Lets talk about pickles

puddytay · 08-12-08, 12:39 PM

Can anyone explain to me why pickles from the store taste so incredibly different from the restaurant?

Any and all fast food restaurants pickles are thin and fantastic. The ones you find in the store are thicker and have a strange taste to them. Am I just buying the wrong kinds? Over the years I've tried several and they all taste like crap... Anyone else notice this?

whoopdido · 08-12-08, 01:44 PM

I feel the complete opposite. To me McDonald's and other fast food restaurants have terrible pickles that are almost inedible.

Maybe you just like the taste of cheap pickles.

starman9000 · 08-12-08, 01:47 PM

Yeah, which pickles are you buying in the store? You'd probably like the ones that come in a giant plastic jar (most stores have a little section with giant jars of Mayo, Pickles, etc)

Mrs. Danger · 08-12-08, 01:49 PM

I like the thin, crisp "hamburger dills". When I am eating pickles, I don't want to taste cucumber, I want to taste pickle.

They are the cheapest kind of pickle out there, and usually do come in huge jars. They are getting harder to find for some reason. I guess people want "fancier" foods.

Brian Shannon · 08-12-08, 01:51 PM

Pickles are disgusting

JaxComet · 08-12-08, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Shannon

Pickles are disgusting

Pickles are one of the few foods that actually produce a gag reflex from me. When ordering a sandwich I'll ask that they don't even put one on my plate in fear that the juice might get on my food.

spainlinx0 · 08-12-08, 01:59 PM

I liked the pickles we had at the deli I worked at. They came in a huge white bucket. I like a very crisp slightly sweet pickle, but I can't really tell which ones those are in the store. They usually end up being too soft.

whoopdido · 08-12-08, 02:03 PM

Like I said, you might just like the taste of cheaper pickles rather than "fancy" pickles. Just a personal preference. Maybe try Sam's Club or Aldi or wherever you can get the cheapest pickles.

sracer · 08-12-08, 02:04 PM

Pickle chips are pickle chips. But if we're talking whole pickles, then there is no pickle better than the sour garlic pickles in brine (not vinegar). Pickles like Bubbie's are the best! Unfortunately, virtually all pickles in supermarkets are of the vinegar dill variety... like Vlasic.... bleccch.

The Cow · 08-12-08, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaxComet

Pickles are one of the few foods that actually produce a gag reflex from me. When ordering a sandwich I'll ask that they don't even put one on my plate in fear that the juice might get on my food.

I'm with you on that one. Pickle juice invading the bun makes for a nasty bun.

matta · 08-12-08, 02:09 PM

I thought this was about Ted's Montana Grill's half sour pickles.

Awesome... I wish I knew how to make them.

LiquidSky · 08-12-08, 02:22 PM

I love me a good kosher dill!

bunkaroo · 08-12-08, 02:25 PM

I've had the same problem OP.

Deli pickles are great from the place by my office. Then I get a store bought jar and they're no good. Too soggy, too soft and bad flavor.

For a while I was buying a $5 container of fresh pickles in the deli section of our supermarket from The Puckered Pickle, but the flavor was wildly inconsistent from batch to batch.

I've finally settled on Claussen since they are refrigerated and don't have that same preservative-soggy taste and texture that the non-refrigerated pickles have (Vlasic, etc.).

Noonan · 08-12-08, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sracer

Pickle chips are pickle chips. But if we're talking whole pickles, then there is no pickle better than the sour garlic pickles in brine (not vinegar). Pickles like Bubbie's are the best! Unfortunately, virtually all pickles in supermarkets are of the vinegar dill variety... like Vlasic.... bleccch.

I never thought about that (brine vs vinegar). I agree with the OP and this could be why. I've tried many variety of Vlasic's and a few other and they're all awful. This goes for both Dills and half-sours.

bunkaroo · 08-12-08, 02:47 PM

So what would deli pickles likely be from, brine?

clckworang · 08-12-08, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Cow

I'm with you on that one. Pickle juice invading the bun makes for a nasty bun.

Yeah, just never acquired the taste for pickles. And the smell, too! Just awful. When I used to work at a tennis pro shop, we sold whole pickles and I always hated when someone would buy one because the smell would just fill the whole room.

matta · 08-12-08, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiquidSky

I love me a good kosher dill!

tasha99 · 08-12-08, 03:43 PM

Huh. I can't stand fast food pickles unless by fast food you mean a good deli. I prefer the kind of pickles that have to be refrigerated, like Claussen. The canned kinds are too soft for my taste.

aJOHNymous · 08-12-08, 03:51 PM

pickles.

pickles!

PICKLES!!!!!

Giantrobo · 08-12-08, 03:52 PM

Bread & Butter Pickles.

Hiro11 · 08-12-08, 03:57 PM

Kimchi

Giantrobo · 08-12-08, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiro11

Kimchi

I had some 2 weeks ago.

Noonan · 08-12-08, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiro11

Kimchi

I always keep a jar in my fridge. Love that stuff.

Palaver · 08-12-08, 04:35 PM

Another vote for Claussen

Good stuff

wabio · 08-12-08, 04:54 PM

Yes. Claussen is excellent. Sandwich pickles at McDonalds are disgusting.

08-12-08, 12:39 PM	#1
puddytay Banned Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 890	Lets talk about pickles Can anyone explain to me why pickles from the store taste so incredibly different from the restaurant? Any and all fast food restaurants pickles are thin and fantastic. The ones you find in the store are thicker and have a strange taste to them. Am I just buying the wrong kinds? Over the years I've tried several and they all taste like crap... Anyone else notice this?

08-12-08, 01:51 PM	#5
Brian Shannon DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jun 1999 Location: USA Posts: 11,528	Pickles are disgusting __________________ Brian Shannon Photography Brian Shannon Photography Blog Brian Shannon on 500px

08-12-08, 01:59 PM	#7
spainlinx0 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: NJ Posts: 12,229	I liked the pickles we had at the deli I worked at. They came in a huge white bucket. I like a very crisp slightly sweet pickle, but I can't really tell which ones those are in the store. They usually end up being too soft. __________________ 360: Scorpy Gkar

08-12-08, 02:04 PM	#9
sracer DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Prescott Valley, AZ Posts: 9,010	Pickle chips are pickle chips. But if we're talking whole pickles, then there is no pickle better than the sour garlic pickles in brine (not vinegar). Pickles like Bubbie's are the best! Unfortunately, virtually all pickles in supermarkets are of the vinegar dill variety... like Vlasic.... bleccch. __________________ "With regard to healthcare reform... you are either on the bus, or under it." - President Obama

08-12-08, 03:51 PM	#19
aJOHNymous Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 795	pickles. pickles! PICKLES!!!!! __________________ aJOHNymous musings

08-12-08, 01:44 PM	#2
whoopdido DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 6,306	I feel the complete opposite. To me McDonald's and other fast food restaurants have terrible pickles that are almost inedible. Maybe you just like the taste of cheap pickles.

08-12-08, 01:47 PM	#3
starman9000 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: MN Posts: 22,742	Yeah, which pickles are you buying in the store? You'd probably like the ones that come in a giant plastic jar (most stores have a little section with giant jars of Mayo, Pickles, etc)

08-12-08, 01:49 PM	#4
Mrs. Danger Suspended Join Date: May 2005 Location: With Nick Danger Posts: 15,192	I like the thin, crisp "hamburger dills". When I am eating pickles, I don't want to taste cucumber, I want to taste pickle. They are the cheapest kind of pickle out there, and usually do come in huge jars. They are getting harder to find for some reason. I guess people want "fancier" foods.

08-12-08, 02:03 PM	#8
whoopdido DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 6,306	Like I said, you might just like the taste of cheaper pickles rather than "fancy" pickles. Just a personal preference. Maybe try Sam's Club or Aldi or wherever you can get the cheapest pickles.

08-12-08, 02:09 PM	#11
matta Banned Join Date: May 2000 Location: Wheaton MD Posts: 16,215	I thought this was about Ted's Montana Grill's half sour pickles. Awesome... I wish I knew how to make them.

08-12-08, 02:22 PM	#12
LiquidSky DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Pokey Dot Lounge, Nashville, TN Posts: 8,712	I love me a good kosher dill!

08-12-08, 02:25 PM	#13
bunkaroo DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 11,880	I've had the same problem OP. Deli pickles are great from the place by my office. Then I get a store bought jar and they're no good. Too soggy, too soft and bad flavor. For a while I was buying a $5 container of fresh pickles in the deli section of our supermarket from The Puckered Pickle, but the flavor was wildly inconsistent from batch to batch. I've finally settled on Claussen since they are refrigerated and don't have that same preservative-soggy taste and texture that the non-refrigerated pickles have (Vlasic, etc.).

08-12-08, 02:47 PM	#15
bunkaroo DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 11,880	So what would deli pickles likely be from, brine?

08-12-08, 03:43 PM	#18
tasha99 DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: the North Posts: 4,722	Huh. I can't stand fast food pickles unless by fast food you mean a good deli. I prefer the kind of pickles that have to be refrigerated, like Claussen. The canned kinds are too soft for my taste.

08-12-08, 03:52 PM	#20
Giantrobo DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: TORRANCE, CA Posts: 48,287	Bread & Butter Pickles. __________________ XBOX Gamertag: Giantrobo On my 4th 360 as of 3.26.10

08-12-08, 03:57 PM	#21
Hiro11 DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 6,745	Kimchi __________________ What's that? Jessie and Prospector are trapped in the old abandoned mine and Prospector just lit a stick of dynamite thinking it was a candle and now they're about to be blown to smithereens?

08-12-08, 04:35 PM	#24
Palaver DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 4,470	Another vote for Claussen Good stuff __________________ Genius is childhood recalled at will.

08-12-08, 04:54 PM	#25
wabio DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: in Bush territory! Posts: 11,613	Yes. Claussen is excellent. Sandwich pickles at McDonalds are disgusting. __________________ wabio's Economic Threat-O-Meter: [ ] No biggie. [ ] This sucks. [ ] Oh sh_t! [X] The wheels are coming off!! [ ] Time to fear GOD!!!