# "Bread and butter" pickles

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bread-and-butter-pickles/394352>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 2, 2007, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bread-and-butter-pickles/394352 "2007-03-02T20:56:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bread-and-butter-pickles/394352/1 "2007-03-02T20:56:40Z")

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I’m putting this in this forum because I am looking for a factual answer. Why are sweet pickled cucumbers called “bread and butter” pickles? (Yes, I know that they’re sometimes called “sweet pickles.”) What I want to know is, why “bread and butter”? Thanks.

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**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bread-and-butter-pickles/394352/2 "2007-03-02T21:07:57Z")

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\*The term bread and butter pickles actually comes from Sweden’s smorgasbord – which is a table of delicacies eaten as appetizers before dinner. Included are several kinds of breads and butter, as well as pickled vegetables, (including pickled cucumbers) pickled and smoked fish and meats. Smorgasbord means “bread and butter table.” \*

From [here](http://www.mtolivepickles.com/AskMrCrisp/FAQ.html).

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**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bread-and-butter-pickles/394352/3 "2007-03-02T21:18:29Z")

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They might be a type of sweet pickle, but bread and butter pickles aren’t quite the same sweet as say a sweet gherkin. Just a quick scan of recipes seems to indicate about the only significant difference is the addition of onions to the bread and butter pickles.

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**Author:** ![ShiefferSaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@ShiefferSaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShiefferSaw)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bread-and-butter-pickles/394352/4 "2007-03-02T21:37:14Z")

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I was under the impression that bread and butter pickles are a completely different flavor than sweet pickles. Just like sweet is different than dill. I could be wrong though… anyways they taste good!