# Store refrigerated pickles. Whats the difference from regular ones?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-refrigerated-pickles-whats-the-difference-from-regular-ones/125764>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 27, 2002, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-refrigerated-pickles-whats-the-difference-from-regular-ones/125764 "2002-08-27T13:24:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jonpluc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/fbc32d/32.png) [@jonpluc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonpluc)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-refrigerated-pickles-whats-the-difference-from-regular-ones/125764/1 "2002-08-27T13:24:13Z")

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It seems that there is a new trend in refrigerated pickles. They are considerably more expensive than the ones you see next to the mustard and catsup. Other than the obvious expence of refrigeration whats the difference? Cant i just take the non refrigerated ones and say, stick them in my own fridge and eliminate the middleman?

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**Author:** ![Squish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-refrigerated-pickles-whats-the-difference-from-regular-ones/125764/2 "2002-08-27T14:10:43Z")

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The refrigerated kind are insufficiently pickled to withstand not being refrigerated. That is, they’re not really pickles: they’re pickling cucumbers floating in spiced water.

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**Author:** ![Newton\_meter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/57b2e6/32.png) [@Newton\_meter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newton_meter)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-refrigerated-pickles-whats-the-difference-from-regular-ones/125764/3 "2002-08-27T19:04:48Z")

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Not really pickles? Sounds more like a great debate to me.

Leaving aside the question of the picklehood of refrigerated pickles, **Squish** ’s answer is essentially right. Refrigerated pickles have no or little vinegar. They are cured by sitting in a salt brine and fermenting. They must be refrigerated to slow their fermentation. In addition, they are usually packed fresh; and they turn out crisper.

To prove that there is actually a web site for everything you might imagine, [click here](http://www.ilovepickles.org/education/howpicklesmade.html).

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**Author:** ![Squish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-refrigerated-pickles-whats-the-difference-from-regular-ones/125764/4 "2002-08-27T20:35:23Z")

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Sorry, **Newton** , I’m a Heinz person all the way! 😃

Seriously, I’ve had the refrigerated kind and they just didn’t seem to have the right tartness; tasted more like salted cucumbers to me. They may be more crispy, but the ad campaign that says regular pickles are limp and soggy is overblowing it: regular pickles are perfectly crispy.

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**Author:** ![Squish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-refrigerated-pickles-whats-the-difference-from-regular-ones/125764/5 "2002-08-27T20:44:56Z")

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Sorry, **Newton** , I’m a Heinz person all the way! 😃

Seriously, I’ve had the refrigerated kind and they just didn’t seem to have the right tartness; tasted more like salted cucumbers to me. They may be more crispy, but the ad campaign that says regular pickles are limp and soggy is overblowing it: regular pickles are perfectly crispy.