Are you ready to pickle your way to culinary success? If so, it’s time to hone your knowledge and dive into the best books on pickling and food preservation.
It’s crucial to choose a book that covers all of the essential pickling techniques, has clear instructions, and explains the science behind them.
Consider these five best books on pickling food that are highly rated, written by some of the leading experts in the field, and filled with delicious recipes.
Grab your mason jars, find a sunny spot on the countertop, and get ready to learn everything there is to know about this delicious craft!
1. Pickling & Fermenting Cookbook for Preppers: 1500 Days of Easy Homemade Recipes for Long-term Survival
Are you an individual who prepares for any potential danger or situation by having a large stock of supplies and knowledge? This book will be your one-stop-shop when it comes to preserving your foods in brines and vinegar in the case of a disaster or emergency
The book contains over 1500 recipes, so you won’t be running out of ideas any time soon. You’ll learn everything from the basics of pickling and fermenting to creative dishes in which you can use your preserved ingredients with.
Not only will this book provide plenty of recipes, but it also contains advice on how to safely store your canned goods without ruining them or making yourself sick.
This book will provide you with an abundance of knowledge, including but not limited to::
- Equipment and techniques every beginner should know
- Difference between fermentation and pickling
- Amazing pickling and fermentation ways to preserve food for up to 3 years
So, a beginner who wants to enjoy delicious recipes by preserving food will not regret buying this best pickling book. Most recipes in this guide to preserving, canning, and pickling are not very costly as well.
Fun Pickle Fact: According to the Department of Agriculture, Americans consume an astonishing 8.5 lbs of pickles per person annually on average.
2. The Complete Book of Pickling: 250 Recipes for Pickling, Fermentation, and More
Pickling is usually done with vinegar, but you can also do it through fermentation (in a salt and water brine). Many people prefer this method since it’s jam-packed with natural probiotics and adds even more depth of flavor to your perfectly pickled foods.
If the name “Smoky Three-Pepper Cucumber Relish” sounds good to you, then you’re probably a fan of creative and unconventional pickled flavors. There are plenty of recipes in this book that provide just that, along with more traditional recipes like classic dill pickles. You’ll also find ideas for pickling fruits, vegetables, fish, and even eggs!
This guide will allow you to pickle to perfection with detailed instructions on how to store your food safely. In addition, the author provides helpful tips
The book discusses:
- 250 exciting recipes for creative and affordable food dishes such as: Clementine Pear Chutney and White Balsamic and Pepper Pickled Strawberries
- Flavorful sauce preparations for nutritious dish toppings
- Detailed Canning 101 instructions for complete beginners
With the assistance of this book, you can discover an array of exquisite Chutney, salsa, and delicious recipes. There are plenty of clear and colorful photos that help you understand the method of pickling food.
Both a newbie food preserver and one experienced with home preserving can learn many great ideas using this book. Any home library would be incomplete without this book – add it to yours for perfect pickles!
3. The Beginner’s Guide To Pickling & Fermenting: Learn The Secrets Of Pickling And Fermenting With Over 1000 Days Worth Of Easy, Nutrient-Dense Recipes
Dorothy J Morgan focuses on the science and practicality of pickling and fermenting foods in her book. She makes the case that even the simplest of pickling and fermentation techniques can save time and omit toxins from your everyday diet.
And she includes plenty of tips that help to make the process less intimidating and help you gain more confidence and creativity in the process.
Want to learn how to make yogurt and kombucha? She’s got it. Need help with fermenting sauerkraut and miso? Morgan provides direction.
This whopping 1000-recipe book is divided into three different parts to help you get a clear idea of each food preservation process one by one. It explains the following in each part:
- Fermentation, its advantages, and recipes for fermented dishes
- Easy-to-follow pickling, quick and fresh pickles, and related recipes
- Many additional homesteading recipes for making chutneys, kimchi, etc.
This book is perfect for people who want to learn how to pickle and ferment food with little experience. It has 1000 recipes and tips that help you make pickles, yogurt, kombucha, sauerkraut, and more. It’s a good resource for beginners as it explains the process step-by-step.
Fun Pickle Fact: In Connecticut, a pickle must not only look and taste like a pickle. It must also be capable of bouncing in order to officially earn the title.
4. The Joy of Pickling: 300 Flavor-Packed Recipes for All Kinds of Produce from Garden or Market
There is a wide range of pickles existing today like bread and butter pickles, dill pickles, sweet pickles, sour pickles, etc. Are you curious about all the various types of pickles around you? Are you interested in discovering the art of preserving food in jars?
The Joy of Pickling is a complete guide that can actually give you joy in preserving food and learning about pickles. The book takes you through modern pickling techniques. This great guide explains:
- Almost 300 appetizing dishes including a range of kimchi, pickled fruits, and dill pickles
- An encyclopedic history and account of types of pickles
- Some safety tips alongside the recipes for vegetables
So, you will be able to make canned pickles, quick pickles, and top-up pickles with help of this book. Furthermore, pickles can be used in a variety of other dishes such as chutney, salsa, and relish.
The recipes are for larger batches for those who pickle in bulk for sale or sharing with loved ones. But you can make any amount of pickles by adjusting the measurements of the recipe.
So, no matter whether you want to preserve a small batch of different veggies and other foods or a large one, you can use this book as a reference.
5. Pickling and Fermenting Cookbook for Preppers: 1000 Days of Recipes to Preserve Fruits, Vegetables, Meat, and Fish Before the Food Riot Starts
Did you know you can literally pickle almost ANY food?
Believe it or not, you can pickle anything from meat and nuts to potatoes, eggs – essentially whatever your heart desires – while preserving its original flavor.
Do you want to know how can you ferment food without losing its original quality? What method should you use for each food? The pickling and Fermenting Cookbook for preppers can help you in this regard.
This book covers a wide range of Pickling and fermenting topics to guide you in every possible way. So after reading the book, you will able to:
- Learn the basics of becoming a master food preserver
- Differentiate between fermentation and pickling
- Preserve everything including vegetables, meat, and fish
- Buy some cost-effective tools
- Know and learn recipes according to photographs
This pickling book has been expertly organized to make it easy for you to find the information you’re looking for. You’ll be able to quickly determine the best preservation technique, the season of use, and storage time for each type of food featured on its pages.
The book also comes with many cautions to save time and make a perfect product when preserving food at home.
Home canning system owners in particular will find this book a valuable resource since many of the recipes are pressure-canned concoctions.
Fun Pickle Fact: William Shakespeare was the first person to ever use the phrase “in a pickle” in his iconic play, The Tempest.
So, What’s the Best Book For Foolproof Preserving?
From kimchi, to sourdough starters and other delicious pickle recipes, home cooks can use the books listed above and start picking ingredients to enjoy and eat delicious foods. But which one is worthy of your valuable kitchen shelf space?
If you are new to pickling and fermenting vegetables, I recommend the The Beginner’s Guide To Pickling & Fermenting as it holds several delicious step-by-step pickling recipes and much more. This book features several popular types of preserving in one comprehensive guide and provides detailed instructions and tips that will allow you to make delicious pickles without fail.
FAQs: Best Books on Pickling
What is pickling?
Pickling is simply the process of preserving edible products through immersion in an acid solution, that is usually made of water and vinegar, or salt also known as brine. The process extends the shelf life of food and changes its flavor and texture resulting in a delicious new food that is referred to as pickles.
What’s the difference between fermenting and pickling cucumbers?
Pickling is the process of soaking cucumbers in an acidic solution like vinegar, while fermenting is a process that uses lactic acid bacteria to convert natural sugars into lactic acid. Pickled cucumbers are much crisper and have a more distinctive flavor, while fermented cucumbers are usually softer and a bit tangier.
What are the 3 basic ingredients used in pickling?
Water, vinegar, and salt are the three basic ingredients used in pickling.
Why is it called pickling?
Pickling or the word pickle comes for the German word “pókel” or Dutch word “pekel” which means salt or brine. These two are an essential part of the pickling process.
What are the benefits of pickled food?
Pickled food has a longer shelf life, it helps to preserve the nutrients and vitamins in the food, and it adds variety and unique flavors. Pickles are also low in calories and can help with digestion due to their high probiotic content.
The Bottom Line: 5 Best Books On Pickling and Food Preservation
Whether you are looking for a beginner’s guide or an advanced book to help you explore new flavor combinations, one of these books should do the trick!
Each one stands on it’s own and you can’t make a wrong choice if you stick to the 5 high-quality options listed above.
Want to add more books to your homesteading library? Here are some other home food preservation book reviews I’ve written to fill your shelves:
- Preserve Your Vegetable Bounty with the 7 Best Books on Canning
- The Buzz on the Best Beekeeping Books: 6 Great Reads For Beginners
- Perfect Your Fermentation Skills with the 7 Best Books on Fermenting
- The Best Homesteading Books To Unlock Your Dreams of Self-Sufficiency
- Choosing The Best Dutch Oven Cookbook: Easy Home Cooking Solutions
- What Is The Best Sous Vide Cookbook? My Top 5 Choices
- 5 Best Juicing Books For 5 Juicing Goals
Happy fermenting!
