Make your own healthy, fermented pickled vegetables with a few minutes preparation and 5 days time using these steps and one easy tool.

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I don't know about you, but for years I always thought 'fermented' meant bubbly, strong flavored, and possibly slimy. That's just what the word conjured up in my mind for some reason.
Now that I think about it, it probably came from those big barrels of gigantic pickles you could buy one at a time (does anyplace do this anymore?). I hated those things and really did think they were slimy.
I did realize of course that some things like wine and vinegar resulted from some sort of fermentation and I happily used them (when someone else made them), but the general unease regarding fermented foods still held out.
Because of this, I've never really wanted to even explore fermented foods - not even as we ate more whole, real, foods or as I realized how many things I used to buy that could be easily made healthily and cheaply at home (like salad dressings, mayonnaise, and ketchup).
But as I started to become more aware of the importance of gut health and that fermented foods are one of the things mentioned over and over that feed good bacteria in our intestines, I got curious.
How hard were they to make? What did they taste like?
I bought some refrigerated sauerkraut and kimchi to taste and see how I could use it in our daily diet. I loved the kimchi (I like things spicy), but found the sauerkraut bland.
Which of course made me think I could make it with more spices, which started me down the path of fermenting.
And guess what I discovered?
It's just natural pickling!
Don't laugh - I really didn't get it before actually doing it and tasting the result.
I didn't realize that if you let vegetables sit for awhile in salt water that they will pickle, just like in vinegar.
And I love pickles! Green beans, cucumbers (though just the small ones - those giant ones from my youth still haunt me), asparagus - they are all on my 'must make' list every season.
But I've learned that canned vegetables pickled with vinegar, while not bad for you, are not as good for your gut like fermented vegetables are. They are not the same thing (again, something I didn't know).
You want the good bacteria that can only come from fermenting.
I also discovered that fermenting, an age-old method of preservation, is easy and can be used right along with canning to keep garden harvests through the winter, though stored in a refrigerator.
Since I like things crisp, I have already been using the fridge storing method for garlic dill pickles and pickled jalapeños, so it will be easy to adapt these to fermented if I want.
I'm going to be sharing more fermented vegetable recipes with you in the future, but I wanted to start with the easiest and fastest so you can taste for yourself how wonderful fresh, fermented pickled vegetables are - and the tool that can make all your fermenting practically effortless.
Fermented Vegetables Video
Easy Fermented Pickled Vegetables
Ingredients
To make fermented pickled vegetables you need only some vegetables and salt at the basic level. But what fun would that be?
Let's add garlic and red pepper flakes for spiciness.
- garlic cloves
- red pepper flakes, optional
- quality sea salt or even specialty sea salts (though fine-ground will dissolve easiest)
- crushed black pepper, optional
I've also tried crushed black peppercorns in some jars which is good, too, if you're not sure you want the full-on red pepper spice (I have found, though, that the fermenting diminishes the spice of red pepper and I've needed to add a lot more than in my vinegar pickling recipes).
- Fresh Vegetables - As far as the types of vegetables, stick with anything you know will stand up to pickling. So far I've fermented cauliflower, carrots, and green beans. I plan on using asparagus and cucumbers as the season progresses.
You can use all of one kind or a combo like I show above - like all things you make yourself, customize to your heart's content.
Supplies
- Quart Jar - or half gallon jar if you want to make a lot.
- Glass Weight - place on top of veggies to help keep them submerged under the brine.
- Fermenting lid - see below
The Easy Fermenting "Secret"
Want to know what makes these fermented pickles the "easiest ever?" This:
Click here to buy Easy Fermenter Lids
The part of fermenting that intimidated me (after getting over my initial misconceptions), was the whole burp-the-jar-daily thing - oh, and the potential for mold I kept reading about.
If you don't constantly monitor the jars, you could find your counters covered in brine that's oozed from under the jar lids. And there's big debate on whether you should scrape off any mold or dump the whole jar. Yikes.
Enter the Easy Fermenter Lids.
The comments on Amazon convinced me to try these over other so-called easy lids and I'm glad I did. They have been truly as set-it-and-forget-it as you can be with fermenting.
I've made half-gallon jars of sauerkraut and kimchi, quart jars of corn relish and these pickled veggies without any mold and only one instance of overflow because I filled the jar too full.
I LOVE these jar lids. They took all the trepidation out of fermenting for me.
How to Make Fermented Pickled Vegetables
1. Fill The Jar
Grab a quart mason jar and start layering your prepared vegetables (you can cut them any size you want).
Press down as much as possible to fit as many as you can into the jar to just under the shoulders which should be 1 to 1-1/2 inches of headspace.
Finish with a sprinkling of red pepper flakes or other spices you'd like.
2. Make Brine & Fill Jar
Dissolve a good quality sea salt into water (filtered or good well water) and pour it over the vegetables (see the recipe for exact amounts), filling to just above the vegetables, leaving 1 to 2 inches of headspace.
This space is important for the fermenting action that will occur - if you don't leave enough room, you will have liquid overflow. #lessonlearned
Since these pickles don't need to ferment as long as things like sauerkraut (which takes weeks), you can leave less space, but it's good to err on the side of more space I think.
Use a thin, plastic spatula (still one of my favorite kitchen tools!) to release air bubbles by pushing down the sides all around the jar.
3. Add Glass Weight
While not a crucial when using the Easy Fermenter Lids and short fermented recipes like this one, I still like to use a weight to make sure the top vegetables stay under the brine.
I bought the glass weights shown which worked okay, though when slippery after fermenting, it wasn't always the easiest to remove them.
I'd make sure to get glass weights like these with easy-grip knobs now if I had it to do over.
4. Attach Lids
Attach lids (you can also use regular two-piece canning lids, or plastic storage jar lids, but you will have to 'burp' them daily - open the lid to let air in - and monitor them more closely) and set on the counter.
If using regular lids, a good idea is to set the jars on a tray, cookie sheet, or some other thing that could catch any potential overflow.
5. Let Ferment On Counter & Then Store In Fridge
Label the jar with the date - the Easy Fermenter Lids have a way to mark the date on the top - and let the vegetables ferment (aka, pickle) for 4-5 days at room temperature.
After sitting on the counter for 4-5 days, the brine will be cloudy and it will be time to store them in the fridge. Remove the fermenting lid and replace with a regular storage lid and place in the fridge.
Eat them any time after storing - the pickles will continue to ferment, but much more slowly, and will be good for weeks and even months.
Fermenting FAQs
When are the fermented vegetables done?
The finish date for fermented vegetables is very loose, in fact many recipes just say "when vegetables are finished," relying instead on the taste test.
Since I wasn't really sure what they should taste like, never having eaten them before, this didn't feel good to me.
After making these many times, I can tell you that 5 days is perfect for our heated house in winter, so you can start there and adjust if needed (a warm summer kitchen may need only 3-4 days, colder may need an extra day).
These should taste like any firm, crisp pickle you've had.
TIP: One comment suggested using a couple grape leaves in the ferment to help keep the vegetables crisp (the tannins in the leaves are know for this).
What do fermented vegetables look like in the fridge?
I thought I'd add a photo of what the pickles look like after fermenting and being stored in the refrigerator.
The brine will get cloudy as it ferments on your counter, so don't be concerned about that.
After putting a regular lid on the jar and storing in the fridge, the vegetables will continue to develop flavor. They will last for months and months in the fridge - unless you're like us and they barely make it a week.
My whole family LOVES these pickles just as much as the canned vinegar pickles I've made for years. We can easily go through a jar a week just eating as a snack.
How do I fit fermented foods into our diet?
As far as how to fit fermented foods into a healthy diet, it helps to know you don't need much of them - just a spoonful or a couple pieces of vegetables once or twice a day is enough to get the digestive benefits.
We find them easy to add to salads and these picked vegetables in particular make a great addition to vegetable platters or even on their own served alongside your meal.
Is the amount of salt in fermented foods bad for you?
Personally, I don't think the salt offsets the health benefits of fermented foods. We also don't eat a lot of it at once (it's basically a condiment), and there are other fermented foods that don't use salt, like yogurt and kefir, so you can balance the types of ferments you eat.
There needs to be a balance of salt in fermented foods - too much kills the good bacteria, too little lets the bad bacteria grow. Most recipes that use a brine like this use 1 to 2 tablespoons to a quart of water. I'd never go below a tablespoon for the safety factor.
There are ways to make vegetable ferments without using salt by starting with whey or brine from another ferment. The taste and texture isn't as good in my opinion, but if you're really worried about the salt, you may want to look into fermenting with whey.
What readers are saying:
"My first real attempt at fermenting veggies so I was a little nervous! Love the outcome (so did my husband!)…This recipe is a keeper and oh the Easy Fermenter lid really rocks!"
-Cathy
"Super easy recipe to make! Thank you!!"
-Sarah
Easiest Fermented Pickled Vegetables Ever
Ingredients
- 3 to 4 cups cut vegetables or enough to fill a quart jar (cauliflower, carrots, green beans, etc.)
- 3 garlic cloves peeled and slightly crushed
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes optional OR coarse ground black pepper
- Other optional seasonings: dill, oregano, thyme, etc.
- 1½ - 2 tablespoons sea salt*
- 1 quart filtered water if on a public water system, or if well water isn't good
Instructions
- Place garlic in the bottom of a clean, wide-mouth quart jar. Layer the cut vegetables, pressing down to fit as many as you can up to the shoulder of the jar (1-2 inches headspace).
- Add any seasonings to the contents in the jar.
- Dissolve the salt in the water and pour over the vegetables in the jar until the top vegetables are barely covered.** Use a thin plastic spatula around the sides of the jar to release any air bubbles.
- Use a weight to keep the vegetables under the brine and attach a tight regular lid or airlock lid like the Easy Fermenter.
- Ferment at room temperature (60-70 degrees is ideal) for about 5 days, tasting to see if they are your desired flavor and texture. If using regular lids, burp daily to release excess pressure.
- Once they are finished, move to the refrigerator with a regular lid for storage - the flavor will continue to develop.
Notes
Nutrition
More easy fermented recipes
5 Minute Fool-Proof Fermented Corn Relish
Best, Mild Homemade Sauerkraut
Fermented Pickled Jalapeno Slices
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Yvonne says
Are use your pickle recipes. Someone asked me recently if my pickles are fermented. I said that I had no idea how to do that. And now I just discovered this post! I am very much looking forward to trying it! I ordered all the necessities.😉
Jami says
Great! I think you will love this, Yvonne. 🙂 (And for clarity - anything pickled with vinegar is not fermented. Things pickled with salt and left to sit on the counter and then refrigerated are fermented.)
Anne Bathurst says
I was wondering if the garlic was necessary to the fermenting process ? I am not supposed to eat garlic, but would love to try this recipe. Also...is sugar ever added? Thanks!
Jami says
No, the garlic is only for flavor so you can leave it out.
As for the sugar, you can add sugar but it will do the opposite of sweetening - the added food for the bacteria will make it ferment sooner and cause a more tart product.
If you'd like sweeter vegetables, you can try adding a bit of sugar before putting it in the fridge. It slows fermentation and may not have the same effect as adding it before (though I don't know for sure).
Dawn says
I'm excited to try this! I recently discontinued my daily kefir making because it just felt like too much to keep up with. Then I began keeping Bubbies pickles/sauerkraut in the refridgerator, because it was the only store-bought brand I knew of that contained decent probiotics. However, it costs $10/jar where I live! This vegetable fermenting process seems like a much simpler (and less expensive) way to add more probiotics into my diet, especially with the special lids. Thank you for sharing the steps and links!
Jami says
Oh, I'm so glad this will be helpful, Dawn! I think you will love how easy it is - and inexpensive! - to get your own fermented veggies. (Have you seen the sauerkraut recipe? Start with preshredded cabbage and it's e.a.s.y.)
Deanna Tacchini says
Can I can your fermented vegetables in a water bath?
Love your site. My husband and I play golf with Gwen and Jim we have a blast together. I also printed out your sourdough recipe and will give that a try.
Jami says
How fun, Deanna!
No, you definitely don't want to can anything fermented, as it will build up gasses and probably explode. You can see this in action if you use a regular lid to ferment, you have to "burp" them - open the lid to release the build up. That's why I love these lids - you just set it and it does the rest with no burping required.
You can store fermented veggies in the fridge with a regular lid after the time fermenting at room temperature, it slows down the ferment and they will last months!
John says
I just opened my first fermented vegetables after a 5 day fermentation,and they are so delicious.
Thank you so much for the recipe. I hope you'll be posting more fermenting recipes in the future.
John
Jami says
Yay! I'm so glad, John - thank you for leaving a review!
John says
Do you ever make kimchi? Or do you have a recipe for fermenting kimchi?
Jami says
I have made kimchi, John, and am still perfecting a recipe we like. I'll post it when I have a good one to share!
Dianna says
Hi there. I’m new to any of this and I was wondering, if I purchase the easy fermenter, do I switch lids after a few days? Cause I would like to ferment more than three things in a two month period. Also, does it only last two months? Or is that two months from when it was opened? I was hoping to have the veggies have a longer shelf life.
Jami says
I'm glad you're going to try this, Dianna!
You use the Easy Fermenter lids just while the ferments are out on the counter. For these veggies, that would be about 5 days. Then you remove the special lid and replace it with a storage lid (I have the white storage lids you can get for mason jars) and put it in the fridge. The fermenter lid is now free to be used for something else!
As far as storage, it's really up to you. Some vegetables (like green beans and softer vegetables) get pretty soft the longer they're stored and it's not pleasant to eat them after awhile. Cauliflower and carrots last longer. Cabbage as kraut would last months in the fridge. It's not as much a safety issue when they're refrigerated as it is an eating issue. So experiment and find what you like and how long you like to keep them!
Ryan says
If i want to add skme heat to what im fermenting, will simply adding sliced hot peppers so the jar penetrate the vegatable im attempting to ferment?
Jami says
Yes, you can add peppers to the other vegetables - that's a great way to make it spicy.
Sarah G says
Super easy recipe to make! Thank you!!
I’m new to this, literally on my second batch. I have the glass weights, but I have one jar where a green bean or two has snuck up to the top. Is this bad? Should I open the jar and remove those?
Jami says
No, that's okay - there's always a floater or two. It's nothing to worry about!
Ammy says
One quart of water is way too much - if I measure out a quart of water in a bowl and add salt, then put vegetables in said jar and pour brine on top the jar is now half full of veggies so now I'm only using one pint-ish of brine.
Could you please give more accurate amounts of salt to water? Thank you.
Jami says
The amount listed is to get the correct water-to-salt ratio. It's more because depending on the vegetable you may need more or less, and it's easier to have more than it is to have less and try to figure out the ratio with a smaller amount.
Ammy says
Thank you. I worded it badly, but that was the information I was looking for.
Jami says
Oh, good!
Barry says
Do you blanche or cook the veggies or just throw them in there raw ??
Jami says
Raw! The fermenting softens them (sometimes too much, which is why you don't want to let them go too long, ha!)