From www.simplycanning.com web site

Crunchy Dill Pickle Recipe

Finally I'm getting Crunchy Dill Pickles!

No matter what dill pickle recipe you use, I highly recommend you use fresh picked small pickling cucumbers. I try for no bigger than my thumb. Anything too much bigger gets made into relish or bread and butter pickles.

I also recommend canning these in pints. Quarts must be processed longer and tend to get mushy. (at least in my experience)

Easy Dill Pickle Recipe

Ingredients

8 lbs of 3-4 inch pickling cucumbers
2 gals water
1 1/4 cups canning or pickling salt
1 1/2 qts vinegar (5 percent)
1/4 cup sugar
2 quarts water
2 T whole mixed pickling spice ( I use a homemade recipe - click here)
whole mustard seed (2 tsp to 1 tsp per pint jar)
fresh dill (1 1/2 heads per pint jar) or 4 1/2 T dill seed (1 1/2 tsp per pint jar)

Question from my inbox:

Sharon, For the Dill Pickles, it doesn't mention slicing or halving or quartering the pickles, but in the picture it looks as if some of them have be sliced. Can you clarify? Thanks. Also, thanks for sharing with everyone!

Good question. We prefer our pickles when they are small and whole. And I usually process bigger pickles into relish.

Sometimes if I have room for just one more jar, I'll go ahead and quarter or halve some cucumbers that are just a little bigger than we like. That way I'm running a full batch of jars.

So either is fine, we prefer whole and small. :)

Wash your cucumbers and thinly slice off the blossom end. (the blossoms have an enzyme that will make your pickles soft)

Add 3/4 cup salt dissolved in 2 gallons water. Soak cucumbers in water for 12 hours. Drain and get your canning supplies together.

Gather your canning supplies

water bath canner
canning jars
canning seals and rings
jar lifter
canning funnel
large pot
bowls
large spoons
sharp knife
towels and dish cloths
Pot or kettle for the brine
ladle

Get the water in your canner heating while you prepare your pickles.

Combine vinegar, 1/2 cup salt, sugar, and 2 quarts of water. Place pickling spices in a cheesecloth and place in your vinegar brine. Heat to boiling.

Tip: I use my stainless steel teapot to make my brine, it makes filling the jars super easy!

For more tips and canning safety instruction see Simply Canning... the book.

Fill jars with drained cucumbers. Add:

1 tsp mustard seed and
1 head fresh dill or 1 tsp dill seed per pint.

Fill jars with hot pickling brine. Leave a 1/2 inch head space.

I've included directions below for both a regular hot water bath and the low temperature process. The timing for the two methods is different.

Be sure you are using the correct time with the correct method.

Hot Water Bath Processing

Processing time will vary according to your elevation. Read why altitude adjustments here.

Altitude - processing time:

0-1000 ft - 10 minutes

1000-6000 ft - 15 minutes

over 6000 ft - 20 minutes

Low Temperature Process

This recipe comes from the NCFHFP website and is safe for low temperature processing. If you are not familiar with low temperature pasteurization please read this and then come back.

Remember to use a thermometer and monitor your time carefully.

Have your canner ready and half full of warm water. About 120 to 140 degrees F. Also have a kettle or other pot of hot water ready.

Place your filled jars in the half full canner. Now add hot water to 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Turn on your heat and warm water to 180 to 185 degrees. Use your thermometer and be sure this is maintained for 30 minutes. This is longer than the time indicated in the regular waterbath processing.

When 30 minutes is done turn your heat off and remove your jars to a counter to cool. Check the seals after the jars are completely cooled off. I usually leave mine until the next day and check them, label and store them.