How to Give Homemade Pickles as a Gift

Which vegetables make the best gift pickles?

Ones that hold their shape and colour in the jar. Carrots, green beans and cauliflower all do.

What jar should you use for a gift?

Simple, uncluttered glass - the pickle is the decoration. A swing-top jar or a fabric lid cover reads as "homemade gift", not "leftover Tupperware".

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What should go on a gift jar label?

The flavour, the date it was made, and a "keep refrigerated" or "refrigerate after opening" note. A handwritten label goes a long way.

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How far ahead should you make gift pickles?

Make a fridge pickle at least a week before you give it, so the flavours have time to develop.

Do gift pickles need to be kept in the fridge?

Yes, unless the jars have been properly canned in a water bath and sealed - which is why every gift jar should carry a "keep refrigerated" note. Properly canned jars can be kept somewhere cool and dark until they are opened, then go in the fridge like any other.