# Do pickles need to 'swim' in their juice? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** soda-softdrinks\ **Created:** [August 31, 2010, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119 "2010-08-31T13:02:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/1 "2010-08-31T13:02:11Z")
If I buy a jar of pickles, chips I mean, can i drain the juice out and let them stay in the refrigerator juiceless? Or do they need to sit in the brine at all times? ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/2 "2010-08-31T14:50:06Z")
I know the jar probably suggests it, but do they really even need to be in the 'fridge in the first place. They’re pickled. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/3 "2010-08-31T15:13:46Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > I know the jar probably suggests it, but do they really even need to be in the 'fridge in the first place. They’re pickled. From the [Mt. Olive website](http://www.mtolivepickles.com/products/product-faqs/): > [@](#): > > Pickles will keep indefinitely in your refrigerator. Refrigeration ensures product quality remains intact over time, and in the case of fresh pack items it prevents fermentation. > > Fermentation is a natural process, and eating fermented pickles does not pose a health threat (fermented pickles just may not look and taste as appetizing.) A telltale sign of fermentation is a milky, cloudy appearance in the juice. As far as the necessity of the juice, not entirely sure. I always assumed it just prevented them from drying out (considering they’re saturated with salt). ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/4 "2010-08-31T15:20:34Z")
They’ll keep best in their juice and in the fridge. What would be the reason for draining and then storing? ---
**Author:** ![No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/5 "2010-08-31T16:35:18Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > They’ll keep best in their juice and in the fridge. > > What would be the reason for draining and then storing? You don’t want hamburger chips wet from the juice on the hamberger, just the pickle – so it saves a step of having to dry off the pickles. ---
**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:** [August 31, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/6 "2010-08-31T17:01:22Z")
I wouldn’t leave the pickle chips out very long, but for a day’s worth of hamburgers I wouldn’t worry. But I’d still store them wet and cold. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/7 "2010-08-31T17:08:35Z")
> [@sassyfras](#): > > You don’t want hamburger chips wet from the juice on the hamberger, just the pickle – so it saves a step of having to dry off the pickles. Dry off the pickle? For real? I imagine that disposing of the paper towel you dried off your pickle with would go something like this: > [@](#): > > We take our paper towel, two pieces, unbroken, lay it out neatly, dump the refuse inside, arranged neatly … [assembles the garbage] … let’s take these little nasties we separated earlier, put that back … fold over carefully, making sure the corners are square … and … we take a piece of aluminum foil, and we place our refuse onto the foil, and fold over very carefully - this way, it won’t leak onto the other garbage. Aluminum foil is such a miracle product! It’s really an extraordinary product. Alright, and then we take a brown, paper sandwich bag … [opens bag] …place the refuse inside … [drops it in] …and … oh no, this bag is torn.. [looks around] Well … no, that’s alright. We’ll just fold over, and no one will see. We’ll fold it over twice to be careful … then we get our tape. [grabs tape, which is naturally covered in a cozy] And, we tape it shut - be very careful to center the tape on the bag. I like to keep my tape dispenser right here on the counter. There we go! [holds up bag] All ready for the trash. Now that’s some garbage you can live with! [laughs]–_Anal Retentive Chef_ ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/8 "2010-08-31T17:25:35Z")
You give the pickles a shake when you take them out of the jar. That’s dry enough. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/9 "2010-08-31T18:51:31Z")
Or put something like a slice of cheese between the pickles and bun. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/10 "2010-08-31T19:59:20Z")
Whenever I get a new jar of pickles, the ones at the top (i.e., floating partially outside of the brine), are always terribly soft and devoid of crunchiness. So, I would presume that the same effect would be produced if you drained your pickles and put them back in the fridge. Don’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/11 "2010-08-31T20:03:15Z")
> [@Tahssa](#): > > Or put something like a slice of cheese between the pickles and bun. But then you either get cheese that doesn’t melt entirely due to pickle-separation from the meat, or else you get _cheese_ that is covered in pickle juice, which is even worse than the bun-pickle combo. ---
**Author:** ![filling\_pages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@filling\_pages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filling_pages)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/12 "2010-08-31T20:37:42Z")
I have to say, this is a worry I don’t understand. How wet can these pickles possibly be that you have to dry them off before you put them on your burger? Then again, I like to drink pickle juice from the jar, so there you go. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/13 "2010-08-31T20:41:11Z")
If you get a rat’s clothesline and clothespins, you should be able to hang up each pickle slice for an hour or two before serving. (Cause like, they toootally sell those at Costco.) ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/14 "2010-08-31T20:47:14Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > You give the pickles a shake when you take them out of the jar. But no more than three! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/15 "2010-08-31T20:49:43Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > You give the pickles a shake when you take them out of the jar. That’s dry enough. Yeah, I don’t scoop them directly from the jar to the burger. I take one out with a fork, let it drip for a second, then on it goes. But a tasty way to ensure a dry top bun it to spread a very thin layer of mayo on it. Instant waterproofing! (More work than drying off the pickles, though.) I now know what I’m having for dinner. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/16 "2010-08-31T20:50:55Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > > [@Chronos](#): > > > > You give the pickles a shake when you take them out of the jar. > > But no more than three! Because more than three shakes and you’re gherkin it. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/17 "2010-08-31T20:54:52Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > > [@Contrapuntal](#): > > > > But no more than three! > > Because more than three shakes and you’re gherkin it. Niiice. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/18 "2010-08-31T21:45:07Z")
And here I was thinking that **Contrapuntal** had the punchline. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/19 "2010-08-31T21:51:43Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And here I was thinking that **Contrapuntal** had the punchline. Sometimes the race \*is \*to the swift. ---
**Author:** ![No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119/20 "2010-09-01T17:22:48Z")
[quote=“Casey1505, post:7, topic:552119”] > [@sassyfras](#): > > You don’t want hamburger chips wet from the juice on the hamberger, just the pickle – so it saves a step of having to dry off the pickles. Dry off the pickle? For real? I imagine that disposing of the paper towel you dried off your pickle with would go something like this: > [@](#): > > Very long fake quote . . . Please spare me your very lengthy (who is being retentive now?) reductio ad absurdum logical fallacy, which you use to make yourself feel superior. As if not wanting pickle juice, and drying them off in a matter of a second, was some kind of psychological syndrome! What an insulting person you are, or at least a pretend insult. Do you also simply place lettuce after washing it on a plate, and mix the dressing with the water left over still on the leaf? Check out my thread about what is high class and low class – and enjoy your pickle juice. Your taste is as good as your manners. _Though I admit it is low class to have pickles at all . . ._ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pickles-need-to-swim-in-their-juice/552119.md?page=2)