Recipe · brine · Eastern European / Polish

Full-Sour Pickle

The traditional ogórki kiszone. 14-21 days at cool temps produces fully sour pickles with yellow-olive color, translucent interior, intense tang. Shelf-stable for months due to high acidity + salt + cool storage. Never refrigerated during ferment.

Brine %
5.00%
Primary
14.0 days
Secondary
30.0 days
Temperature
60-68°F (15-20°C)
Vessel
crock or wide-mouth jar

Technique

Higher brine concentration than half-sour (5% instead of 3.5%) and cooler ferment (60-68°F is ideal — basement, root cellar, pantry in winter). Cucumbers + dill + garlic + horseradish root (1-2 slices per jar, for crunch) + mustard seed. Ferment 2-3 weeks. When brine is cloudy and pickles are uniformly yellow-olive with a firm crunchy texture, done. Can store cool (<60°F) for 3-4 months or refrigerate indefinitely.

Source: Polish Housewife — traditional ogórki kiszone.

Run the math: salt % · brine · temperature timing