# Would a vagina really pickle a cucumber? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 20, 2010, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775 "2010-10-20T14:17:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/1 "2010-10-20T14:17:40Z")
As in the Family Guy episode [The Fat Guy Strangler](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fat_Guy_Strangler). Of course, Marion was imaginary, which is probably how the joke got by the censors. What would happen if it was done in real life? ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/2 "2010-10-20T14:19:02Z")
Do you believe that a vagina naturally contains salt, vinegar, and perhaps dill? ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/3 "2010-10-20T14:29:28Z")
This thread was why I joined the SD message boards. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/4 "2010-10-20T14:43:12Z")
Getting a Rabbi to certify it as Kosher would be interesting… ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/5 "2010-10-20T14:48:23Z")
If a woman left a cucumber in her vagina for 3 weeks, she’d have a lot of things but a pickle wouldn’t be one of them. Raging infection from rotting vegetable matter is most likely. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/6 "2010-10-20T15:34:50Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Do you believe that a vagina naturally contains salt, vinegar, and perhaps dill? You don’t need vinegar for pickling. Just a brine will do. (It’ll naturally sour from Leuconostoc and Lactobacillus bacteria.) But, no, I don’t think the vagina is going to contain the right conditions for this. ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/7 "2010-10-20T15:35:01Z")
Seems possible if we only consider the pH… [http://women.webmd.com/vaginal-wet-mount](http://women.webmd.com/vaginal-wet-mount) > [@](#): > > The normal vaginal pH is 3.8 to 4.5. > **[Pickling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickling)** > > Pickling is the process of preserving or extending the shelf life of food by either anaerobic fermentation in brine or immersion in vinegar. The pickling procedure typically affects the food's texture and flavor. The resulting food is called a pickle, or, if named, the name is prefaced with the word "pickled". Foods that are pickled include vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, meats, fish, dairy and eggs. > Pickling solutions are typically highly acidic, with a pH of 4.6 or lower, and high in salt, prev... > [@](#): > > a pH less than 4.6, which is sufficient to kill most bacteria. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/8 "2010-10-20T15:54:56Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > You don’t need vinegar for pickling. Just a brine will do. (It’ll naturally sour from Leuconostoc and Lactobacillus bacteria.) Brine: water saturated or nearly saturated with salt, is not naturally found within the vagina, any more than bay leaves or mustard seeds are. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/9 "2010-10-20T15:55:44Z")
“Tonight’s episode of Mythbusters contains material intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.” ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/10 "2010-10-20T15:59:27Z")
Wiki article on pickling seems to indicate that “brine and/or vinegar” is used – I think salt is not required depending on your definition of “pickle.” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/11 "2010-10-20T16:04:59Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Brine: water saturated or nearly saturated with salt, is not naturally found within the vagina, any more than bay leaves or mustard seeds are. Actually, a pickle brine is anywhere from 3-10% salt. I use a 5% brine. Not even close to saturation with salt. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/12 "2010-10-20T16:09:12Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > “Tonight’s episode of Mythbusters contains material intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.” Kari: “No way in _hell_, guys. I quit.” ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/13 "2010-10-20T17:36:58Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > “Tonight’s episode of Mythbusters contains material intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.” > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Kari: “No way in _hell_, guys. I quit.” aw come on, it’s just a miniature not a slicer. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/14 "2010-10-20T17:38:10Z")
Would douching help? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/15 "2010-10-20T17:42:13Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > Would douching help? I really wish you had posted that in the wrong thread by accident… ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/16 "2010-10-20T17:45:50Z")
Am I the only one thinking “time for an experiment”? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/17 "2010-10-20T17:58:50Z")
Poor Mrs. Piper! ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/18 "2010-10-20T18:05:32Z")
Suddenly, the apocryphal _Washington Post_ “Style” section headline about home canning\* takes on a new meaning. \*You Can Put Pickles Up Yourself ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/19 "2010-10-20T18:35:48Z")
Um…Annie, In those photographs they aren’t really trying to make pickles. Glad to help ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775/20 "2010-10-20T18:42:32Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Do you believe that a vagina naturally contains salt, vinegar, and perhaps dill? [I suppose he was a rather curious sort.](http://www.liketelevision.com/liketelevision/images/lowrez/killmockingbird215.jpg) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-vagina-really-pickle-a-cucumber/557775.md?page=2)