Are pickles keto-friendly?
Plain cucumbers are low in carbohydrates, and a simple dill pickle made with vinegar, water, salt, and spices is generally considered a low-carb food. That is why pickles show up in many keto and low-carb eating plans. The one thing to watch is sugar. Sweet pickles, bread-and-butter pickles, and many “sweet and spicy” styles are made with a lot of sugar, which adds carbs quickly.
We are not dietitians, and carb allowances differ from person to person, so check nutrition labels and talk to a health professional if you have a medical condition or follow a specific plan.
Check the label, or make your own
Store-bought pickles vary. Dill and kosher-style pickles are usually lower in sugar, while sweet styles often list sugar or corn syrup near the top of the ingredients. Even some dill pickles contain a little sugar. Reading the nutrition panel for carbs per serving is the dependable way to know.
Making your own lets you control the ingredients. A basic brine needs only vinegar, water, and salt.
Sugar-free refrigerator recipe
This is a refrigerator recipe, not a canning recipe.
Ingredients for about 2 pint jars
- 1 to 1 1/4 pounds small cucumbers (Persian, Kirby, or similar), sliced into rounds, spears, or chips
- 1 1/2 cups white or apple cider vinegar (5% acidity)
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon canning or pickling salt (or about 2 tablespoons kosher salt)
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed
- A few sprigs of fresh dill, or 1 teaspoon dill seed
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard seed or black peppercorns, optional
- Optional: a bay leaf or pinch of red pepper flakes
Steps
- Wash the cucumbers, trim the ends, and slice. For crunch, set them in a colander with ice for 20 to 30 minutes, drain, and pat dry.
- Heat the vinegar, water, and salt until the salt dissolves. Let the brine cool.
- Pack the cucumbers into clean jars with the garlic, dill, and spices.
- Pour the cooled brine over them until covered. Cap and refrigerate.
- Wait at least 24 hours. They improve over a few days.
Keep them refrigerated. We suggest eating them within about a month or two.
If you miss the sweetness, some cooks add a keto-friendly sweetener to the cooled brine. Taste first and remember that sweeteners differ in how they behave, so start small. This works for refrigerator pickles; do not apply it to canning recipes.
What are the best cucumbers for pickling?
Small, firm, thin-skinned cucumbers work best. Kirby (pickling) cucumbers are the traditional pick, and Persian cucumbers are a popular alternative. English cucumbers work too, but they often turn out softer. Avoid waxed cucumbers, since the wax can block the brine. Use fresh cucumbers and trim the blossom end.
Flavor ideas without sugar
- Dill, garlic, and mustard seed for classic flavor
- Coriander seed and bay leaf for a Mediterranean-style pickle
- Red pepper flakes or sliced chiles for heat; see jalapeno garlic dill pickles
- Fresh herbs such as thyme or oregano
- Sliced onion in the jar, if it fits your carb budget
Canning keto pickles
Skipping the sugar is fine in a refrigerator pickle. In a canned pickle, you should follow a tested recipe. A tested dill pickle recipe, such as the one described in our guide to easy pickle recipes for canning, contains little sugar to begin with, and the safety comes from the vinegar-to-water proportion and the processing time. If you want to change sweeteners in a sweet pickle recipe, look for a tested reduced-sugar or sugar-substitute recipe rather than swapping on your own.
Can you reuse pickle brine?
We suggest not reusing brine for canning. For refrigerator pickles, some people reuse the brine once for another batch of firm vegetables, but each use dilutes the vinegar with water from the produce, so the pickles are weaker in flavor and have a smaller safety margin. If you do reuse it, bring it back to a boil first, keep the new batch refrigerated, and eat it quickly. Starting with fresh brine is the simplest option.
A note on sodium
Pickles are salty. If you watch your sodium, check with a health professional about how much is right for you. Homemade refrigerator pickles let you reduce salt somewhat, but salt also affects flavor and texture, so cut back gradually.
FAQ
Are pickles keto-approved? Dill-style pickles without sugar are generally low in carbs. Sweet pickles are not. Check the label.
Are fermented pickles different? Yes, they are made with a salt brine rather than vinegar. This article covers vinegar pickles only; see fermented foods that taste good for an introduction to salt-brine ferments.
What is the recipe for cucumbers and vinegar? Use the sugar-free brine above: roughly vinegar, water, and salt, poured over sliced cucumbers.
Can I make a big batch? Yes. For a bucket-style method, see ice cream pail pickles, and reduce the sugar.