Without Blanching) appeared first on Homestead and Chill.

This list includes recipes of all types: some healthy sourdough discard recipes, some on the sweeter side, others that are savory, some you can bake right away, or recipes you can let sit to ferment for a while… There are plenty of ideas and options for every occasion! 

Looking for more ideas to use sourdough discard, beyond the kitchen? See this post for 7 ways to use discarded starter – besides cooking or baking with it. And if you’re in need of a healthy, active, established starter, we offer organic sourdough starter in our shop! It’s basically foolproof.

What is sourdough starter discard?

Sourdough starter must be routinely fed to keep it alive and healthy. In the process, it’s often required to remove or “discard” a portion of the old starter before feeding it more fresh flour and water. Discarding some starter serves two purposes: 1) it makes room in the jar for fresh ingredients and for the starter to rise, and 2) reduces volume and competition of overly-acidic hungry starter culture, making it easier for the beneficial bacteria and yeast to become active again once fed. 

Yet despite its name, sourdough starter discard doesn’t actually have to be discarded, composted, or thrown away! Tip: save extra discard in its own jar in the refrigerator as you generate it. Then, you’ll have a nice little supply stocked up to use in sourdough discard recipes when you’re ready.

Using sourdough discard in recipes

Sourdough starter discard isn’t “active”, so it won’t help bread rise as well as recently-fed (active) starter. Depending on the age, sourdough discard also tastes significantly more sour and acidic than fresh active starter. 

Instead of wasting it, there are a number of recipes that are perfect to use sourdough starter discard in. The key is to choose recipes that don’t need a big fluffy rise like sourdough bread or focaccia, OR recipes that also call for baking soda, baking powder, or instant yeast to give it rise instead. Plus, using sourdough starter in recipes naturally makes it more healthy than other non-fermented baked goods (learn more about that here).

When using sourdough discard in recipes, you may not want to use reallllllly old neglected starter – like the one that’s been forgotten in the back of your fridge for many months, and has a dark layer of hooch on top. It won’t hurt, but will definitely add a stronger tart flavor to the recipe. Instead, I like to use sourdough discard that has been fed at least once in the last few weeks but isn’t active at the time of use. 

For more tips on sourdough starter maintenance and care, see these related posts:

• How to Feed Your Sourdough Starter + Storage and Care Tips
• Is My Sourdough Starter Bad? How to Revive an Old Inactive Starter
• How to Dehydrate or Dry Sourdough Starter to Preserve It

15 Recipes to Use Sourdough Starter Discard

1) Sourdough Discard Crackers

Instead of wasting your discarded sourdough starter, make our popular herb whole wheat sourdough crackers. They’re crispy, savory, and delicious – perfect for holidays, parties, or just as a healthy snack. We love to pack ours full of fresh herbs, though you can use dried herbs, no herbs at all, add cheese, everything-but-the-bagel seasoning, or other creative add-ins. You can also make sourdough discard crackers with regular all purpose or bread flour too. We simply like the added oomph of nutrition and fiber that whole wheat flour provides!

2) Sourdough Discard Pancakes

Please enjoy these fluffy, golden, easy sourdough pancakes. Homemade sourdough pancakes are absolutely delicious, and more nutritious than boxed pancake mix! I especially love them with homemade fruit preserves like apricot jam or fresh cranberry sauce plus nuts or seeds sprinkled on top. You can use active starter or sourdough discard in this recipe.

3) Spiced Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies with Discard

Sugar and spice, and everything SO nice. Come dig into these drool-worthy spiced sourdough chocolate chip cookies. With flaky sea salt on top, a dash of cinnamon snickerdoodle love, and a hint of warm gingerbread spice, they’re a step above your average chocolate chip cookie. 

4) Delicious Sourdough Zucchini Bread (or Muffins)

You’re going to love this healthy sourdough zucchini bread recipe. It’s easy, flexible, and melt-in-your mouth delicious. Make it vegan, with active or discard starter, turn it into muffins, bake now or later, add chocolate, walnuts or dried fruit… the options are endless. Even better, the recipe has zero refined sugar, and options to use whole wheat flour! This sourdough discard recipe is especially perfect for the summer garden zucchini season. 

5) Sourdough Starter Granola

I love making sourdough recipes that you can eat and enjoy over several days – like this healthy sourdough discard granola from King Arthur. The recipe offers a lot of flexibility and room to customize it with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit of your choice. 

6) Soft and Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies

Soft and chewy on the inside, a tad crispy on the outside, with plenty of warm gingerbread spices and a sugary crackled top… These sourdough ginger molasses cookies are quite possibly the most delicious cookies we’ve ever made. I especially love them around the holiday season, but really… any time is good! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

7) Sourdough Cornbread

When sourdough and cornbread get together, they make some incredibly delicious babies. Golden homemade sourdough cornbread is a delectable combination of fluffy, moist, crumbly, a tiny bit gritty, and perfectly sweet. You’ve gotta try this! Vegan and gluten-free variations included.

8) Healthy Sourdough Pumpkin Spice Bread (or Muffins)

You’re going to love our healthy sourdough pumpkin spice bread. It’s soft, fluffy, mildly sweet, perfectly spiced, and oh-so-delicious. Made with whole wheat pastry flour, ample pumpkin, and no refined sugar, it’s far more nutritious than other sweet breads. I really love it with a schmear of cream cheese on top – no need for sweet frosting! 

9) Homemade Sourdough Tortillas 

Sourdough discard tortillas anyone? Pop over to this recipe from my friend Maurizo to learn how to make them. The recipe only calls for a ¼ cup starter, but is very easy to make – or mess up! You can also prep, roll, and freeze them before cooking.

10) Easy Sourdough Pie Crust Recipe

Come learn how to make a flaky, buttery, absolutely delicious homemade sourdough pie crust. This sourdough pie crust creates the perfect “home” to hold any of your favorite sweet or savory pie fillings – from apple or pumpkin pie to quiche or pot pies. If you’re new to making pie crust from scratch, our clear step-by-step photos and tips should be a big help.

11) Long-Fermented Sourdough Biscuits

If you’re looking for a sourdough discard recipe that you can mix and leave overnight, try these buttery, fluffy long-fermented sourdough biscuits from Farmhouse on Boone. A long fermentation time makes this healthy sourdough discard recipe more nutrient-dense and easier to digest.

12) Baked Sourdough Corn Tortilla Chips

Here’s a unique sourdough discard recipe! Come learn how to make baked sourdough corn chips. The recipe is easy to make, has flexible timing, and can be used with either sourdough starter discard or fresh active starter. Crunchy, flaky, and delicious – these sourdough tortilla corn chips are perfect for dipping in salsa, guacamole, bean dip, hummus, and more. Make a batch for holidays, parties, or just as a healthy homemade snack.

13) Soft Sourdough Pretzels

Who doesn’t love a big, salty, soft pretzel? Try this popular sourdough soft pretzel recipe from good ole King Arthur Baking. The recipe calls for sourdough discard AND instant yeast to help make them puffy.

14) Sourdough Discard Waffles

Sourdough waffles are another great way to use starter discard. These well-rated “No Wait Sourdough Waffles” from the Pantry Mama sound fantastic. She also has a long-fermented waffle batter version of the discard recipe as well. 

15) Sourdough Discard Pizza Crust

Last but not least, pizza. We have our own whole wheat cast iron sourdough pizza crust recipe, but we honestly haven’t made it with discard instead of active starter! (Perhaps I should try…) So in the meantime, please enjoy this popular sourdough discard pizza dough recipe from Taste of Lizzy T. It’s described to have “an amazing flavor without a long waiting time”, and includes tips to achieve the perfectly golden-brown, bubbly crust.

That concludes the list of sourdough discard recipe ideas.

Did you find some great new ideas here? Or, did I miss any of your favorite ways to use discarded sourdough starter? Please let us know in the comments below. I greatly appreciate you tuning into day, and hope you have fun trying these recipes yourself!

You may also enjoy:

• Basic No-Knead Sourdough Bread Recipe
• Simple Sourdough Focaccia Recipe
• Sourdough Stuffing with Apple, Kale, Pecans and Cranberries (Holiday Dressing)
• How to Make Pumpkin Shaped Sourdough Bread Loaf
• 20 Best Sourdough Add-Ins and Topping Ideas
• Rustic Zucchini & Walnut Sourdough Bread Recipe

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